The dean of the Massachusetts congressional delegation used his experience and ties with the Democratic establishment to run a cautious but effective campaign that generated little enthusiasm but was enough to propel Markey to victory.
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06.25.2013 | BOSTON -- Democratic U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, with wife Dr. Susan Blumenthal, celebrates his victory in the Massachusetts special election for the U.S. Senate at his campaign party Tuesday, June 25, 2013, in Boston. Markey defeated Republican candidate Gabriel Gomez for the Senate seat vacated by John Kerry.
Photo by Elise Amendola / Associated Press BOSTON — After 37 years in the U.S. House, Democratic U.S. Rep. Edward Markey has now won a seat in the U.S. Senate.
In a low-turnout election that held few surprises, Markey defeated Republican private equity investor Gabriel Gomez to win the seat formerly held by Secretary of State John Kerry.
Markey won with 640,461 votes, or 55 percent of the total votes cast, to Gomez's 521,688 votes, or 45 percent, according to an Associated Press tally of 2162 of 2172, or 99 percent, of precincts reporting.
The dean of the Massachusetts congressional delegation used his experience and ties with the Democratic establishment to run a cautious but effective campaign that generated little enthusiasm but was enough to propel Markey to victory. He fended off a challenge from Gomez, a moderate Republican with a stellar resume but no political experience.
Markey took the stage the Park Plaza Hotel around 10:10 p.m. to loud applause. “This victory belongs to you. It belongs to your families,” Markey told supporters. “I am deeply humbled and I am profoundly grateful.”
As he often did on the campaign trail, Markey mentioned his modest background as the son of a milkman. “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,” Markey said.
Markey pledged to “seek change that lifts up your families and your future.” He said he wants to lead a “green energy revolution,” to create jobs, combat climate change and reduce dependence on foreign oil. He pledged to pursue an “innovation strategy” that funds Massachusetts industries such as health care, information technology and biotechnology. He said he would fight for seniors, veterans, immigrants and young people.
“I’m going to the U.S. Senate to stand up for you, and for the values that I've always believed in: honesty, fairness and equality,” Markey said. “To everyone in this state, regardless of how you voted, I say to you tonight this is your seat in the United States Senate,” Markey said.
While some Republicans had hoped for another Scott Brown-style upset, recalling the former Republican senator’s 2010 victory, Gomez was hurt by some of the same forces that unseated Brown in 2012, including a strong Democratic get out the vote machine. Democratic President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, former president Bill Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden all campaigned for Markey in Massachusetts, raising money and ginning up some excitement. On Election Day alone, the Markey campaign boasted of 7,200 volunteers reaching out to nearly 1 million voters through phone calls and door knocks.
Democratic Party Chairman John Walsh said the difference between 2013 and 2010 is Democrats did not take this election for granted. “We weren’t asleep at the switch like we were with Scott Brown,” Walsh said. “We’ve been working at this for months, focused and directing our attention at the voters, about issues people care about.”
Democratic State Treasurer Steve Grossman said Markey’s message of putting middle class people back to work, protecting abortion rights, protecting the environment, promoting economic fairness and getting guns off the street resonated with people. “Ed stuck with the fundamental, core middle class values and priorities, and those are the things that will ultimately lead us to the victory he has worked so hard to achieve,” Grossman said.
Although Gomez lost the election, he didn't speak as though he was defeated.
"I just got to say, thank you. We've reached the end of this campaign tonight and I respect the decision of the voters of Massachusetts. I wish (Markey) nothing but the best as the next senator from the commonwealth of Massachusetts," Gomez said. "Throughout this campaign I've been humbled by the thousands of people I've met. Nobody knew who I was outside of Cohasset ... but look at us now."
Gomez pointed out the fact that Markey's campaign was significantly larger and had much more cash to spend than his, and likened the battle to his military experience.
"In the military you learn that not every fight's a fair fight. Sometimes you face overpowering force. We were massively overspent," Gomez said. "We went up against the whole national Democratic Party, its allies and the machine. But in the face of that adversity, we could not have fought a better fight. And I couldn't be more proud. In the face of defeat, you outta be able to look yourself in the mirror and know we fought with honor and integrity."
