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U.S. SENATE

ELECTED

John Kerry	Jeff Beatty	Bob Underwood
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OUR LATEST STORY: Sen. Kerry wins re-election handily

Sen. John Kerry said he was “humbled” after easily winning his fifth term in the U.S. Senate.

“I am humbled to receive the support of voters from Williamstown to Provincetown and every city and town in between,”

Kerry said in a statement. “And I promise to continue to prove worthy of your confidence in me over the next six years.”

Kerry won by two-thirds against his Republican challenger, Jeff Beatty of Harwich.

Beatty, a former FBI agent, CIA counter-terrorism officer and veteran of the Army’s Delta Force, thanked Kerry for running an “honorable and spirited” campaign.

“This effort had my name on the ballot, but this was truly the people's campaign,” Beatty said in statement. “Over a million voters joined us to say they are ready for change. They say the first million is the hardest, so we have made an excellent start.”

Beatty had criticized Kerry for his vote in favor of the Iraq War and campaigned on his national security expertise.

Beatty, who had never served in public office, lost a bid in 2004 to unseat U.S. Rep. William Delahunt, a Quincy Democrat.

Janice Porter, a Quincy homemaker and Democrat, said the race helped motivate her to get to the polls.

“Where Kerry was being challenged, I wanted to make sure I got here to put in a vote for Kerry.”

Kerry said he looked forward to returning to Washington and alluded to challenges ahead.

“Our history is one of not just overcoming challenges but of emerging from difficult times stronger and better prepared to prosper as a nation,” he said.

Kerry faced a Democratic opponent in September’s state primary for the first time since 1984, when he defeated Sen. Paul Tsongas in his first run for the job.

Ed O’Reilly, a relatively unknown lawyer from Gloucester, lost the primary election with less than 30 percent of the vote.

Nancy Reardon may be reached at nreardon@ledger.com

Who's running for U.S. Senate - Read about the candidates and their views on the key issues.

Kerry poised to support Cape Wind project - Sen. John Kerry said Monday at a Patriot Ledger editorial board meeting that he will support the controversial Cape Wind project if it gains final environmental approval.

Kerry, Beatty to debate Monday on NECN - NECN will host the only televised debate between Democratic Sen. John Kerry and his Republican opponent Jeff Beatty at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20. The hour-long debate will be moderated by NewsNight host Jim Braude and NECN Anchor RD Sahl. The debate will not be open to spectators because it is in the NECN studio.

Kerry wins Senate primary - With 69 percent of the vote, Sen. John Kerry claimed victory in the U.S. Senate primary election.

Kerry claims victory - It took only 45 minutes after polls closed tonight for Sen. John Kerry to claim victory in the U.S. Senate primary election.

Kerry bests 1st primary opponent in 24 years - Sen. John Kerry fended off his first Democratic challenger in nearly a quarter century, handily defeating political newcomer Ed O’Reilly in Tuesday’s primary election. In a key legislative race, Dianne Wilkerson, the lone black member of the Senate, narrowly lost her re-election bid in the Democratic primary despite the support of Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.

Gloucester lawyer gives Kerry a run in the primary - Democratic voters are heading to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to back incumbent John Kerry in another bid for the U.S. Senate. Kerry, who hasn’t seen a primary opponent since he first won the Senate seat in 1984, is facing a challenge from Gloucester lawyer Ed O’Reilly.

Senate challenger: Kerry 'gullible' for for approving Iraq invasion - U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Beatty says even though he’s an Army veteran and a Republican, he never would have voted to authorize the 2003 Iraq invasion. Beatty is hoping to unseat Sen. John Kerry, who voted in favor of the invasion.

Ogonowski falls 30 signatures short in bid to challenge Kerry - Republican Jim Ogonowski is unlikely to face off against Sen. John Kerry this November after falling 30 signatures shy of a needed 10,000, the secretary of state’s office said today.