For those Democrats still recovering from the 2024 election, the Massachusetts Democratic primary is a jumpscare(突然惊吓；惊悚片中的吓人镜头). Ed Markey, who has spent half a century(半个世纪（50年）) in Congress, will be 86 by the end of his next term if he is re-elected. Mr Markey’s primary challenger, Seth Moulton, meanwhile, credits four tours of duty(服役期；任务期) in the Iraq war as his motivation. The 47-year-old has made age the defining contrast(决定性对比；最鲜明的差异) between them. “With everything we learned last election,” he says in an advertisement, “I just don’t believe Senator Markey should be running for another six-year term at 80 years old.” Mr Markey is not alone in his tenacity(顽强；固执). Just one-third of the 24octogenarians(八旬老人（80-89岁）) up for re-election this year have announced their plans to retire from office(从公职退休) (see chart).
对于仍在从2024年大选中恢复的民主党人来说，马萨诸塞州民主党初选犹如一场惊悚片。已在国会任职半个世纪的埃德·马基，若再次当选，到任期结束时将年满86岁。与此同时，马基的初选挑战者塞思·莫尔顿将他在伊拉克战争的四次服役视为自己的动力。这位47岁的候选人将年龄作为两人之间的决定性对比。他在一则广告中说：“鉴于我们在上次选举中学到的一切，我实在不相信马基参议员应该在80岁高龄时竞选另一个六年任期。”马基并非唯一执着的人。在24位今年竞选连任的八旬老人中，只有三分之一宣布了退休计划（见图表）。
The race between Messrs Moulton and Markey offers a clear case study(案例研究；个案分析) of the gap between voters’ stated and revealed preferences(陈述偏好与显示偏好). In survey after survey Americans say they want a new generation of leaders. Yet in practice they make exceptions(破例；例外对待), weighing age against other factors and deciding it matters less than they claim. Voters seem admirably(令人钦佩地；值得称赞地) untarnished by ageism(年龄歧视). In the most recent polls Mr Markey leads Mr Moulton by a comfortable 16 points.
莫尔顿先生与马基先生之间的竞选提供了一个清晰的案例研究，展示了选民表态偏好与揭示偏好之间的差距。在一次次调查中，美国人表示他们希望新一代领导人。然而在实践中，他们却破例，将年龄与其他因素权衡，并认为年龄并没有他们声称的那么重要。选民似乎值得称赞地没有受到年龄歧视的影响。在最新民调中，马基先生以舒适的16个百分点领先莫尔顿先生。
One explanation is path-dependent(路径依赖的): voters are often not offered the alternative they might have preferred. Mr Markey’s most compelling potential rival, Ayanna Pressley, a 52-year-old congresswoman whose position on the left of the party would play well in a primary, never mounted a challenge. Polling suggested she would have been competitive. But Mr Markey consolidated(巩固；加强) support across the party early on, securing endorsements from Elizabeth Warren (aged 76), his fellow Massachusetts senator, and various trade unions. Older incumbents make formidable opponents(强大的对手；令人生畏的对手) because they have deeper pockets(更深的财力；资金更雄厚) and more establishment support(体制支持；既得利益集团支持). Ultimately, Ms Pressley announced she would seek re-election(寻求连任) in the House instead.
一种解释是路径依赖：选民往往没有机会选择他们可能更喜欢的替代人选。马基最有力的潜在对手阿安娜·普雷斯利，一位52岁的女众议员，她在党内左翼的立场在初选中会很受欢迎，但她从未发起挑战。民调显示她本会有竞争力。但马基早早巩固了全党支持，获得了马萨诸塞州参议员伊丽莎白·沃伦（76岁）以及多个工会的背书。年长的现任者之所以成为可怕的对手，是因为他们有更深厚的资金和更多的机构支持。最终，普雷斯利宣布她将在众议院寻求连任。
