Democratic state Sen. Katherine M. Clark handily defeated GOP attorney Frank Addivinola in Massachusetts’ 5th District special election Tuesday night.

Clark defeated Addivinola, 64 percent to 34 percent, with 35 percent of precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press.

With her win, Clark becomes the sixth woman elected to Congress from the Bay State. She’s also the second House member to represent this district, which includes the Boston suburbs, in 37 years.

Sen. Edward J. Markey was first elected to the district in 1976. But he vacated the seat this spring when he ascended to the Senate to succeed now-Secretary of State John Kerry. His departure sparked this special-election contest.

Clark, widely viewed as the front-runner, emerged from a crowded primary in October in this heavily Democratic district.

She placed first in the seven-person Democratic primary, capturing 32 percent of the vote. That was 10 points higher than her next closest opponent, Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian.

Clark could be sworn in as early as Thursday, the Boston Globe reported. The House will recess until the new year on Friday.