Markey gets outraised by Moulton ahead of tough primary
Sen. Ed Markey was outraised by Rep. Seth Moulton in the latest fundraising quarter, collecting just over $1 million to Moulton’s $1.4 million ahead of Massachusetts’ September Democratic primary, NBC News reports. Other Democratic incumbents, including Reps. John Larson and Ed Case, also trailed primary rivals as late-summer contests approach.
Key Takeaways
- Sen. Ed Markey raised just over $1 million from April to June, while challenger Rep. Seth Moulton raised $1.4 million, according to NBC News.
- Punchbowl News reported Moulton also spent more and held nearly $400,000 more cash on hand than Markey.
- Seven House incumbents have already lost re-election this primary season, NBC News noted, as more face late-summer contests.
- Reps. John Larson of Connecticut and Ed Case of Hawaii were also outraised by Democratic primary rivals in the latest quarter.
- Moulton has framed the race around generational change, while locally stressing housing and transit affordability.
Fresh Federal Election Commission filings put Markey on defense in one of the year’s highest-profile Democratic Senate primaries. The Massachusetts Democrat faces Moulton on the September ballot after another quarter in which the House challenger led the money race.
NBC News reported that Markey is no stranger to primary fights from younger Democrats, having defeated then-Rep. Joe Kennedy III in 2020. This time, Moulton has taken direct aim at Markey’s age as many Democrats push for a new generation of party leadership.
Campaign cash is only one signal of strength, but it shapes advertising, field operations, and voter contact in the final weeks. Readers tracking how money moves through politics can follow related coverage in our Fintech & Crypto Alerts section.
How far behind is Markey in the money race?
According to NBC News, Markey raised just over $1 million between April and June. Moulton raised $1.4 million over the same stretch in his bid to unseat the senator.
Punchbowl News separately reported that Moulton spent more than Markey and finished the quarter with nearly $400,000 more cash on hand. That combination—outraising and out-banking an incumbent—gives the challenger room to stay on air and on the trail through primary day.
Which other Democratic incumbents got outraised?
NBC News said two other Democratic House incumbents also fell short of intraparty rivals last quarter: Rep. Ed Case of Hawaii and Rep. John Larson of Connecticut. Punchbowl News filled in the Q2 tallies for those races.
Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin raised $653,000 to Larson’s $512,000 ahead of Connecticut’s Aug. 11 primary, spent nearly twice as much, and held about $1.4 million on hand—roughly $300,000 more than Larson. In Hawaii, state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole narrowly outraised Case, $247,000 to $226,000, though Case still held about $600,000 more in the bank.
NBC News also noted that seven House incumbents have already lost re-election so far this primary season, underscoring why late-summer money gaps matter for lawmakers still on the ballot.
What is Moulton emphasizing on the ground?
Beyond fundraising, Moulton has been pressing a local affordability message. The Waltham Times reported that on July 13 he met journalists from several western-suburb outlets covering the September Senate primary.
Moulton called Greater Boston’s housing shortage a “fundamental … supply and demand problem” and said Massachusetts needs to build more housing. He argued Boston should improve transit—including electrifying rail—so residents can live in places like Fitchburg with room to grow and still commute into the region.
Those kitchen-table themes sit alongside the generational critique NBC News highlighted, giving voters two frames for the Markey–Moulton matchup: who can raise cash, and who can speak to costs at home.