Why Mass. Democratic incumbents are skipping primary debates
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Deehan here with Spill of the Hill, my column unraveling Massachusetts politics.
Massachusetts Democratic incumbents are sitting out debates — and letting their challengers fill the void against the GOP.
Why it matters: Two of the state's highest-profile primaries heading into September haven't seen any public in-person head-to-head matchups.
- Instead, Democratic challengers Seth Moulton and Patrick Roath appeared with Republican candidates when the incumbents didn't show up.
State of play: Moulton debated Republican attorney John Deaton on WBZ last Monday night without incumbent Sen. Ed Markey, who declined the invitation.
- In the MA-08 race for Rep. Stephen Lynch's Boston and South Shore seat, challenger Roath has called for at least three debates in Boston, Quincy and Brockton this summer.
- Lynch hasn't responded.
Between the lines: Markey is running an active campaign for reelection and Lynch has stayed active in other settings.
- Lynch addressed roughly 50 constituents at the Columbia-Savin Hill Civic Association last month, focusing on Medicaid cuts.
- Markey has agreed to three one-on-one Democratic primary debates with Moulton -- one in July and two in August.
Moulton pressed his case for generational change while on stage next to Deaton, arguing Democrats need "a new generation of leadership."
- Roath has been more direct in his messaging: "If Congressman Lynch can't take the heat from a candidate forum or town hall or debate in his district, how can we possibly trust him to fight back against Trump and MAGA extremists in DC?" he told Axios.
Lynch wasn't at the first candidate forum of this cycle or the West End Civic Association forum earlier this month, his campaign telling Axios he was busy in Washington.
- In the West End, Republican challenger Robert Burke exchanged hostilities with the mostly liberal audience while Roath pressed his case against Lynch.
- Lynch hosted his last in-person town hall in 2019.
- He held a virtual town hall in May.
The intrigue: Lynch called for multiple debates in 2013 when he went up against Markey in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
- The pair agreed to six debates ahead of the primary.
The other side: Markey's campaign manager said the senator was in Washington fighting for Massachusetts families last week and accused Moulton of handing a platform to a "MAGA candidate" just by showing up.
- Lynch's camp told WBUR last year the congressman was "laser-focused" on fighting the Trump administration. His campaign did not respond to Axios' request for specifics on his schedule.
What's next: Moulton and Markey are scheduled to debate in late August just before the Sept. 1 primary. No debate has been scheduled in the MA-08 congressional race.