Democrat Edward J. Markey will replace John Kerry in the U.S. Senate, Massachusetts voters decided on Tuesday. But Wareham voters preferred Republican candidate Gabriel Gomez for the job.

A total of 3,772 of the town's 15,327 voters cast ballots in the special election, for a voter turnout of 24.6%.

Gomez, of Cohasset, garnered 2,061 of Wareham's votes, while Markey received 1,687. Richard A. Heos of the Twelve Visions party received 16 votes in Wareham.

Perhaps foreshadowing the results in Wareham, primary voters in April favored Markey's Democratic competition -- Stephen F. Lynch -- over the congressman from Malden.

The U.S. Senate seat became available after President Barack Obama nominated John Kerry for Secretary of State.