Iraq Vet Beats Incumbent in Democratic House Primary

Seth Moulton unseats John Tierney in Massachusetts
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 10, 2014 12:00 AM CDT
Iraq Vet Beats Incumbent in Democratic House Primary
US Rep. John Tierney speaks to supporters at the Hawthorne Hotel after he conceded defeat in the 6th Congressional District to Seth Moulton last night.   (AP Photo/The Boston Herald, Patrick Whittemore)

For the fourth time this primary season, a House incumbent has been defeated—and there were no Tea Partiers in sight this time. John Tierney, a nine-term Democrat in Massachusetts, was defeated by 35-year-old Iraq veteran Seth Moulton, reports the Wall Street Journal. The former Marine captain had the support of an organization that backs Democratic veterans running for office and the endorsement of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, while Tierney had the support of the state's Democratic establishment but was hindered by a family gambling scandal, the Washington Post reports.

In November, Moulton will run against Richard Tisei in the state's 6th District, reports the Boston Globe. Tisei nearly defeated Tierney in 2012—and he would have become Capitol Hill's first openly gay Republican if he had. "Our win tonight says two things," Moulton said at his victory party last night. "First, that we are fed up with the gridlock in Washington. And second, that voters want to keep this seat blue." In another closely watched primary yesterday, former senator from Massachusetts Scott Brown won the GOP Senate nomination in New Hampshire. (More Massachusetts stories.)

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