Today's the day: Markey vs. Moulton finally goes to voters.

Polls are open right now (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.) for what's become the most-watched Democratic primary in the country, and it's a race that's really a referendum on generational change wearing a Massachusetts costume. Senator Ed Markey, 80, is trying to hold off Congressman Seth Moulton, 47, who's spent the campaign arguing that five decades in Washington is enough — regardless of how progressive Markey's record is. Moulton doesn't have much daylight from Markey on policy; his entire pitch is "it's time," buoyed by a national Democratic mood that's increasingly impatient with incumbents who won't step aside.

Markey stumbled badly in a recent debate on an AI question that went viral for the wrong reasons — a real gift to Moulton's argument that Congress needs sharper, younger leadership on issues like tech regulation. But Markey has countered by rounding up endorsements from younger stars like Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, betting that progressive bona fides matter more than a birth year. It's a rerun, in some ways, of Markey's 2020 fight against Joe Kennedy III — except this time the challenger is making the age argument explicit instead of implicit.

Whoever wins faces Republican John Deaton in November, but Tuesday's result will send a real signal about whether Massachusetts Democrats are as restless as national polling suggests, or whether incumbency and progressive credentials still carry the day here. Also on the ballot: a wide-open Democratic primary for Seth Moulton's soon-to-be-vacated 6th District seat (six candidates, one late dropout — more below), the Suffolk DA primary between Kevin Hayden, Rachael Rollins, and Linda Champion, and the Republican governor primary between Brian Shortsleeve and Mike Minogue. Full story at GBH News →

Harvard's morning scare. A shelter-in-place order sent out around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday warned of a person armed with a knife or machete near 124 Mount Auburn Street. Police from Harvard, Cambridge, and the state detained a suspect within about an hour, and the order was lifted — just in time for classes to start Wednesday. WBUR →

Three teens shot near Lawrence High School at dismissal. Gunfire broke out around 3 p.m. Monday near a Lawrence Housing Authority property adjacent to the school, sending students running as classes let out. Police say the shooting wasn't random and are searching for one suspect; the FBI, State Police, and Essex County Sheriff's K-9 unit are all assisting. Boston.com →

The Burren lives. Somerville developer Copper Mill has scrapped its plan for a 500-unit, 26-story tower on the site of the beloved Davis Square Irish pub after intense neighborhood pushback. Owner Tommy McCarthy, reached by phone from Ireland, said he saw it coming based on resident feedback — a case study in how hard it still is to build density in Massachusetts even with housing shortages driving up rents everywhere else. WBUR →

A Democratic drop-out and endorsement in the 6th District. With Moulton vacating his North Shore seat to run for Senate, veterinarian and former congressional aide Mariah Lancaster exited the crowded five-way primary days before the vote and threw her support to state Representative Tram Nguyen. Nguyen, Bethany Andres-Beck, John Beccia, Jamie Belsito, and Dan Koh remain on the ballot Tuesday. Boston.com →

Suffolk sheriff trial gets personal. In the federal corruption trial of Sheriff Steven Tompkins, star witness and cannabis executive Frank Perullo read aloud years of intimate texts and emails between the two men — including "I love you" exchanges — while prosecutors argued the closeness makes Tompkins's alleged $50,000 stock shakedown even more damning. Tompkins, on leave and facing extortion charges, maintains his innocence. WBUR →

Springfield's $2 billion courthouse fight isn't over, but it's closer to done. Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office is moving to dismiss a lawsuit from losing bidders Jeb Balise and Dinesh Patel, who alleged conflicts of interest in how the state picked developer Liberty Junction. A judge already found "no legal or logical support" for those claims last week when he denied an injunction. CommonWealth Beacon →

• Polls close at 8 p.m. tonight across Massachusetts — if you moved within the last six months and haven't re-registered, you can likely still vote at your old address. WBUR →

• September 2 is the deadline for Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office to rule on whether a proposed 2028 ballot question limiting data center approvals can move forward. Boston.com →

• Tompkins' extortion trial continues in federal court this week, with more testimony expected from witness Frank Perullo. WBUR →

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Yesterday's Biggest Contributions

Big Spending This Week

Data from the MA Office of Campaign & Political Finance

Full hearing schedule →

Recent filings with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance:

Candidates

• Eliseu Desousa (Republican) — House, 13th Bristol — Filed: 8/31/2026
• Charles Bailey (Republican) — Senate, Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex — Filed: 8/27/2026

Ballot Question Committees

• Committee for Keep Cannabis Legal, Vote No on 8 — N/A, N/A — Filed: 8/28/2026

OCPF →

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