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The two Democratic candidates for United States Senate in Massachusetts took to the debate stage on Thursday night, with both making the case to voters in the deep blue commonwealth that their campaigns are most likely to deliver on far-left agenda items.
Incumbent Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., faced pressing questions over hot-button issues, including transgender athletes participating in women’s sports, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, term limits in Congress and socialism’s growing influence within the Democratic Party during their final debate.
Transgender athletes in women’s sports
Markey and Moulton both agreed that biological males should be able to participate in female sports, with Markey saying, “Yes, I do,” when asked if that should be allowed.
“That is the law in Massachusetts, and I think it’s the correct law,” he said.
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The question of transgender athletes in sports did get contentious when Markey called out Moulton over a comment two years ago in which Moulton said he did not want his young daughters “getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete.”
Markey accused Moulton of using transgender athletes as “political fodder” and throwing them under “the political bus.”
In response, Moulton apologized for his past remarks, saying he did not intend to hurt anyone and that Republicans were the real enemy as Markey laughed and shook his head throughout the answer.
“My intention is to say, if we as Democrats don’t start making these decisions, don’t foster this debate ourselves, then we’re just ceding the field to Republicans who will continue to put forward this hateful legislation,” he said.
The exchange sparked criticism from conservatives online after it was highlighted by the Republican National Committee (RNC) X account.
“Another Democrat senator says ‘it is absolutely essential’ that males should be able to play in female sports. Should women boxers, runners, and shot put throwers have to compete against me?” Crime Prevention Research Center President John Lott posted on X. “Why do Democrats keep fighting on this hill?”
Abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Turning to immigration enforcement, Moulton and Markey both called for abolishing ICE and holding the Trump administration accountable for its actions.
Moulton called ICE “completely corrupt” and “staffed by thugs,” while calling for their prosecutions.
“I think a mistake that we made after the first Trump administration is not doing enough to hold them accountable,” he said.
Markey said he opposed ICE’s creation from the beginning over “seeds of authoritarianism.”
Casting Trump as a threat to democracy
Both Democrats took aim at President Donald Trump, with Markey calling for his impeachment and accusing him of using the SAVE America Act to “steal” the election.
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“That’s what the SAVE America Act is all about,” he said. “It’s all about stealing the election this fall.”
The GOP-backed voter integrity bill championed by Trump would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and photo ID to cast a ballot in federal elections and has faced intense Democratic opposition as well as a difficult path in the Senate.
Moulton blamed the Democratic Party and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for failing to push back on MAGA Republicans.
“The Democratic establishment, especially under Chuck Schumer, has not been effective at holding Trump accountable, has not been effective in winning majorities across the country, has not been effective at fundamentally defeating Trump and the MAGA Republicans,” he said.
Embracing the socialist push in the Democratic Party
As socialist candidates continue to gain power in the Democratic Party and win elections across the country, both candidates urged the party to embrace the shift and move even further to the left.
Markey said his party should continue to be “more progressive” and focus on the priorities of young voters when both candidates were asked what the Democratic Party needs to change as the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) continues to gain traction.
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“They support Medicare for all,” he said. “They know the healthcare system in our country is a sick care system. They want it fixed. They want a Green New Deal.”
Moulton said Democrats need to break from the party establishment and instead focus on affordability, pointing to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as an example.
“I mean, we saw this from Zohran Mamdani, mayor of New York City now,” he said.
Socialists have also gained momentum within the party after scoring several primary victories ahead of the midterms.
Term limits and questions about Sen. Markey’s age
When asked about term limits, Markey, who was first elected to the House in 1976, defended his ability to serve another term, insisting he can “do the job.”
“Well, I think everyone watching this debate can see that I’m more energized than I’ve ever been before and in my life,” the 80-year-old senator said, adding that “Congressman Moulton has a hard time keeping up with me.”
Moulton said on the stage that he supports term limits in Congress.
“I served with some of the most amazing leaders in my life in the Marines, but at 23 years old, they don’t get to run for Congress,” Moulton said. “I think we should have upper age limits as well.”
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The winner of the Sept. 1 Democratic primary will advance to the November general election to face Republican attorney and Marine veteran John Deaton in the high-profile race.
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