Markey, Moulton Clash in Final Senate Debate

Markey, Moulton Clash in Final Senate Debate

The News

Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton traded personal attacks in their final debate before the Sept. 1 Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary.

The two Democrats clashed on affordability, trans-identifying athletes and the Iran war, according to PolitiFact, which fact-checked the candidates' claims live during the event.

The Boston Globe reported the debate "featured several flashes" as the pair took personal shots at each other over votes on foreign wars, Senate confirmation votes, and Markey's age.

Timeline

Aug. 20, 2026

Markey and Moulton meet for their final debate of the primary campaign, co-hosted by WCVB, WBUR and The Boston Globe and carried live by Boston.com and the Globe.

Aug. 20, 2026

PolitiFact runs a live fact-check of the debate as the candidates speak.

Aug. 21, 2026

PolitiFact publishes its full fact-check of the remarks; The Hill posts three takeaways from the night.

Sept. 1, 2026

Massachusetts primary election day.

Reactions

Neither campaign's post-debate statements were reported in the coverage of the event.

The Boston Globe characterized the night as a series of flashpoints, with the candidates going after each other over foreign war votes, Senate confirmation votes and Markey's age.

The Hill framed the debate as the last chance for both men to move voters, publishing three takeaways from the exchange.

PolitiFact, which checked the claims both in real time and afterward, singled out the candidates' statements on affordability, trans-identifying athletes and the Iran war.

What's Next

Massachusetts Democrats vote in the Senate primary on Sept. 1. It was the candidates' last scheduled debate before that election.

More

Markey is the incumbent senator; Moulton is a sitting member of the U.S. House challenging him from within the party. The seat is being decided first in a Democratic primary, making the Sept. 1 vote the central contest so far in the race.

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