The Sept. 6 primary election results have been counted, and in the most contentious local race, the incumbent retained the seat.
Robert Dello Russo was attempting to unseat Maura Hennigan for the clerk of the criminal division of the Suffolk County Superior Court. But Hennigan garnered 61 percent of the vote, or 21,167 votes, while Dello Russo collected 39 percent, according to the state Secretary of State’s Office.
Hennigan, a Democrat, will not face a challenger on the ballot in the Nov. 6 general election.
“I’m relieved and grateful,” said Hennigan in a phone interview with the Gazette the day after the election. “I’m so grateful.”
She added she had wonderful support from her community.
Hennigan, who revealed in July that the State Ethics Commission had opened a “preliminary inquiry” into a violation by her campaign, said there is not an update on the investigation.
Her campaign had been found in violation of campaign finance law by the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) in April. OCPF found that several of her court employees had labeled envelopes intended for sending out Hennigan’s political campaign materials last year.
Hennigan said when there is low voter turnout, the election is always a big question mark. About 11 percent of registered voters in the city voted in the election. She said she spent the last week-and-a-half of the campaign in the southwestern part of the city, especially Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury, making sure people knew that there was an election.
Dello Russo also said that anything is possible when there is low voter turnout in an election. He said he lost because he wasn’t able to get out the vote, specifically in Revere, Winthrop and Chelsea.
“We didn’t get our vote out. It’s as simple as that,” said Dello Russo.
He added, “I thought I got my message out with the direct mailing and the foot campaign.”
Dello Russo said he will remain retired and has no plans in the near future, but will keep his options open.
Another contested race was Democratic state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz (2nd Suffolk District) battling Roy Owens. Chang-Díaz nabbed 83 percent of the vote, or 8,875 votes, to Owens’ 17 percent.
Chang-Díaz will also not face a challenger in the general election.
There was one contested local race for Governor’s Council, which confirms judicial appointments, among other duties. Democrat Christopher Iannella cruised to victory with 70 percent of the vote to beat his opponent for the District 4 seat. He will not face a challenger in the general election.