Seth Moulton

Seth Moulton
Official portrait, 2015
Seth Moulton
Born	Seth Wilbur Moulton 24 10, 1978
Birthplace	Salem, Massachusetts, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, former U.S. Marine Corps officer
Known for	U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district, Iraq War veteran
Education	Harvard University (BS, MBA, MPA)
Children	2
Awards	Bronze Star Medal (2) with valor, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with valor
Website	[[moulton.house.gov moulton.house.gov] Official site]

Seth Wilbur Moulton (born October 24, 1978) is an American politician and decorated United States Marine Corps combat veteran serving as the U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district since January 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, Moulton represents a district encompassing many of Boston's northern suburbs, including Andover, Marblehead, Peabody, and his hometown of Salem. Before entering politics, Moulton graduated from Harvard College with a degree in physics, served four tours of duty in the Iraq War as a Marine officer, and earned dual master's degrees in business and public administration from Harvard. He first won election to Congress in 2014 after defeating nine-term incumbent John F. Tierney in the Democratic primary, a race that drew national attention for pitting a young combat veteran against an entrenched establishment figure. Moulton briefly sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination before withdrawing in August 2019. In October 2025, he announced a campaign to challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Ed Markey in the 2026 Massachusetts Democratic primary.

Early Life

Seth Wilbur Moulton was born on October 24, 1978, in Salem, Massachusetts. He grew up in the North Shore community, which would later form part of the congressional district he would come to represent. Salem, a city with deep historical roots dating to the colonial era, served as Moulton's hometown throughout his upbringing and remained his base as he entered public life.

Moulton's early years in Massachusetts shaped his later commitment to public service. As a young man growing up in the suburbs north of Boston, he attended local schools before pursuing higher education at Harvard University. Details of his family background and formative influences became part of the public narrative when he first ran for Congress, with profiles noting the contrast between his relatively conventional New England upbringing and the extraordinary experiences he would later have as a Marine officer in combat zones.

Education

Moulton attended Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 2001. His decision to study physics at one of the nation's most prestigious universities reflected strong academic credentials, though upon graduation he chose a path far removed from the sciences.

After completing his military service, Moulton returned to Harvard to pursue graduate studies. He enrolled in a dual-degree program and earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Public Administration (MPA). The combination of business and public policy training would later inform his approach to governance and his emphasis on pragmatic, results-oriented policymaking during his congressional career.

Career

Military Service

Following his graduation from Harvard College in 2001, Moulton joined the United States Marine Corps. He served as an infantry officer and was deployed to Iraq, where he completed four tours of duty between 2003 and 2008. Moulton served with the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, one of the Marine Corps' storied infantry units, and saw extensive combat during some of the most intense periods of the Iraq War.

During his service, Moulton achieved the rank of Captain and was decorated for valor in combat. He received two Bronze Star Medals with "V" devices denoting valor, as well as the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with valor. These decorations recognized acts of bravery and meritorious service in combat operations.

Moulton's Iraq War experience profoundly influenced his political outlook. A 2015 profile in The New York Times described him as having become disillusioned with aspects of the war effort while remaining committed to public service. His military background later became central to his political identity, informing his positions on veterans' affairs, national security, and foreign policy. He appeared in the 2007 documentary No End in Sight, which examined the American occupation of Iraq.

Moulton left active duty in 2008 after seven years of military service.

2014 Congressional Campaign

In 2013, Moulton announced his intention to challenge nine-term incumbent John F. Tierney in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district. The race attracted significant attention both locally and nationally. The New Republic described the contest between Moulton and Republican nominee Richard Tisei as a "rare choice between two great candidates" for the general election.

Moulton's campaign was characterized by media coverage as an "insurgent" effort, with the decorated Marine veteran challenging an entrenched incumbent. A central issue in the primary was Tierney's 2002 vote authorizing the use of military force in Iraq, which Moulton, as a veteran of that war, used as a focal point of his challenge.

The campaign garnered notable endorsements. In August 2014, retired General Stanley McChrystal, the former commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, endorsed Moulton's congressional bid. Following his primary victory, Moulton received the endorsement of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren for the general election.

Tierney launched attacks against Moulton during the primary campaign, but the challenger prevailed in the September 2014 Democratic primary. Moulton went on to win the general election in November 2014, succeeding Tierney as the representative for the 6th district.