Markey’s victory raises U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, a Springfield Democrat, to the position of dean of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, as the member with the most seniority. Another special election will be held to fill Markey’s congressional seat.
Markey, of Malden, will bring to the Senate a liberal voice on issues including expanding gun control laws and protecting abortion rights. He is a strong supporter of Obama’s agenda and has said he will fight Republican attempts to overturn Obama’s landmark health care overhaul; to loosen regulations on Wall Street; and to cut federal funding in areas that impact Massachusetts such as medical research. Markey supports raising taxes on the wealthy and opposes cuts to Social Security, Medicare and social safety net programs.
Markey has described his job in Congress as “to fight the Tea Party Republicans in their efforts to try to destroy jobs here in Massachusetts.”
Markey said Tuesday that his first priorities in the U.S. Senate would be creating jobs, passing a comprehensive immigration bill, banning assault weapons and “ensuring that we have a green energy revolution.”
Obama issued a statement following Markey's election: "Tonight, I spoke to Ed Markey to congratulate him on his election to the United States Senate.
"During more than 36 years as a Congressman, Ed has distinguished himself as a leader on many of the key challenges of our time – from fighting carbon pollution to protecting our children from gun violence to creating good, middle-class jobs. 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. The people of Massachusetts can be proud that they have another strong leader fighting for them in the Senate, and people across the country will benefit from Ed’s talent and integrity.
"I also want to thank Mo Cowan for his hard work and dedication over the last five months. And I want to thank John Kerry for his nearly three decades of extraordinary service to the people of Massachusetts in the Senate, and for agreeing to continue to serve the American people as Secretary of State. I’m confident Ed will help carry on that legacy, and I look forward to working with him to strengthen our economy, protect the middle class, and expand opportunity," Obama said.
Markey’s expertise is in telecommunications and energy policy. He was the chairman or ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Telecommunications for more than 20 years. He helped craft a landmark telecommunications bill, which deregulated telecommunications markets while opening them up to competition, and co-wrote the only comprehensive bill addressing climate change to pass the U.S. House.
Markey, who has served in Congress since 1976, was considered a contender for the Senate in 2004, if then-Sen. Kerry had won the presidential race. He was considered a likely contender again in 2010, after Sen. Edward Kennedy died, but decided not to run. This time, Markey was the first candidate to announce his intent to run for the seat, in late December 2012, after Kerry was nominated as U.S. Secretary of State.
Several of the state’s top Democrats including Kerry and Vicki Kennedy, Edward Kennedy’s widow, quickly endorsed Markey, trying to forestall a primary. However, Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch mounted a run and received significant support from organized labor. Markey beat Lynch by 14 points in an April primary.
On the Republican side, Gomez, a political unknown, defeated former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan and State Rep. Daniel Winslow in the GOP primary, earning 51 percent of the vote. Gomez, of Cohasset, hired several former staffers to 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. He stressed his biography as a former Navy SEAL, the Spanish-speaking son of Colombian immigrants and a successful businessman and Harvard Business School graduate.
The general election, which included three debates, focused on domestic issues including abortion, gun control, tax policy and Social Security. After the Boston Marathon bombings, the focus briefly turned to national security. But much of the race centered on the question of change versus experience.
While Markey talked up his legislative record, Gomez portrayed himself as a fresh new face who could work across the aisle and change Washington. He talked about areas such as immigration reform and gay marriage where he broke with the Republican Party. “If you’re happy with the way things are going in our government, I’m not your kind of candidate,” Gomez said often. Gomez charged that Markey has been ineffective during his tenure in Washington.
Fundraising helped fuel the gap between the candidates. While Markey raised $7.6 million in contributions to add to the $3 million already in his campaign account, Gomez raised just $2.3 million, and loaned his campaign $900,000 of his own money.
Outside groups also helped Markey. Data compiled by the non-partisan Sunlight Foundation found that outside groups spent $4.78 million either for Markey or against Gomez in the primary and general election campaigns. Outside groups spent just $1.71 million for Gomez or against Markey.
In a race largely overshadowed by other events – the Boston Marathon bombings, the trial of gangster Whitey Bulger, the Boston Bruins playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs – Markey made no major gaffes. And that was enough.
Changes in Latitude, a Jimmy Buffet tribute band. 
