Republican Scott Brown wins Massachusetts special Senate election

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Republican Senate candidate Scott Brown defeated his Democratic rival on Tuesday in Massachusetts special Senate election, according to preliminary results.

Democrat Martha Coakley, the state attorney-general, has called Brown to concede her defeat, dealing a big blow to President Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats and jeopardizing their efforts to reform the healthcare system.

With Tuesday's victory, Brown will fill the seat vacated by late Democratic Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who died in August after nearly 47 years in office and was an enthusiastic advocate of the healthcare reform.