U.S. House of Representatives

Moulton was sworn into office on January 3, 2015, beginning his service in the 114th United States Congress. He succeeded John F. Tierney as the representative for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district, which encompasses communities across the North Shore and Merrimack Valley regions north of Boston.

Throughout his tenure in the House, Moulton has focused on issues including national security, veterans' affairs, transportation infrastructure, and technology policy. His military background has informed his positions on defense and foreign policy matters, where he has drawn on his combat experience in Iraq to advocate for positions on the use of military force.

Challenge to Nancy Pelosi

In November 2018, following the midterm elections in which Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives, Moulton spearheaded an effort to prevent Nancy Pelosi from returning as Speaker of the House. Moulton argued that the Democratic Party needed new leadership and organized a group of members who opposed Pelosi's bid. Despite these efforts, Pelosi secured the Democratic nomination for speaker on November 28, 2018, winning a vote of the Democratic caucus by a margin of 203 to 32. The failed challenge nonetheless brought Moulton national attention and positioned him as a figure within the party calling for generational change in Democratic leadership.

2020 Presidential Campaign

On April 22, 2019, Moulton announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. He campaigned across the early primary and caucus states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina during the spring of 2019. Moulton's campaign emphasized his military service, his advocacy for veterans' mental health, and his calls for new leadership within the Democratic Party.

However, the campaign struggled to gain traction in a crowded field of Democratic candidates. Moulton did not qualify for any of the 2020 Democratic Party presidential debates, which required candidates to meet polling and fundraising thresholds. On August 23, 2019, Moulton withdrew from the presidential race, acknowledging that his campaign had not garnered sufficient support to continue.

Subsequent Congressional Terms

Following his withdrawal from the presidential race, Moulton continued to serve in the House of Representatives, winning reelection in subsequent cycles. He has remained an active voice on issues of national security, veterans' policy, and infrastructure investment.

In February 2026, Moulton issued a statement opposing the use of U.S. military force against Iran, criticizing the approach taken by the Trump administration. The statement reflected Moulton's longstanding emphasis on his combat experience as a basis for evaluating military interventions, drawing on his service in Iraq to argue against what he characterized as an imprudent use of force.

Moulton has also been involved in immigration policy debates. In February 2026, he was reported to have assisted in the case of Marcelo Gomes da Silva, a Milford, Massachusetts student who had been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As part of his 2026 Senate campaign platform, Moulton called for the abolition of ICE, arguing that the agency had become dysfunctional and harmful.

2026 U.S. Senate Campaign

On October 15, 2025, Moulton announced his decision to challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Ed Markey in the Massachusetts Democratic primary for the 2026 United States Senate election. The announcement marked Moulton's second high-profile intraparty challenge, following his unsuccessful effort to unseat Nancy Pelosi from the Democratic leadership in 2018.

In early 2026, Moulton embarked on a campaign tour across Massachusetts, including visits to western parts of the state. In February 2026, he visited Hampden County as part of his Senate campaign tour, meeting with local residents. During a stop in Holyoke, Moulton highlighted transportation infrastructure, including the Compass Rail project to bring more passenger rail service between Boston, Springfield, and Albany, as a key campaign issue. He also toured western Massachusetts to make his case to voters outside the Boston metropolitan area.

Moulton's campaign platform has included calls for the abolition of ICE, protections for fishing industry workers, and support for offshore wind energy funding, along with his broader argument for new leadership in the U.S. Senate. The campaign has drawn commentary from political observers in Massachusetts, with some questioning the strategic wisdom of challenging an incumbent senator from within the same party.

Personal Life

Moulton resides in Salem, Massachusetts, his hometown and a community within the congressional district he has represented since 2015. In June 2017, The Boston Globe reported that Moulton had announced his engagement. He has two children.

Moulton has spoken publicly about his experiences with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to his military service in Iraq. His willingness to discuss his own mental health challenges has been connected to his advocacy for veterans' mental health services and broader efforts to reduce the stigma associated with PTSD among military veterans.

Recognition

Moulton's military service earned him significant recognition. He received two Bronze Star Medals with "V" devices for valor, one of the U.S. military's highest awards for heroic achievement in combat. He also received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with valor for his service during the Iraq War.

His 2014 congressional campaign drew national media attention as an example of a new generation of military veterans entering politics. The endorsement of retired General Stanley McChrystal was noted as a significant marker of Moulton's standing among military leaders. His appearances on C-SPAN and coverage by national outlets including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and NPR have reflected his profile as a member of Congress with a prominent military background.