Political pundits will be scratching their heads for weeks as they analyze the numbers and trends that propelled U.S. Senator Ed Markey – once labelled dead in the water last fall – to a clock-cleaning victory over Congressman Joe Kennedy III.
That was particularly the case in Boston, and Mission Hill certainly followed that trend voting for Markey in all but one of the nine precincts. In Mission Hill, Markey beat Kennedy 2,775 to 1,504 – a landslide victory – without really campaigning that much in the neighborhood. Kennedy had made a few appearances in Mission Hill early in the campaign, but both candidates largely hit other spots in Boston down the stretch.
Markey pulled out a big win statewide, citywide and in Mission Hill on Tuesday, Sept. 1, over Kennedy.
Kennedy kicked off his campaign more than a year ago and his star seemed to be rising without limit, and Markey had yet to even enter the race. But political contests are not sprints, but rather long-distance runs, and Markey and his Nike shoes are never to be counted out – prevailing in the long haul.
In Mission Hill, Markey claimed most of the precincts. Some, like 10-7 at the Julia Martin House on Bickford Street were close, with Markey winning 268 to 241. Others, like the Back of the Hill Apartments were blowouts, with Markey winning 521 to 223. The most lopsided victory was a 570 vote margin (748 to 178) at 10-9 in Jamaica Plain – a tally bolstered by massive support in Markey by JP residents attached to New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, both of whom backed Markey.
Markey pulled out the statewide win with 55 percent of the vote to Kennedy’s 44.6 percent of the vote. In Boston citywide, it was even more lopsided as Markey collected 59 percent of the vote (77,518) to Kennedy’s 40 percent (52,485).
Markey enjoyed strong support in Boston, western Massachusetts, and also on Cape Ann. Kennedy showed strength in southeast Massachusetts and central Massachusetts – as well as in Chelsea, Revere, and Lynn.
In his concession speech Tuesday night, Kennedy said his coalition will continue.
“The Senator is a good man,” he said of Markey. “You’ve never heard me say otherwise. I know it was difficult between us at times — good elections get heated — but I am grateful for our debates, for his commitment to this Commonwealth, and for the energy and enthusiasm that he brought to this race. Obviously, these results are not the ones we were hoping for…We built a campaign for the people that our politics too often locks out and leaves behind. We built a campaign for Lawrence and Chelsea and New Bedford and Roxbury and Brockton and Springfield and Lowell and Worcester. We built a campaign for working folks — of every color and creed — who carry the economic injustice of this country on their backs. This campaign’s coalition will endure.”
•Unopposed Races
In several races locally, state leaders were unopposed, making for no high-profile local elections, but votes were cast nonetheless.
State Rep. Nika Elugardo got 7,908 votes.
State Rep. Chynah Tyler prevailed with 3,998 votes.
State Sen. Sonia Chang Diaz won her unopposed race with 31,173 votes.
Mission Hill Ward and Precinct Results:
Mission Hill Result:
Markey – 2,775
Kennedy – 1,504
10–1 (Mission Main Community Center, Smith Street)
Markey – 147
Kennedy – 185
10–2 (Mission Main Community Center, Smith Street)
Markey – 149
Kennedy – 102
10–3 (Tobin Municipal building, Trement Street)
Markey – 168
Kennedy – 94
10–4 (Robert & Theresa Parks Community Room, 2 New Whitney)
Markey – 292
Kennedy – 215
10–5 (Tobin Municipal building, Tremont Street)
Markey – 221
Kennedy – 109
10–6 (JFK Elementary School, Bolster Street)
Markey – 261
Kennedy – 157
10–7 (Julia Martin House, Bickford Street)
Markey – 268
Kennedy – 241
10–8 (Back of the Hill Apts., South Huntington Avenue)
Markey – 521
Kennedy – 223
10–9 (Curley K-8, Centre Street, Jamaica Plain)
Markey – 748
Kennedy – 178