The race to replace John Kerry in the US Senate got off to a quick start, the day after Malden Congressman Ed Markey, a Democrat, and Cohasset businessman Gabriel Gomez, a Republican, won their respective primaries. The day started with challenges. First up was Gomez, who stopped at a Boston subway station to meet voters and speak with the press.

“I challenge Congressman Markey who wants to talk about the issues which are important to the people in Massachusetts to three debates. We can sit there side by side, present ourselves and let the people of Massachusetts decide.”

At a Democratic Unity breakfast at a downtown hotel a few hours later, Markey said he was looking forward to debates, although he didn’t commit to a specific number. And he re-issued his challenge to Gomez to take the so-called “people’s pledge” discouraging third-party campaign spending.

“Gabriel Gomez says he’s a new kind of politician. Well, in Massachusetts that means you take the ‘people’s pledge’ to keep Karl Rove, to keep the Koch Brothers, to keep vast amounts, unlimited amounts of undisclosed money out of Massachusetts politics.”

Gomez rejects the idea, saying it’s hypocritical for Markey, whose career has included collecting lobbyist donations, to criticize campaign spending now.