Ed Markey retains Senate seat in Massachusetts

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) is projected to win his reelection campaign and continue his Senate career after 13 years in the upper chamber, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Markey, age 80, defeated Republican challenger John Deaton, an attorney and Marine Corps veteran.

The victory in the solid blue state gives Markey his third term in the Senate, where he has centered his work on climate change, health, education and economic issues.

In total, Markey has served in Congress for 50 years.

The win also came after a headline-grabbing primary between Markey and Democratic challenger Rep. Seth Moulton, who targeted Markey’s age in a failed effort to oust him.

In his primary win , Markey said his victory was made possible by young progressives and that this would be his last time running for office.

“Tonight is a testament to the power of the progressive movement of our nation,” Markey said in his primary victory speech. “It is a progressive movement fueled by young people demanding more from their leaders, and it’s your voices that are the ones we need to hear right now.”

Markey’s win in the general election does not come as a surprise as the last time Massachusetts elected a Republican senator was in 2010 and previous polls showed him vastly ahead of Deaton.