Elizabeth Warren defeats John Deaton in Massachusetts Senate election, CBS News projects
BOSTON - Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren won a third term on Election Day, defeating Republican challenger John Deaton, CBS News projects.
U.S. Senate - Massachusetts election results
Warren thanked her supporters Tuesday night in Boston.
"Twelve years ago, you took a chance on a candidate who had never run for public office. You sent me to Washington to fight for working people and middle-class families," she said.
"Over those 12 years together we have delivered big wins and more than once we have reminded people that government can be harnessed to work not just for the wealthy and well connected, but that we can actually make government work for the people."
The senator said no matter what happens with the national races, she's ready for the work ahead.
Earlier, Deaton addressed his supporters, telling them he called Warren to congratulate her and offered his assistance if she needed it.
"I'm proud of my campaign and how it was run from this entire time. No lies, no name calling, just trying to focus on policy," Deaton said. "Although it was fun to tell the truth and look Sen. Warren in the face and say, you know all of you suck in Congress."
Deaton was referring to an interaction he had with Warren during their debate on WBZ-TV.
"It's fun to show people that you can challenge your political opponents on policy and their record without being engaging in this overly divisive attacks that we see in our politics today," Deaton said. "We showed people there is a difference between fighting against things and fighting for things. Fighting against people and fighting for people."
Elizabeth Warren re-election
Warren, a former Harvard Law School professor and consumer protection advocate, was first elected to the Senate in 2012, defeating incumbent Sen. Scott Brown. She easily won re-election in 2018 and ran for president in 2020, finishing third in the Democratic primary.
Warren is a member of the Senate Banking Committee who has railed against corporate billionaires and called for a wealth tax on "ultra-millionaires." She said in her 2024 campaign announcement video that she's running for office again "because there's a lot more we've got to do" to make child care affordable, combat climate change and enact stricter regulations on banks.
Who is John Deaton?
Deaton is an attorney living in Swansea and a supporter of cryptocurrency. In campaign ads, he compared himself to former moderate Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, and says he's in favor of abortion rights. The top issue on his website is immigration, and he says Massachusetts "has become Ground Zero in the migrant crisis."
After winning a three-way race for the Republican nomination in September, Deaton said, "voters are turning their back on divisive partisan politics and are ready to support a message of optimism, unity, and solving problems."
Warren-Deaton debate
WBZ-TV hosted the first debate between Warren and Deaton in October. Warren accused Deaton of using "the Donald Trump playbook," and told voters, "Don't trust John Deaton."
Deaton, meanwhile, tried to distance himself from the Republican presidential nominee.
"She called me a MAGA extremist Republican recruited by the Trump machine when she knew that I was even more critical of Trump than she has been," he said.
The debate covered immigration, crypto, housing and abortion rights. Deaton said that on the topic of abortion, he is "incapable of supporting a law that would restrict the freedoms and privacy of my own daughters."
"I appreciate that Mr. Deaton has three daughters," Warren said. "The justices that set Roe vs. Wade on fire and burned it to the ground collectively have 10 daughters. And Donald Trump has two daughters that we know of."