Race for Kerry’s seat pits Markey, Gomez

WASHINGTON – The race to replace John Kerry in the U.S. Senate will offer Massachusetts voters a familiar choice: a longtime Democratic officeholder against a fresh-faced Republican.

Democratic Rep. Ed Markey and Republican businessman Gabriel Gomez won their respective party nominations in a special primary election Tuesday, after a campaign overshadowed in the closing weeks by the Boston Marathon bombings.

Markey defeated fellow congressman Stephen Lynch, according to the Associated Press, while Gomez, a political novice, defeated former U.S. Attorney Mike Sullivan and state Rep. Dan Winslow.

Markey and Gomez will face off in a June 25 general election to complete Kerry’s unexpired term. The winner will face another election in 2014 to serve a full six-year term.

Kerry resigned the Senate seat he had held for more than 28 years on Feb. 1 to become U.S. secretary of state.