Welcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.Welcome to September! We may be nine weeks away from the general election, but we’re still not done with primary season.In today’s edition, Bridget Bowman and Ben Kamisar break down the key races to watch in Massachusetts.
Plus, Natasha Korecki gives us a Chicago history lesson.— Adam WollnerSign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.Massachusetts primary puts Democrats’ generational divides on displayBy Bridget Bowman and Ben KamisarToday’s primaries in Massachusetts have turned into the latest battlefield in the Democratic Party’s generational divide, with several longtime legislators facing off against younger challengers.Here are the races to watch.Massachusetts Senate: 80-year-old Democratic Sen.
Ed Markey is trying to fend off a primary challenge from 47-year-old Rep.Seth Moulton.The matchup comes six years after Markey defeated another Democrat more than 30 years his junior, then-Rep.
Joe Kennedy III by 11 points.As Steve Kornacki noted in his “Data Dive” newsletter, an electorate that was heavy on college graduates provided Markey with a critical boost in that primary.Moulton is betting that a lot has changed since 2020, particularly with President Donald Trump’s 2024 victory fueling new levels of angst and thirst for change within the Democratic Party.
But Markey is looking to tap into the energy on the left that has buoyed progressives in primaries across the country this year.Massachusetts’ 8th District: Rep.Stephen Lynch, 71, is seeking his 14th term in Congress.
But Patrick Roath, a 39-year-old former aide to former Gov.Deval Patrick, is pushing Lynch from the left, outraising the incumbent and outspending him significantly on the airwaves.Lynch has rankled progressives over the years, breaking with the majority of hi...