Memorandum
- From
- Derek Weston via FOX News
- Date
- Filed
- Politics·5 min to read
- Re
Markey and Moulton clash over transgender athletes, ICE and socialism in final Massachusetts Senate debate
ReMarkey and Moulton clash over transgender athletes, ICE and socialism in final Massachusetts Senate debate
Incumbent Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton faced off in the final Democratic Senate debate in Massachusetts, sparring over transgender athletes in women's sports, abolishing ICE, term limits and how far left the party should move.
The two Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts made their final pitch to voters Thursday night, with both incumbent Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton arguing they are best positioned to deliver on progressive priorities in the deep blue commonwealth. The debate covered transgender athletes in women's sports, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, congressional term limits and the growing influence of socialism within the Democratic Party.
The most contentious exchange came over transgender athletes. Both candidates agreed that biological males should be permitted to compete in female sports. Markey said yes when asked directly, adding that it is the law in Massachusetts and that he believes it is the correct law. Moulton then faced criticism from Markey over a comment made 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. Moulton apologized for his past remarks, saying he did not intend to hurt anyone and that Republicans were the real enemy. Markey laughed and shook his head throughout the response. Moulton argued that if Democrats do not foster this debate themselves, they are ceding the field to Republicans who will continue to put forward hateful legislation.
The exchange drew criticism from conservatives online after being highlighted by the Republican National Committee's account. Crime Prevention Research Center President John Lott posted a question about whether women boxers, runners and shot put throwers should have to compete against men, asking why Democrats keep fighting on this hill.
On immigration enforcement, both candidates called for abolishing ICE and holding the Trump administration accountable. Moulton called ICE completely corrupt and staffed by thugs, while calling for prosecutions. He said a mistake made after the first Trump administration was not doing enough to hold them accountable. Markey said he opposed ICE's creation from the beginning over what he called seeds of authoritarianism.
Both Democrats took aim at President Donald Trump. Markey called for his impeachment and accused him of using the SAVE America Act to steal 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. Moulton blamed the Democratic Party and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for failing to push back on MAGA Republicans, saying the Democratic establishment has not been effective at holding Trump accountable or winning majorities across the country.
As socialist candidates continue to gain power in the Democratic Party, both candidates urged the party to embrace the shift and move further left. Markey said his party should continue to be more progressive and focus on the priorities of young voters, pointing to Medicare-for-all and the Green New Deal. Moulton said Democrats need to break from the party establishment and focus on affordability, citing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as an example.
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. The 80-year-old senator said everyone watching the debate can see that he is more energized than ever before, adding that Moulton has a hard time keeping up with him. Moulton said he supports term limits in Congress and argued for upper age limits as well, noting that at 23 years old, Marines do not get to run for Congress.
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.
