Update 9:45 EDT: With 96 percent of precincts in, Markey has 614,199 votes (55 percent) and Gomez 506,524 (45 percent).

Update 9:30 p.m. EDT: The Associated Press has called the election for Markey.

With 89 percent of precincts reporting, the Democratic congressman had 568,485 votes (54 percent) to Gomez 477,924 (45 percent), the Boston Globe reported.

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With most of the votes counted Tuesday night, Democrat Ed Markey held a slim lead over Republican Gabriel Gomez in the special election for a Massachusetts Senate seat.

Markey, a longtime House member, had 384,506 votes (53 percent) to political newcomer Gomez’ 343,310 votes (47 percent) with 63 percent of precincts in, the Boston Globe reported. Earlier, Gomez was ahead with fewer towns reporting.

The candidates are contending for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by John Kerry when he became secretary of state.

Turnout was low. As of 6 p.m., 69,980 voters had cast ballots in Boston -- less than 20 percent -- down sharply from the 120,139 who had voted in the city in the 2010 special election, the Globe reported.