Markey Wins Senate Special Election
It’s been a long road to the Senate for Ed Markey, but the road finally came to a successful end for the longtime Congressman Tuesday night.
Markey, a Democrat who has represented Malden since 1976, beat Republican Cohasset businessman and former U.S. Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez in the election Tuesday.
Markey’s party at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston’s Back Bay was a raucous one for local and state Democrats who could revel in a special election victory after losing their last such race in 2010.
He thanked his opponent and said that while they disagreed on issues they both “love the state of Massachusetts and love the United States of America.”
Gomez, speaking to his supporters gathered at the Seaport Hotel, said that he called Markey with congratulations shortly after the race was called and that they had a “very productive talk.”
“I wish him nothing but the best,” Gomez said.
Markey was thankful of supporters who knocked on doors over the weekend in sweltering heat to get people out to vote Tuesday.
“Regardless of how you voted, I say to you tonight, this is your seat in the United States Senate,” Markey said.
Gomez framed his concession speech with the story of his parents, who immigrated from Columbia in 1964, and their decision to remain in the United States and raise their son. He went on to the Naval Academy, the NAVY SEALs and Harvard Business School.
“I love this county with the bottom of my heart,” Gomez said. “I will continue to fight for my country. I’m going to ensure we have a strong, safe America.”
Gomez did not hold back on his criticism of what he called the “Democratic machine,” and though he apologized several times for “coming up short,” his supporters shouted that he had nothing to apologize for, being a Republican in Massachusetts.
“Sometimes you face overwhelming force,” Gomez said. “I mean, we were massively overspent.”
“But in the face of this adversity,” he continued, “we could not have fought a better fight.”
Markey, meanwhile, said he wants to be a leader on the issues of climate change, clean energy, gun control and making college affordable for all students among other ideas.
“I want what you want, a 21st Century that is more educated, more healthy, more prosperous and more fair than the 20th Century was,” Markey said. “I will honor the vote that you gave that makes it possible for me to stand here tonight as your next United States Senator.”
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ORIGINAL STORY: The Associated Press projects Democratic nominee Edward Markey will win Tuesday’s U.S. Senate special election in Massachusetts. The wire service called the race after 9 p.m. Tuesday night, with over 75 percent of the vote tallied.
Markey, a U.S. congressman from Malden since 1976, defeated his Republican challenger, Cohasset businessman and former U.S. Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez in the race.
Markey will take the seat formerly held by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who resigned the seat earlier this year.
Patch will have more, including pictures and video, from the Markey and Gomez election night parties in Boston later this evening.