Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) has a vision for Swampscott and its MBTA station. 

“My vision is you walk to Swampscott Station. You stand there covered because we tell you to take the train and then you’re just there out in the rain, and you have a train every eight minutes to anywhere in eastern Massachusetts,” Moulton told the Swampscott Tides. “That’s what we need. That’s the dream.”

Moulton is challenging Sen. Edward Markey in the Democratic primary ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. He said part of his motivation to run comes from what he described as “failed leadership in our own party,” adding that during President Donald Trump’s second term, Trump “is hurting a lot of people in Massachusetts and across America.”

On Friday, Moulton met with more than 100 constituents in Salem, sharing his ideas for “new leadership in our Commonwealth, in our country, in our party.” 

For Moulton, the rail system all goes back to affordability and its impacts on housing, health care and education. 

“One of the big problems for Massachusetts is we have people moving out,” Moulton said. “We’re losing revenues because people are leaving. Why are they leaving? Because housing is too expensive, because they’re losing health care coverage, or they don’t think they’re getting a good education — because Massachusetts has, on average, the best education in the country but some of the worst schools in certain communities.”

Moulton said this is why he is focused on an “affordability agenda.” 

His agenda argues there are “two Americas”: a well-connected, wealthy group and one “for everyone else.” Moulton’s “American Affordability Agenda” looks to “level the playing field and provide every American with a strong foundation for achieving the American Dream.”

For immediate help in the housing sector, Moulton’s plan calls for banning private equity firms from the real estate market, providing additional mortgage support for homebuyers, giving renters more negotiating power and protecting food assistance so families don’t have to choose between paying rent or buying food.

In the long term, Moulton said he wants to build more homes in Massachusetts by investing in the rail system, expanding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and lowering energy costs.

“One of the best things we can do for housing is improve our rail system,” Moulton told the Swampscott Tides. “If it was faster than driving to get around eastern Massachusetts, that’s the key. Not a ‘you have to take the T because it’s always slow or it’s always late but you don’t have a car.’ No. I want the richest people in Swampscott to want to take the train because it’s faster than driving and every bit as nice.”

In turn this will create more housing, Moulton said. 

“Because people are going to have access to jobs from all different parts of Commonwealth,” Moulton said. “Everyone’s going to be like ‘I want to take the train and I want to be able to just walk from my apartment or my house.’ You’re going to have a lot of private sector development of housing, not just taxpayer-funded, subsidized housing.”

Moulton said this goes in hand with “not just affordable housing but also work force housing.”

“We need more housing on all levels,” Moulton said. 

Polling from the fall shows Markey with a sizable lead. A Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll conducted November 25 found Markey ahead of Moulton, 45% to 22%, among Massachusetts registered voters. An earlier UMass Amherst/WCVB poll from November showed 51% support for Markey compared to 28% for Moulton.

Moulton did raise more money than Markey, however, to round out 2025.