BOSTON — Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey won reelection Tuesday, defeating Republican John Deaton to secure a third term in the U.S. Senate, according to The Associated Press, as reported by The Boston Globe. Decision Desk HQ also projected Markey the winner, The Hill reported.

Markey, 80, is a Democrat who has served in the Senate for 13 years. Deaton is an attorney and Marine Corps veteran, The Hill reported.

The result was widely expected. Massachusetts last elected a Republican senator in 2010, and earlier polls had shown Markey well ahead of Deaton, according to The Hill.

The general election followed a closely watched Democratic primary on Sept. 1, in which Markey defeated Rep. Seth Moulton, 47, who argued for generational change and made Markey's age an issue in the race, according to NBC News.

After his primary win, Markey credited young progressive voters and said it would be the last time he ran for office, The Hill reported.

"Tonight is a testament to the power of the progressive movement of our nation," Markey said in his primary victory speech.

Moulton said in his concession speech that he had called Markey and pledged to help him win in November, WBUR reported.

It was the second time Markey turned back a primary challenge from a much younger Democrat. In 2020, he defeated then-Rep. Joe Kennedy III, who also argued that Massachusetts needed younger representation, according to NPR.

Markey was first elected to the Senate in 2013 after serving nearly 40 years in the U.S. House, NBC News reported. In the Senate, he has focused on climate change, health care, education and economic issues, according to The Hill.

The AP also called the governor's race for Democrat Maura Healey on Tuesday night.