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The Lobby Observer

The Student News Site of Westborough High School

The Lobby Observer

The Student News Site of Westborough High School

The Lobby Observer

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What anti-Incumbency Vote?

What anti-Incumbency Vote?

 

by Myles Goldman

During last Tuesday’s mid-term elections the country might have turned “red” with Republican victories but not in Massachusetts where Democrats did just fine.  Starting with the Gubernatorial race won by incumbent Governor Deval Patrick, Democrats were able to win all of the state executive officer races.  Patrick beat former Harvard Pilgrim Health care CEO and Republican nominee Charlie Baker in a race that was centered on the economy and Governor Patrick’s first term.  Current Treasurer Tim Cahill running as an Independent candidate  came in a distant third. 

In a race with local interest, local state Representative Karyn Polito lost to former Democratic National Committee Chairmen Steve Grossman in a  race to decide who would replace Cahill as State Treasurer.  Massachusetts also elected its first female state auditor as Democrat Susan Bump beat Republican Mary Connaughton for the open position in the closest race locally. 

 In the U.S. House of Representatives, Massachusetts will send back to Congress nine of its ten incumbent Democratic Representatives .  The tenth Representative is Democrat Bill Keating who beat Republican Jeff Perry for an open seat held by the retiring William Delahunt.  The race had received national attention.  In the third Congressional District, which includes Westborough, incumbant Democrat Jim McGovern won his 8th term to Congress by beating back a challenge  from Republican Marty Lamb and Independent Patrick Barron. 

Locally, two Westborough Selectmen running for seats in the Massachusetts legislature lost.  Tim Dodd was not able to defeat 8 term Republican State Representative George Peterson in the 9th Worcester District, which includes Westborough precincts 3 and 5.  Meanwhile, Selectmen George Thompson came up short in his bid to upset one term state Democratic Senator Jamie Eldridge. 

Nationally, Republicans were,as predicted, able to take back control of the United States House.  The Republicans won a net gain of over 60 House seats.  It is expected that House Minority Leader,  John Boehner, will take over from Democrat Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House.  Republicans did fall short, however, of retaking the Senate.  Republicans are currently projected (there are still a few races currently too close to call) to pick up six senate seats.  Overall this will lead to 51 Democrats, 47 Republicans and 2 Independents in the United States Senate when new terms start in  January. 

 Please see below for a breakdown of state and local elections.    

Election Results: Winners are in bold (from www.thebostonchannel.com

Massachusetts Governor

            Deval Patrick (Dem): 49%

Charlie Baker (GOP): 42%

Tim Cahill (I): 8%

Jill Stein (Green-Rainbow):1%

Massachusetts Treasurer

Steve Grossman (Dem): 55%

Karyn Polito (GOP): 45%

Massachusetts Attorney General

Martha Coakley (Dem): 63%

Jim McKenna (GOP): 37% 

Massachusetts Secretary of State

Bill Galvin (Dem): 65%

William Campbell (GOP): 33%

Jim Henderson (I): 3%

Massachusetts Auditor:

Susan Bump (Dem): 49%

Marry Connaughton (GOP): 46%

Nat Fortune (Green-Rainbow): 5%

Massachusetts 3rd District U.S. House of Representatives (includes Westborough)

Jim McGovern (Dem): 56%

Marty Lamb (GOP): 39%

Patrick Barron (I): 4%

9th Worcester District state Representative  (includes Westborough Precincts 3&5)

Tim Dodd (Dem): 33%

George Peterson (GOP): 67%

11th Worcester District State Representative  (includes Westborough Precincts 1&4)

Kevin Byrne (Dem): 39%

Matt Beaton (GOP): 61%

8th Middlesex District State Representative (includes Westborough Precinct 2)

Carolyn Dykema (Dem): 71%

Jonathan Loya (I):  29%

Middlesex and Worcester State Senate (includes all of Westborough)

Jamie Eldridge (Dem): 57%

George Thompson (GOP): 43%

Worcester County Sheriff

Thomas Foley (Dem): 41%

Lewis Evangelidis (GOP): 53%

Keith Nicholas (I): 6%

Ballot Questions

Question 1 (drop alcohol sales tax)

Yes: 52%

No: 48%

Question 2 (repeal law regarding affordable housing)

Yes: 42%

No: 58%

Question 3 (lower state sales tax from 6.25% to 3%)

Yes: 43%

No: 57%

 

www.cnn.com also contributed to this report

 

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