Democrat wins US Senate election in Massachusetts

BOSTON (AP) — Longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Edward Markey defeated Republican political newcomer Gabriel Gomez in a special election on Tuesday for the state's U.S. Senate seat long held by John Kerry.

Markey, 66, won the early backing of Kerry and much of the state's Democratic political establishment, which was set on avoiding a repeat of the stunning loss it suffered three years ago, when Republican state Sen. Scott Brown upset Democratic state Attorney General Martha Coakley in the election to replace the late Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Gomez, a 47-year-old businessman and former Navy SEAL, positioned himself as a moderate and Washington outsider who would challenge partisan gridlock, contrasting himself with Markey, who was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976.

With almost all precincts reporting late Tuesday, Markey had 55 percent, or about 629,000 votes, and Gomez had 45 percent, or about 513,000 votes.

Markey, who declared victory two hours after the polls closed, ticked off a slew of legislative priorities. He said he wanted to help spark a "green energy revolution," protect seniors, boost job growth in Massachusetts and ensure young people can attend college without shouldering enormous debt.

Markey, who has served in the state's congressional delegation for 37 years, also emphasized his humble roots in Malden.

"Thanks to the opportunities this country gave me, this son of a milkman is going to serve the state of Massachusetts in the United States Senate," he said.

Gomez said he called Markey to congratulate him and wished him "nothing but the best." He said he'd waged the campaign with honor and integrity but was heavily outspent by Democrats in the five-month election.

"Not every fight is a fair fight," Gomez said in his concession speech. "Sometimes you face overpowering force. We were massively overspent. We went up against literally the whole national Democratic Party. And all its allies."

Markey outspent Gomez throughout the race, and Republicans were unable to match a well-oiled Democratic field organization in an election that saw relatively light turnout in much of the heavily Democratic state.

Kerry left the Senate this year after being confirmed as U.S. secretary of state. Markey will fill out the remainder of Kerry's term, which expires in January 2015, meaning that another Senate election will be held a year from November.

Though Markey has a lengthy career in Congress, he will become the state's junior senator to Elizabeth Warren, who has been in office less than six months after defeating Brown in November.

Markey led in pre-election polls but said Tuesday when he voted with his wife in his hometown, Malden, that there was no overconfidence in his organization. .

"I have delivered a message on gun safety, on a woman's right to choose, on creating more jobs, and I think that message has been delivered," Markey said.

President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden made visits to Massachusetts over the final two weeks of the campaign to shore up support for Markey.

Obama spoke to Markey on Tuesday night and congratulated him on his election to the Senate. He said he looked forward to working with Markey to strengthen the U.S. economy and protect the middle class.

"He's earned a reputation as an effective, creative legislator, willing to partner with colleagues across the aisle to make progress on the issues that matter most," Obama said in an emailed statement.