Seth Moulton is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Massachusetts's 6th congressional district since 2015. Prior to his political career, Moulton served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Seth Wilbur Moulton was born on October 24, 1978.
Seth Moulton graduated from Phillips Academy in 1997.
In 2001, Seth Moulton gave the Undergraduate English Oration at his Harvard College commencement, where he emphasized the importance of service.
Seth Moulton graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Science in physics in 2001.
After attending Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, Seth Moulton graduated in 2002 with the rank of second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.
During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Seth Moulton led one of the first infantry platoons into Baghdad. He also took part in the Battle of Nasiriyah, where he assisted a wounded Marine and was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for valor.
In 2003, Seth Moulton, alongside his Iraqi interpreter Mohammed Harba, co-hosted a television program titled "Moulton and Mohammed." The program, aimed at U.S. servicemen and Iraqi citizens, discussed regional conditions after the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Seth Moulton was prominently featured in the 2007 Academy Award-nominated documentary "No End in Sight," where he criticized the U.S. government's handling of the Iraq occupation.
After leaving the Marines in 2008, Seth Moulton pursued a dual-degree program at Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School.
In 2008, during his fourth tour in Iraq, Seth Moulton served as a special liaison to tribal leaders at the request of General David Petraeus. After this tour, he was honorably discharged as a captain.
Seth Moulton completed a total of four tours of duty in Iraq between 2003 and 2008.
Seth Moulton earned master's degrees in business and public policy in 2011 and co-founded Eastern Healthcare Partners.
Seth Moulton considered running as an Independent against Democratic Representative John F. Tierney in 2012 for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district but decided against it due to logistical challenges and time constraints.
Seth Moulton announced his candidacy for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district in the 2014 election on July 8, 2013.
In February 2014, Seth Moulton returned a campaign donation from a Republican political action committee after facing criticism and accusations of holding conservative views.
In October 2014, Seth Moulton faced criticism when he withdrew from a debate to attend Democratic fundraisers in New York, a decision his Republican opponent criticized.
In October 2014, during Seth Moulton's congressional run, the Boston Globe reported that his company, Eastern Healthcare Partners, had no revenue and had closed its Massachusetts office, raising questions about his business experience.
In the 2014 congressional race, Seth Moulton challenged incumbent John F. Tierney in the Democratic primary. The race garnered national and regional media attention for its competitiveness.
Seth Moulton entered politics and was elected to represent Massachusetts's 6th congressional district in 2014.
Seth Moulton opposed sending U.S. troops back to Iraq in 2014.
Seth Moulton was sworn into the 114th United States Congress on January 3, 2015.
In 2015, Seth Moulton became the U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district.
In 2015, Seth Moulton showed his support for increasing the federal minimum wage by co-sponsoring a bill aiming to raise it to $12 an hour.
In March 2016, Seth Moulton drew a parallel between the rise of Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler's ascent to power in 1930s Germany. He suggested that understanding Hitler's election could shed light on how an educated society might elect a demagogue.
On June 15, 2016, Seth Moulton appeared on the cover of the New York Daily News with the headline "No Civilian Should Own This Gun." This was in reference to his stance on the restriction of semi-automatic assault weapons. The cover featured an image of Moulton during his deployment in Iraq, holding an M4 carbine.
Seth Moulton ran unopposed for reelection in 2016.
Seth Moulton announced his engagement to Liz Boardman, a senior client partner at an executive search firm, on June 23, 2017.
On September 22, 2017, Seth Moulton and Liz Boardman were married at the Old North Church in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Liz took on Moulton's last name.
In 2017, Seth Moulton founded Serve America, a political action committee dedicated to supporting candidates with national service backgrounds, particularly in the military. The organization aims to elect such candidates by providing them with a network for support, advice, and community building.
In September 2018, Seth Moulton joined Representatives Elise Stefanik and Dan Donovan in co-sponsoring the "Cyber Ready Workforce Act." This legislation aimed to address the shortage of cybersecurity professionals by establishing a grant program within the Department of Labor to promote and expand registered apprenticeships in the field.
Seth Moulton and Liz Moulton welcomed their first child in October 2018.
On November 28, 2018, despite previously gathering signatures to replace Nancy Pelosi as the Democrats' leader, Seth Moulton voted for her as Speaker of the House.
On December 13, 2018, Seth Moulton declared his support for the Green New Deal, highlighting the threat of climate change to national security and emphasizing the economic and environmental benefits of the proposal.
In 2018, Serve America played a significant role in the Democratic Party gaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives. The PAC raised over $7.5 million for endorsed candidates, many of whom were first-time candidates who successfully flipped Republican seats.
Seth Moulton won reelection with 65.2% of the vote in 2018. He also created the Serve America PAC, dedicated to supporting Democratic candidates with national service backgrounds.
In February 2019, Seth Moulton voiced his support for a $15 federal minimum wage, further solidifying his stance on this issue.
Seth Moulton began exploring a potential campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, hiring staff and visiting early primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire in March 2019.
On April 22, 2019, Seth Moulton announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020.
In 2019, Seth Moulton publicly announced that he was experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from his time serving in the Marine Corps.
Seth Moulton has consistently advocated for renewable energy expansion, energy grid diversification, carbon pricing, and a ban on fossil fuel extraction on federal lands. He voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes significant investments in renewable energy. In 2019, he expressed support for nuclear energy as a safe and worthwhile investment for the future and backed increased research and development of fusion power.
Seth Moulton criticized President Trump's withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and his use of tariffs in 2019. Moulton argued for a return to the TPP negotiations and a more comprehensive trade strategy that prioritizes alliances in the Pacific region.
Further demonstrating his commitment to environmental protection, Seth Moulton voted in favor of the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act in 2019.
Seth Moulton and his wife, Liz, announced they were expecting their second child on August 29, 2020.
Seth Moulton walked out during President Trump's 2020 State of the Union address in protest of Trump's remarks about the military. He criticized Trump's history of allegedly mocking service members and veterans.
Seth Moulton withdrew from the 2020 Presidential race.
Following Seth Moulton's withdrawal from the 2020 presidential race, then-President Donald Trump sarcastically tweeted about the event, suggesting it caused a dip in the stock market.
Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election.
In the 2020 election cycle, Serve America continued its support for candidates with national service experience. The PAC endorsed several first-time candidates who won, including Mark Kelly and Jake Auchincloss, and re-endorsed numerous successful incumbents.
In early 2019, Seth Moulton was considered a potential candidate for the 2020 presidential election.
Seth and Liz Moulton's second child was born in February 2021.
On August 24, 2021, Seth Moulton and Republican Representative Peter Meijer made an unannounced trip to Kabul airport during the evacuation of Americans and allies. The move, intended to provide guidance to the Biden administration, was met with criticism for causing distraction and diverting resources.
Seth Moulton criticized President Biden's handling of the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, particularly the chaotic evacuation of Afghan allies. He co-sponsored the WELCOMED Act to provide support and resettlement benefits to Afghan SIV recipients, which was signed into law by President Biden on October 1, 2021.
Serve America continued its mission in the 2022 election cycle by endorsing six first-time candidates who successfully won their elections.
Seth Moulton won reelection in 2022 with 62.9% of the vote but refused to debate his Republican opponent, Bob May, labeling him an "election denier" for refusing to acknowledge Joe Biden's 2020 presidential victory.
In January 2023, Seth Moulton demonstrated his support for lowering the voting age by co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would grant 16- and 17-year-old citizens the right to vote.
On July 4, 2024, Seth Moulton became the third U.S. Representative to publicly call for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 United States presidential election.