Government Affairs Update - Post-Primary 2018

With thanks to ACEC/MA's public affairs advocates at Rasky Partners, here's an overview of some key September 4 Primary Results:

With Labor Day in the rearview mirror, political observers had plenty to watch on September 4 as primary elections took place across Massachusetts. Voters in Boston sent shockwaves through the political landscape by defeating an incumbent Congressman, as well as two members of the House leadership team.

  As expected, Republican Governor Charlie Baker secured his party’s nomination by defeating Scott Lively by a margin of 28 points. Baker will now face Democratic nominee Jay Gonzalez in the November general election. Gonzalez, with 65% of the vote, won the Democratic primary defeating environmentalist Bob Massie.

  In the US Senate race, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D) was unopposed in her primary. She will face (current State Representative) Geoff Diehl (R) in the November 6 General Election.

  Some of the other closely watched races included:

  Secretary of State – Democrat: Secretary of State Bill Galvin, currently serving his sixth term, successfully managed to fend off a spirited challenge from Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim, 34. This was 67-year-old Galvin’s first primary challenger in a dozen years.

  Seventh Congressional District – Democrat: Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley will bring her vision for tackling inequality to Washington, DC following her win over 10-term incumbent, Congressman Mike Capuano. With no Republican opponent, Pressley is set to become the first black woman to represent Massachusetts in Congress.

    Third Congressional District – Democrat: Lori Trahan, the former chief of staff to former Congressman Marty Meehan won the primary and will face Republican Rick Green in the November 6 general election.

  Suffolk County District Attorney – Democrat: Rachael Rollins moves on to the general election following her win over 4 other candidates in yesterday’s primary for Suffolk County District Attorney. Rollins will face independent candidate Michael Maloney on the November 6 ballot. There is no Republican nominee.

  State Representative (D) – Fifteenth Suffolk District: Attorney and former State House aide, Nika Elugardo, defeated incumbent Jeffrey Sanchez, who serves as the House Chair of the Committee on Way and Means by a 52% to 48% margin.

  State Representative (D) – Ninth Suffolk: Assistant Majority Leader Byron Rushing was defeated by Jon Santiago, a Boston Medical Center emergency medicine resident. In a three-person race, Santiago received 48% of the vote to Rushing’s 37%.

  State Representative (D) – Fourteenth Suffolk: House Dean Angelo Scaccia defeated four challengers to maintain his seat in the House.

  State Senate (D) – Fifth Middlesex: Senator Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the Committees on Public Health and Labor and Workforce Development, was able to defeat a challenge from Samantha Hammar, a first time candidate.

  State Senate (D) – Second Essex and Middlesex: In the election to replace State Senator Barbara L’Italien, following her decision to enter the race in the #MA3 Congressional District, Barry Finegold was able to defeat the two other candidates. Finegold previously spent 11 years as a State Representative, in addition to serving in the State Senate from 2011 to 2015.

  State Senate (D) – Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester: Former MoveOn.org campaign director Jo Comerford won the primary election to fill the seat formerly held by (former) Senate President Stanley Rosenberg. Comerford, a write in candidate, beat educator and women’s rights advocate Chelsea Kline, who was the only candidate officially on the ballot.

More than half of the 200 state legislators are running unopposed, and most of the 20 incumbents with primary challengers prevailed on Tuesday, though some will face additional opponents in November. The three Democrats who unseated incumbents -- Nika Elugardo of Jamaica Plain, who defeated House Ways and Means Chair Jeffrey Sanchez; Christopher Hendricks of New Bedford, who defeated Rep. Robert Koczera; and Jon Santiago of Boston, who defeated Assistant Majority Leader Byron Rushing -- don't have general election opponents and are on track to take their seats in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in January. Set to join them are Democrats David Biele of Boston, Peter Capano of Lynn, Lindsay Sabadosa of Northampton, Natalie Blais of Sunderland, Mindy Domb of Amherst, Michelle Ciccolo of Lexington, Tommy Vitolo of Brookline, Liz Miranda of Boston and Marcos Devers of Lawrence, who served as a State Rep. a few years ago.

Two other Democrats who won their races for open seats have no Republican opponents in November but will face other candidates. Tami Gouveia of Acton, who won the primary for the seat now held by retiring Rep. Cory Atkins, will face Green-Rainbow candidate Daniel Factor, and Liz Miranda of Boston, the primary winner for the seat Rep. Evandro Carvalho gave up in his unsuccessful run for Suffolk district attorney, will go against unenrolled candidate Althea Garrison.

This is not the full list of key results from the September 4, 2018 primary elections, so be sure to check your local media outlets on other state, county and legislative races that will also be on the ballot for November 6.