BOSTON (AP) – Sen. Edward M. Kennedy turned back a challenge from a little-known Republican challenger Tuesday and was elected to an eighth term that will allow him to become the second-longest serving senator in U.S. history.

The Massachusetts Democrat defeated Kenneth Chase, a Belmont language school owner with such low name recognition that a recent poll found that 77 percent of likely voters had no idea who he was.

“I thank the citizens of Masschusetts, the voters of Massachusetts for giving me the high honor to return to the United States Senate,” Kennedy, 74, said in a speech to supporters.

Kennedy led a Democratic sweep of state’s seats in Congress. All 10 of his Democratic colleagues from Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives were returned to office.

Five were unopposed while John Olver of Amherst, John Tierney of Salem, Michael Capuano of Somerville, Stephen Lynch of Boston and William Delahunt of Quincy easily beat their challengers.

Kennedy predicted the nation would send a message to President Bush through its votes in crucial House and Senate races around the country that will determine whether the Republicans maintain control of both chambers.

“I’ll tell you, victory is in the air,” he said, calling the voting in elections across the country “a referendum on President Bush’s handing of the war in Iraq and whether we should bring the troops home.”

Chase had acknowledged he faced long odds. Less than three hours after voting, he was looking ahead to a possible run against U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., in 2008.

With 47 percent of precincts reporting, Kennedy had 729,905 votes, or 69 percent, and Chase had 327,558, or 31 percent.