BOSTON -- Niki Tsongas joined supporters at the Brewery Exchange restaurant in Lowell Tuesday night. The following are her election night remarks as prepared for delivery.

"I'd like to thank the voters of the Fifth District for giving me the honor of representing them in Congress. We have a remarkable legacy in this district -- from Edith Nourse Rogers to Paul Tsongas to Marty Meehan.

It is my great honor that you have chosen to add my name to theirs and I will not let you down.

I’d also like to thank Jim Ogonowski for a hard-fought campaign. I would also like to thank Kurt Hayes, Patrick Murphy and Kevin Thompson for the important contribution that they made to the debate. Opponents no longer, I look forward to working with each of them to advance a shared vision for the future of the Fifth district.

Over the seven months since announcing my intention to run in March, I’ve traveled thousands of miles throughout the 29 cities and towns of this district. I’ve met parents worried about their sons and daughters in Iraq. I’ve spoken with firefighters struggling to keep up with the high cost of health care.

And I’ve met workers worried about whether their jobs will be there in the future.

To all of these people -- and the countless others like them -- my message is simple: Let’s get to work.

Let’s get to work on bringing an end to this war -- the time is now to set a timetable for withdrawal of our brave servicemen and women from Iraq. I’m ready to go to Washington to start working to make that happen.

Let’s get to work providing real care for our veterans -- they deserve more than the shame of Walter Reed. These veterans have served our country honorably. I’m going to make sure we honor their service by providing them the highest quality care on their return.

Let’s get to work protecting our environment. We cannot put our heads in the sand pretending that global warming will go away -- we need to start focusing real attention on creating solutions and making the Fifth district a leader in the new green economy.

And let’s get to work on creating a health care system that provides access to affordable, high quality care for every American -- starting with our children. Less than 48 hours from now, I will have the honor of going to Washington and casting my vote to override the President’s veto of legislation that would expand health care coverage to 10 million kids. There is no better way that I can think to start my service in Washington as the first woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts in 25 years.

This has been a campaign of ideas. But it has also been a campaign of people. And there are some people that I would not be here without.

Of course, it starts with my daughters Ashley, Katina and Molly. And I’d like to thank my extended family and friends who are up on the stage with me today.

My worthy competitors from the Democratic Primary -- Eileen Donoghue, Jamie Eldridge, Barry Finegold and Jim Miceli. Bill Clinton told us that 'when Democrats are united, we usually win.' I’m glad we proved him right tonight.

My Campaign chair Ellen Murphy Meehan and Campaign Co-chairs Cory Atkins, Brian Martin, and Pat McGovern. And the support I’ve received from our elected officials in Washington has been outstanding -- Senators Kennedy and Kerry, Representatives Barney Frank, Ed Markey and rest of the delegation. And Majority Whip James Clyburn, who I am so pleased to have with us tonight. And, Gov. Deval Patrick -- last summer, you told us “Together we can.” And tonight, we did.

So many members of the local legislative delegation were crucial to our success---State Senators Tucker, Fargo, Panagiatokas, Baddour, and Resor. And State Representatives L’Italien, Torrisi, Walrath, Dean-Campbell, Golden, Murphy , Nangle, Naugton, and Stanley. And so many Mayors that were helpful -- Mayor Martin of Lowell, Mayor Fiorenti of Haverhill, Mayor Manzi of Methuen and all the elected officials in so many communities. And the countless other current and former local officials who pitched in -- people like Rita Mercier, Sharon Pollard, and Bud Caufield.

And of course, the support of the state party was vital in this election. Thank you to Party Chair John Walsh and his organization. And the working men and women of the labor movement, who have been so involved with our GOTV operations. And our talented and dedicated staff people --there are so many of you that I want to thank, but there are a few people I want to call out tonight -- Campaign manager Roger Lau, Field director Gus Bickford and his great team, Press Secretary Katie Elbert and her team, Finance Director Chris Mullin and his team, Scheduler Kate Lynch and my driver and travel companion Anthony Lopez. And so many of the volunteers and advisors -- old friends and new -- who have put in countless hours for this campaign.

There are so many more of you that deserve thanks -- so many coordinators, contributors, footsoldiers, etc., and I want to thank each of you individually as I move around the hall this evening.

So let’s celebrate tonight and let's get to work tomorrow. Thank you all.”