U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton has qualified for the Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary ballot after securing enough delegate support at the state party convention, setting up a challenge against incumbent Sen. Ed Markey.

Moulton, a moderate Democrat representing Massachusetts's 6th congressional district, cleared the ballot threshold on Saturday during the state Democratic Party's endorsement process. The achievement allows him to appear on the primary ballot without needing to collect thousands of voter signatures.

Despite Moulton's ballot qualification, Sen. Ed Markey won the official endorsement from Massachusetts Democrats at the same convention. The endorsement provides Markey with organizational support and resources heading into the primary contest.

The primary race will pit Moulton's moderate positioning against Markey's progressive record in the Senate. Markey has served in the Senate since 2013, when he won a special election to fill John Kerry's seat after Kerry became Secretary of State.

The Massachusetts Democratic primary is scheduled for later this year, with the winner expected to face minimal Republican opposition in the general election given the state's Democratic lean.