Politics

New polls show Markey leading Moulton, but Pressley could pose serious challenge

In a hypothetical three-way race, Rep. Ayanna Pressley would narrowly edge out Sen. Ed Markey and beat Rep. Seth Moulton, a new Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll found.

Sen. Ed Markey gives Rep. Ayanna Pressley a pat on the back at a press conference focused on food insecurity in October. David L. Ryan/Boston Globe

By Ross Cristantiello

November 25, 2025

3 minutes to read

Two new polls released this week show that Sen. Ed Markey could have a tough fight for reelection on his hands next year, especially if Rep. Ayanna Pressley gets into the race alongside Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton.

Markey is a progressive fixture in Massachusetts politics who is generally well-liked among the Democratic electorate. But he will be 80 years old on Election Day, and is seeking another six-year term in a political environment where voters increasingly feel like the Democratic Party has a problem with gerontocracy. Moulton, 47, falls more towards the ideological center than Markey, and is basing his campaign around the premise that it is time for a new generation of leaders.

Pressley has not officially entered the race or clearly indicated that she intends to do so. But she is reportedly considering a run and quietly speaking to allies about the possibility. Pressley, 51, could make a similar age-related argument as Moulton. She is also one of the most notable progressives in the House of Representatives, and could eat away at Markey’s more left-leaning base of support. The poll results released this week could further embolden her.

A University of New Hampshire poll found that 34% of likely voters favor Markey, compared to 25% who would vote for Moulton if the election were held today. But a whopping 35% are still undecided.

The UNH poll also found that Pressley is well-liked among the likely voters, with 74% of respondents saying that they had a favorable view of her. The poll found that 55% have a favorable view of Markey, and just 34% have a favorable view of Moulton.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has an even higher favorability rating than Pressley, but she recently secured a second term and has shown no indications of wanting to run for Markey’s seat.

A new Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll found that, in a head-to-head matchup, Markey is leading Moulton with 45% of the support among likely voters, compared to Moulton’s 22%.

But in a three-way race, Pressley would garner 35% of the support, narrowly edging out Markey’s 34%. Moulton’s support would drop to 16% of likely voters in this scenario, according to the Suffolk poll.

Last month, a UMass Amherst/WCVB poll found that about 51% of likely Democratic primary voters favor Markey, compared to just 28% who would vote for Moulton.

The new polls also sought to test how concerned voters are with Markey’s age. According to the UNH poll, 54% of likely voters believe that Markey is “definitely” or “probably” fit to serve another term. About 27% believe that he would likely not be physically or mentally capable of spending another six years in the Senate, while 19% are unsure.

The Suffolk poll asked likely voters whether political candidates should be barred from running for office once they reach a certain age. About 58% of respondents said that it depends on the individual candidate, while 38% said that age limits are needed.

“The idea that you can beat Markey in a Democratic primary just based on his age does not hold water in the poll,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, in a statement.

In deep-blue Massachusetts, the winner of the Democratic primary would likely have an easy time in the general election.

Cryptocurrency advocate and personal injury lawyer John Deaton secured the endorsement of the Massachusetts Republican Party’s governing board last week, likely clearing the primary field of other Republicans. Deaton challenged Sen. Elizabeth Warren last year, running as a moderate in the mold of former Gov. Charlie Baker. Warren handily beat him with 60% of the vote.

In a hypothetical matchup between Markey and Deaton, the former would triumph with 54% of the vote, according to the Suffolk poll. If it came down to Moulton and Deaton, Moulton would win with about 52% of the vote.

In any event, concerns about affordability will likely be front and center in next year’s political debates. When asked about the most important problem facing Massachusetts, 28% of likely voters said that housing was what worried them, according to the UNH poll. About 18% of respondents said that the cost of living was the most important problem. No other response garnered more than 7% of respondents.

According to the Suffolk poll, 39% of respondents rated the U.S. economy as “poor,” while 38% rated it as “fair.” This combination, where 77% of respondents do not see the economy as strong, is much higher than last year. A Suffolk poll from October 2024 found that 59% of respondents rated the economy as “poor” or “fair.”

Next fall, voters could decide whether to enact statewide rent control. Despite opposition from the powerful real estate industry and skepticism from rent control proponents like Wu, voters are supportive of the idea. The Suffolk poll found that close to 63% of respondents would support the proposed ballot measure.