Suffolk University’s Political Research Center and The Boston Globe reported Sen. Ed Markey is ahead of Congressman Seth Moulton by 17 points in his re-election campaign in a recent poll.
Markey earned 47% of likely voters’ hypothetical ballots, leaving Moulton with 30% and 20% undecided.
Despite Markey’s age of 79 being a key factor to Moulton’s counter campaign, 26% of likely Democratic voters said Markey’s age influenced their voting decision by “a lot,” followed by 36% reporting it influenced their decision “a little,” and 32% said “not at all.”
“Although the general electorate of all voters indicate they are becoming less tolerant of older
incumbents, these Democratic primary voters put ideology above age differences,” said David
Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in an email. “This could also turn out to be good news for other older Democratic incumbents in Massachusetts, like Secretary of State Bill Galvin (age 75), Congressman Richard Neal (age 77), and Senator Elizabeth Warren(age 76).”
Markey led 52% to 29% over Moulton for self-identifying “liberal/very liberal” voters as well 48% to 28% of women voters. In union households Markey stayed ahead 51% to 28% and 50% to 28% with 56-plus voters.
Moulton, however, led among Hispanic voters taking 43% in the poll versus Markey’s 37%, and trailed behind Markey by just three points for “moderate” and “conservative” identifying voters, 38% to 35%.
Five percent of Massachusetts Democratic likely voters described their Washington leadership as “excellent,” followed by 21% calling it “good,” with 40% “fair” and 32% “poor.”
Aside from the general disappointment in the current leadership, six potential 2028 presidential candidates presented themselves across the survey. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg came out on top with 23% of voters reporting their enthusiasm for the possible candidate followed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 17%. The poll rewarded Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 14%, as well as interest in Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Conducted April 9-13, the poll surveyed statewide Democratic primary voters through phone interviews. Each of the 14 Massachusetts counties were grouped into four main regions, where the area’s quotas and demographics like party affiliation, gender, race and age, were found from recent census and past Democratic primary elections data.
During the call, citizens were asked if they were very likely, somewhat likely or 50-50 to vote in the upcoming primary election Sept. 1. The margin of error reported for the survey is +/- 4.4% at a 95% level of confidence.
