Tonight at 8 p.m., in a WCVB studio in Newton, Ed Markey and Seth Moulton will meet for the third and final time before the September 1 primary — and the timing of the last 24 hours suggests both camps know exactly how much is riding on it. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was one of Markey's most valuable surrogates during his 2020 fight against Joe Kennedy III, finally climbed off the sidelines Thursday morning and endorsed the 80-year-old incumbent, framing him as the authentic progressive in the race and taking a subtle shot at the argument — Moulton's central pitch — that it's simply time for generational change.

The endorsement matters less for its substance than its timing. Moulton has spent the campaign's final stretch trying to build momentum through non-traditional means: bringing in fellow military-veteran surrogates like New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, and deploying a legally gray tactic called "red-boxing" — publicly posting messaging cues on his campaign website that a supportive super PAC can pick up and turn into ads, all while technically avoiding illegal coordination. It's a sign of a campaign that's behind in the polls (double digits, according to the UMass Amherst/WCVB survey, including among veterans) and reaching for every lever available in the final two weeks.

What happens next: watch tonight's debate for whether Moulton goes harder on Markey's age and health — a line of attack that's clearly rattled Team Markey enough to recruit AOC as a rebuttal — and whether Markey, bolstered by that endorsement, plays it safe or swings back. Whoever wins faces Republican John Deaton in November, but first they have to survive the next 12 days. Full story at Boston Globe →

Boston gets a new elections chief less than two weeks before the primary. Mayor Michelle Wu named Kerry Jordan, a Dorchester native and former DoIT chief of staff, to run the city's Election Department, which has been under state receivership since the 2024 ballot-shortage debacle. Jordan doesn't officially start until after the September 1 primary — so acting registrar Paul Chong is still the one who has to make sure this cycle doesn't repeat 2024's chaos. WBUR →

White Stadium construction can keep going, SJC rules. The state's highest court handed Wu a major win, tossing a lawsuit from the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and Franklin Park Defenders over the $325 million Franklin Park rebuild that Boston Legacy FC, the pro women's soccer team, is set to call home. The court said the plaintiffs had no legal standing and that decades-old legislation had already converted the parcel to school-department use. WBUR →

Milton schools will scrap its residency tip line after Globe reporting exposed racial disparities. Following a Globe investigation that found Black students faced disproportionately heavy scrutiny in residency investigations, the interim superintendent says the district will end anonymous tips and start reporting twice a year to the School Committee. Parents at Wednesday's meeting said it's not enough — the district is still using police to investigate whether kids actually live where they say they do. Boston Globe →

Harvard Medical School will pay $53 million over its morgue scandal. The settlement stems from former morgue attendant Cedric Lodge, who pleaded guilty to stealing and selling body parts donated for research over nearly three decades at the school's Longwood morgue. A Suffolk Superior Court judge gave preliminary approval this week; a final hearing is set for December 9. Boston Globe →

A New Bedford officer allegedly used surveillance cameras to stalk her ex. The department suspended its Flock camera program citywide after an internal audit flagged Officer Emily Pacheco's activity. She's been placed on leave and stripped of her badge, gun, and license to carry while the department checks whether she's the only one who misused the system. Boston.com →

Child care providers say they can't survive on an expired contract. Dozens of family child care workers rallied at the State House this week, warning that stagnant reimbursement rates for subsidized child care are forcing them to cut enrollment and take second jobs. One Lawrence provider says she can only afford to watch six of the ten kids she's licensed for. CommonWealth Beacon →

Tonight, 8 p.m.: Markey and Moulton's final debate airs on WCVB, moderated by Ed Harding with questions from WBUR, the Globe, and WCVB. WBUR →

August 22 is the last day to register to vote in the primary, and early voting runs August 22–28 ahead of the September 1 primary. Boston.com →

October 26 is the deadline for developers to submit bids on Fall River's 20-acre waterfront redevelopment — advocates are pushing hard to get affordable housing into the mix before then. CommonWealth Beacon →

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Candidates

• Brendalee Smith (Republican) — House, 10th Bristol — Filed: 8/19/2026

Ballot Question Committees

• Vote YES on 4 Election Day Registration — N/A, No office — Filed: 8/19/2026

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