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NEEDHAM — U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton argued over affordability, the Iran war, and artificial intelligence during their final debate in the race for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.
The tenor of the exchange between incumbent Markey, 80, and challenger Moulton, 47, in the hourlong debate held at the WCVB studios was a marked de-escalation from the Aug. 3 debate, when personal barbs stole the headlines. The Boston Globe and WBUR also co-sponsored Thursday night’s event.
Key election dates
The Massachusetts primary election is Sept. 1, with polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The early voting period ends Aug. 28.
Markey entered the debate with a double-digit advantage, according to recent polls by the University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB and Suffolk University/Boston Globe. But Moulton entered with some energy behind him in the aftermath of the Aug. 18 endorsement of his candidacy by The Boston Globe editorial board.
Rising prices factored into many responses to questions from the panelists, including: Tiziana Dearing, host of WBUR’s Morning Edition; Sharman Sacchetti, a WCVB political reporter and host; and Adrian Walker, a columnist at the Globe.
Walker began the debate asking how the candidates would move forward in a bipartisan manner to lower the cost of living.
“The number-one thing we should do in Washington today is stop this illegal war,” Moulton said. “That will immediately bring down gas prices and other prices.”
When Walker asked which item prices have surprised the candidates in recent months, Markey also pointed to the war in Iran as key.
“Every item,” Markey answered. “Because of this illegal, unconstitutional war in Iran, the price of energy has skyrocketed.
“It’s the price of gasoline,” he continued. “It’s the price of electricity. It’s the price of natural gas. But it ripples through every single product.”
Moulton used more tangible examples to answer Walker.
“Eggs and milk,” he said, “something that I use when I cook breakfast for the girls at home, my 5-year-old and 7-year-old, just about every day. It’s a lot more expensive for families now across Massachusetts and across America.”
Immigration and transgender rights
Markey and Moulton have repeatedly called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the aggressive mass deportation campaign that has seen over 600,000 people booked into ICE detention centers during the second Trump presidency.
When Sacchetti asked them what would replace the agency, the candidates emphasized accountability.
“Immigration enforcement should go back into the Department of Justice, where it was before the Department of Homeland Security was created,” Moulton said. “ICE needs to be abolished because the organization is completely corrupt. It’s staffed by thugs. And that’s why I was the first in this race to say that they need to be prosecuted as well.”
Moulton also touted his co-sponsorship of articles of impeachment against former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
“It’s a great example of someone who needs to be held accountable,” he said. “She doesn’t just get to ride off on her horse into the sunset. She needs to be held accountable for her crimes and corruption.”
Markey noted that he opposed creating ICE when he voted against the Homeland Security Act of 2002 as a congressman, a vote he has emphasized on the campaign trail.
“I could see the seeds of authoritarianism that was built into it,” he said. “That’s why we need to hold it accountable.”
“We need to put together an orderly immigration system in our country,” Markey added when Sacchetti pressed him on what would come after ICE. “We have to open up the whole debate in Congress over a legalized pathway to citizenship for all 11 [million] immigrants who are here right now.”
Markey also doubled down on his criticism of the U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump Administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians when Dearing asked about Massachusetts’ healthcare worker shortage and affordability.
“I’m working with [U.S. Rep.] Ayanna Pressley to make sure Trump does not deport 45,000 Haitians,” he said. “Those workers are in our nursing homes. They’re inside of our hospitals.”
Moulton, confronted once again over his 2024 comments about transgender girls participating in female youth sports leagues, repeatedly made the same bid for an apology he made at the Aug. 3 debate.
“Trans people are under assault by this administration across the country,” he said. “And if you are someone who’s feeling the weight of this administration, I want you to know that you belong, you matter, and I will have your back.
“To anyone hurt by my comments: I’m sorry, because that was not my intention,” Moulton continued. “My intention was to say we need to take on these issues. We need to have this debate and not cede it to Republicans.”
Markey retorted that it was too little, too late.
“You threw those trans kids under the political bus,” he said. “Those families were hurt.”
Markey said he supported transgender girls playing in female youth sports. Moulton said he did as well, “with a discussion about where we have issues of safety and fairness.”
Artificial intelligence
The debate ended on questions surrounding artificial intelligence technology and its governance. Moulton parried the question into an opportunity to emphasize his relative youth versus Markey.
“This is another place where we need the generation that grew up with the internet and is gonna have to live for decades with the consequences of AI to chart the way forward,” he said.
Markey retorted by emphasizing his leadership as a congressman on the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Internet Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, and in the Senate on the Green New Deal as evidence of his ability to lead on technological issues.
“I have been a leader on those issues throughout my career,” said Markey, “because of the clear and palpable danger which has been presented both to our climate and to the children of our country.”
Walker asked both candidates if they personally use AI platforms in their work. He specifically named Claude and ChatGPT.
“I use whatever is inside of my iPhone and my iPad,” Markey said. “I don’t know what companies my iPad might be using, but if it does in fact provide me with the information which I am asking the device to give to me, then of course I’m using it.”
“Yes, I use AI,” Moulton answered. “We’re very careful about how to use it, to use it honestly, to use it effectively.
“These are tools that can help, but they’re also tools that need protections,” Moulton continued. “And, with all due respect, Senator, if you don’t even know what you’re using on your phone or your iPad, this is why we need a new generation of leaders to regulate these technologies.”
Markey defended his statement.
“It doesn’t make any difference whether it’s called Siri or it’s called Claude,” he said. “We need to build safeguards around it, and that is what my legislation is accomplishing.”
The winner of the Sept. 1 primary will go on to the general election against Republican John Deaton.
Contact Kevin G. Andrade at kandrade@newbedfordlight.org
Markey comes across as such a pathetic little man with his inability to recognize that it’s long past time to call it quits. As a moderate Dem under the age of 70 I’m glad to no longer live in MA where I’d have to be ashamed of both of my senators.
Massachusetts is state that is spiraling out of control and the leadership from Markey is part of the problem. We need new leadership, he is not helping the residents of Massachusetts, and should be voted out of office.