In the race to replace retiring Rep. Bill Delahunt in southeastern Massachusetts’ crowded 10th district, state Rep. Jeff Perry defeated former state Treasurer Joe Malone in Tuesday’s GOP primary.

According to the Associated Press, Perry had 63 percent to 29 percent for Malone, with 58 percent of precincts reporting.

Republicans are targeting the seat, in a region overwhelmingly carried by Sen. Scott Brown (R) in the January special election, as a possible pickup in the heavily Democratic Bay State. Expect the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has already reserved TV time in the Boston market, to come out swinging against Perry now that he is the nominee.

Perry will face off against either Norfolk County District Attorney Bill Keating or state Sen. Rob O’Leary, who were locked in a battle for the Democratic nomination with roughly 60 percent of precincts reporting. Keating had 50.5 percent, and O’Leary had 49.5 percent.

Elsewhere, in the suburban Boston 9th district, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D) beat back an aggressive challenge from Mac D’Alessandro, who had the endorsement of the Boston Globe and was the beneficiary of roughly $250,000 in independent expenditures by his former employer, the Service Employees International Union.

Lynch had 65 percent and D’Alessandro had 35 percent, with 44 percent of districts reporting.

“Mac D’Alessandro may have come up short in his campaign but his impressive result proves that when you stand up for your beliefs you will never stand alone,” SEIU Massachusetts State Council President Mike Grunko said in a statement.