U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and fellow Democrat Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire are Senate-bound.
Markey’s reelection victory was called quickly after the polls closed at 8 p.m., with Pappas close behind and his opponent, former GOP Sen. John Sununu, conceding.
Markey led 68% to GOP challenger John Deaton’s 27.1% as the percentage counted kept rising, with the Associated Press calling the win for Markey.
In the heated Granite State race, Pappas was ahead 57.2% to Sununu’s 41.1% as the night wore on, with the AP also calling it for the Democrat.
Markey, 80, has told the Herald this is it and he will not run again. He also said a win will free him up to dig deep for Massachusetts.
“Tonight we celebrate because tomorrow we have work to do,” said Markey at his acceptance speech, promising to take on President Trump and the high cost of gas and more. “When Republicans gash holes in our safety net, we will be the ones to mend the fabric whole again.”
Markey vowed to take on the administration, “and we will win.”
Markey soundly defeated Democratic primary challenger Seth Moulton in September, with backing from several high-profile endorsements from the nation’s leading progressive figureheads, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, among others.
President Trump even praised Markey’s dominant performance over Moulton, saying, “I’m glad Markey won over Moulton. I couldn’t stand Moulton, I couldn’t. I mean, Markey I wouldn’t say loves Trump, but Moulton was so bad. And it was nice to see Markey won in a landslide.”
Up north, Pappas, 46, also knocked off a democratic rival in the party’s primary, and he is the first openly gay man elected to the Senate. The lawmaker also looked to capitalize on an unfavorable national environment for Republicans, tying Sununu to President Trump and the war in Iran.
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