Progress in Washington versus the need for change within the Democratic Party emerged as a central theme when Senate candidates Ed Markey and Seth Moulton faced off in their first public debate ahead of the September 1 primary election.

The candidates met in Chicopee on Wednesday for an hour of questions and rebuttals during a debate hosted by 22News.

Markey, the incumbent, has served in the Senate since July 2013 and is seeking a third full term. Moulton has represented Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District since 2015 and is vacating his House seat at the end of the year.

The candidates fielded questions on their experience, health care, transgender rights and other issues.

As expected, both campaigns claimed success after the debate. Moulton’s campaign declared victory, while Markey’s campaign accused Moulton of misleading voters on several issues.

Throughout the debate, Markey highlighted his legislative accomplishments and ongoing priorities in Washington. Moulton countered by arguing that the Democratic Party needs new leadership and broader electoral success to regain control of Congress and enact meaningful change.

After opening statements, the first question asked Markey whether his age, 79, would affect his ability to continue serving Massachusetts.

The discussion quickly shifted to the candidates’ personal finances.

“He has taken advantage of sweetheart deal opportunities which private equity companies have given to him,” Markey said of Moulton. “He’s been allowed to invest in those funds and he has now reaped millions of dollars of opportunities from those investments. That’s just plain wrong. It should be illegal.”

Moulton said that he has been completely transparent about his finances and claimed Markey has not done the same.

“Sen. Markey has invested in 14 companies that appear before his committee and he has refused to disclose his family’s finances,” said Moulton before asking Markey if he would disclose his finances.

Markey replied that Moulton was referring to investments in mutual funds, which he said are available to any member of the public.

Following the debate, Markey’s campaign said the senator was the first candidate in the race to release both his tax returns and personal financial disclosure.

Another question addressed the Democratic Party’s ideological direction, asking whether it should continue moving further to the left.

“Where you may see an ideological debate, I see establishment versus change,” said Moulton. “We need a united Democratic Party with a lot of different perspectives to take on Trump…I welcome all next generation candidates who are stepping up and challenging the establishment.”

Moulton said he respects Markey’s years of public service but argued that Democratic leadership has not effectively responded while Republicans control the White House, House of Representatives and Senate.

“It’s not your age, it’s the age of your ideas that are important,” responded Markey. “In this race, I’m the youngest guy. These young people across the country, they want change. They want fundamental change. They want Medicare for all because they are living in a health care crisis.”

Markey criticized Moulton’s position on Medicare for All, saying Moulton does not support the proposal. Moulton, in turn, said he supports universal health care through Medicare for anyone who chooses it but does not believe people should be forced to give up their existing private insurance.

Referencing multiple concerns he hears from constituents, Moulton pointed to his statewide town hall meetings.

“I’m holding my 50th town hall across the state,” said Moulton. “I hear these concerns every single day because I show up for voters. And with all due respect to the senator, you’ve held one town hall, not 50. People need a senator who shows up.”

Markey fired back by highlighting endorsements from local officials, including several in Moulton’s district.

“I show up,” said Markey. “There’s a reason why the mayor of Springfield has endorsed me…They’re endorsing me because I show up. In fact, in Congressman Moulton’s own district, his largest city Lynn, the mayor of Lynn is endorsing me. The mayor of Salem is endorsing me in his congressional district because they know when they have a call to make and they want something done, if they call me I will get it done for them. That is the big difference between the two of us.”

One issue on which the candidates largely agreed was the President Donald Trump administration’s plan to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants living in the U.S.

“I’m partnering with Congresswoman Ayana Pressley,” said Markey. “She has the legislation in the House of Representatives to be able to guarantee 45,000 people are not sent back to Haiti. If it’s too dangerous for Americans to be able to go to Haiti, it’s going to be too dangerous to send back these Haitians who live in fear right now.”

Markey added that many Haitian immigrants work in hospitals and nursing homes and said ending their protected status would have economic consequences.

“This is a disgusting travesty that we are talking about sending Haitians not only back, but some kids who grew up in America have never even been to Haiti, when the country is unsafe to travel to for Americans,” Moulton said. “The reality is that this is the result of a MAGA controlled Supreme Court.”

The candidates concluded the debate with closing statements and several lighthearted questions.

Massachusetts voters will cast their ballots on September 1 in the Democratic primary. The winner will face presumed Republican nominee John Deaton in the November general election.

A new University of New Hampshire poll that came out last week suggests that Markey’s lead over Moulton is narrowing. Among likely Democratic primary voters, 41% said they support Markey, while 35% back Moulton. An additional 24% are still undecided, and 1% would vote for another candidate.

Markey’s support has fallen from 46% in April. Undecided voters have increased in the last two months as well, rising from 15%.

Polling from May similarly found Markey holding a five-point lead over Moulton. The Emerson College Polling found Markey leading 37% to 32%, with 29% of voters undecided.

An April 15 poll by the Suffolk University Political Research Center and the Boston Globe showed 79-year-old incumbent Markey at 47%, while 47-year-old Iraq War veteran Moulton had edged up to 30.4%.