UPDATED 9:35 p.m.
Gov. Maura Healey and Sen. Ed Markey were projected to win re-election shortly after polls closed across Massachusetts on Tuesday night.
Both Democrats entered the day well ahead in the polls, with the Associated Press calling the race in both incumbents' favor based on exit polls at 8:01 p.m. before any votes were officially counted.
Voters went to the polls to cast ballots for Governor/Lt. Governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, nine statewide ballot initiatives, as well as local legislative offices and state offices that include Treasurer and Secretary of State.
Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll were looking to fend off challenges from Republican businessman Mike Minogue and Independent Andrea James.
That race got a shakeup in the weeks leading up to the election when Republican Lt. Gov. candidate Shawn Oliver was charged with DUI after he was accused of crashing his SUV into several parked cars in New Bedford.
Oliver suspended his campaign, with Minogue saying that there was an agreement in place in which Oliver would resign from the position immediately if elected.
Markey survived his primary challenge from U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, who opted not to run for re-election to that seat in order to challenge Markey, and faced Republican John Deaton and Socialism and Liberation candidate John Tache.
Markey made challenging President Donald Trump in the final two years of his second term a focal point of what he said is his final run for office at age 80 — calling the "most corrupt" and "most desperate person to every lead our country" who is a "walking, talking Constitutional crisis" in his victory speech.
"Tonight, we say, 'no more,'" he said during his victory speech. "When Republicans gash holes in our social safety net, we will be the ones to mend the fabric whole again. When they undermine our democratic institutions, we will uphold the rule of law. And when they try to silence those who speak out against them, we will meet them in the courts. We will meet them in the streets.
"And we will bring a soap box, and a bullhorn and a box of receipts. And we will win."
Markey pledged to continue his push for Medicare For All universal health care, free community college and public four-year universities nationwide, an enhanced Green New Deal focusing on renewable energy and a Trans Bill of Rights.
Deaton had sought to distance himself from Trump during the campaign.
"The voters have made their voices heard tonight, and I respect their decision," Deaton said in a statement. "While I disagree with the path forward, I wish Senator Markey only success in his final six-year term. His service to the Commonwealth is historic in its length and impact on our people.
"America has always been stronger when we put aside our differences and follow the threads that we share — a lesson I relearned writing my own story. In that spirit, I remain hopeful that the next U.S. Senate will forge a new path with the U.S. House of Representatives and White House to deliver the change we desperately need."
There were also statewide races for State Treasurer between incumbent Democrat Deb Goldberg and Republican challenger Elizabeth Dionne, Secretary of State between incumbent Democrat Bill Galvin and Republican challenger Anne Brensley, and Attorney General between incumbent Democrat Andrea Campbell and Republican challenger Michael Walsh.
Voters were also asked to weigh in on nine ballot initiatives ranging from maintaining legal sale of recreational marijuana, maintaining recently enacted strict gun regulations, same-day voter registration, single all-party primaries for state officers, and state-mandated minimum lot sizes for new housing construction.
More Patch Election Coverage:
Check back with Patch here throughout the night for updates and reactions in races across the state, as well as the ballot initiatives.
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