Two longtime incumbents saw their tenures ended, as Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley beat local U.S. Rep. Mike Capuano (7th Congressional District) and Nika Elugardo knocked-off local state Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez (15th Suffolk District) during the Sept. 4 primary election.
Elugardo, a Jamaica Plain resident who is a former aide of local State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz and a former director of a nonprofit, won 52 percent of voters, or 4,515 votes, to Sanchez’ 48 percent of voters, or 4,166 votes, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press. Sanchez was first elected to the State House in 2002 and rose to the powerful chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee last year.
“It’s an honor to be your Representative-Elect. It’s an honor to be part of a movement for true democracy and justice for all. I’m looking forward to continuing the work of justice with you and to building community leadership and voice inside and outside the MA State House,” Elugardo said in a message posted on Twitter.
Pressley, a Dorchester resident who chairs the City Council’s Committee on Healthy Women, Families, and Communities, garnered 59,815 votes, or about 59 percent of voters, to Capuano’s 42,252 votes, or 41 percent of voters, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press.
With Suffolk County District Attorney (DA) Dan Conley announcing earlier this year that he will not seek re-election after leading the office for more than 15 years, a crowded field of five candidates—Evandro Carvalho, Linda Champion, Greg Henning, Shannon McAuliffe, and Rachael Rollins—faced-off against each other on Sept. 4 for the Democratic nomination. In the end, Rollins managed to push aside her three progressive challengers and topped Greg Henning, who was viewed as the more conservative candidate.
“I am honored and humbled. But I also need to say – for all of us – that this is earned. As a 47-year old Black woman, I have earned this. We have earned this. This is the time for us to claim our power and make good on our promises to make true criminal justice reform for the people in Suffolk County. Reform that is progressive – that decriminalizes poverty, substance use disorder, and mental illness. This is the time to create a system that puts fairness and equity first – as a model for the Commonwealth and the nation,” said Rollins in a statement.
For the statewide races, Jay Gonzalez, a former cabinet official in the Patrick administration, grabbed the Democratic nomination for governor, beating Bob Massie.
On the Republican side, Gov. Charlie Baker, easily beat his opponent Scott Lively, a pastor who espouses homophobic and fringe views.
There was also a competitive race for the Republican nomination for senator with a three candidate race: Geoff Diehl, John Kingston, and Beth Joyce Lindstrom. Diehl took the nomination without difficulty.
Incumbent Bill Galvin effortlessly beat back a challenge from Mission Hill City Councilor Josh Zakim to garner the Democratic nomination for the state Secretary of State.