As someone who voted for Ed Markey on Tuesday, I'm not sure I can fully embrace your analysis. Every incumbent won in a state wide primary. Richard Neal, who is the chair of the House Ways and Means Committe defeated a progressive challenger. Stephen Lynch and Seth Moulton did the same.

In an open race for the statehouse the candidate endorsed by the previous representative won.

I see the Massachusetts primaries demonstrating the power of incumbency and the need for experience. Longer serving members have access to important leadership posts. Trump's feckless business and leadership style can't be applied to a constitutional democracy. Anyone can break an institution. Healing and improving an institution is incredibly hard.

As a final point, Kennedy is very young. If Elizabeth Warren is given a post in the Biden administration or either Warren of Biden steps down after their current term then Kennedy will be well positioned to earn the seat. He might also jump into the governor's race next year.

For overwhelming progressive success at the polls we need more progressive voters. That is the challenge of the present and for some time to come.