Rep. John Tierney lost a Democratic primary in Massachusetts to Marine veteran Seth Moulton Tuesday, a reminder that both parties face risks from primary challengers.
An ally of Nancy Pelosi, Tierney was widely seen as one of the most vulnerable House members. The Republican nominee, former state Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei, narrowly lost to him in 2012 during a Democratic year in the state. This cycle, national Republicans chalked up Tierney’s seat as one of the easiest to flip.
That might not be the case anymore. An Emerson poll released in the days before the election showed Tisei beating Tierney by one point in the general, but also showed Moulton winning a theoretical match-up against the Republican by eight points.
Moulton’s camp touted the poll in the primary’s final days, and Massachusetts Democratic voters seem to have been convinced that he will be the stronger candidate in November. Moulton suggested as much in his victory speech, according to the Boston Globe.
“Our win tonight says two things,” he said at his victory party. “First, that we are fed up with the gridlock in Washington. And second, that voters want to keep this seat blue.”
Republicans immediately took aim at the new competitor.
“Seth Moulton may have defeated John Tierney in the primary, but if elected to Congress Moulton would be a less effective carbon copy than the inept Tierney,” said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ian Prior in a statement.
