Story perspectives

Markey Leads Democratic Primary, Wins Emerson Poll 60.4%

8/31/2026

Summary

Markey Leads Primary

Sen. Ed Markey leads the Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary over Rep. Seth Moulton.
An Emerson College poll of 550 likely voters shows Markey at 60.4% and Moulton at 32.8%.
The Boston Globe endorsed Moulton, urging a new vision.
Tuesday’s primary will select the Democratic nominee who will face Republican John Deaton in November.

Summary

Markey Buys Influencers

Markey's campaign spent over $546,000 on political communication services from Aisle 518 Strategies between Jan 2025 and June 2026.
Markey also paid $6,000 to Four Lions Media, whose client includes influencer Maria Comstock.
Influencer Brett Carter posted a paid video urging votes for Markey, citing LGBTQ and immigration work.
Influencer Victoria Hammett called Moulton “a snake in the grass” and attacked his AIPAC ties.
Moulton’s campaign declined comment on whether it used paid influencer partnerships.

History

Historical Context

In the 2008 United States presidential election, Barack Obama leveraged Facebook and MySpace to mobilize voters, reshaping campaign finance practices. His campaign raised $33 million online, a 2,000 percent increase over the 2004 Democratic primary, according to the Federal Election Commission. Similarly, Senator Ed Markey’s 2025-2026 primary relies on digital influencers like Brett Carter and Victoria Hammett, spending over $546,000 on online communication services. The precedent set in 2008 suggests that digital outreach will increasingly dictate primary outcomes and amplify fundraising disparities.

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Markey Leads Primary

Sen. Ed Markey leads the Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary over Rep. Seth Moulton.
An Emerson College poll of 550 likely voters shows Markey at 60.4% and Moulton at 32.8%.
The Boston Globe endorsed Moulton, urging a new vision.
Tuesday’s primary will select the Democratic nominee who will face Republican John Deaton in November.

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