2018 Primary Election Quick Look

Here’s a very quick look at the results of yesterday’s primary election:

Third Congressional District:

Around midnight, Lori Trahan claimed victory but Dan Koh did not concede. The Globe website headline now says “Third District race remains too close to call and the Sun’s says ”Trahan claims win in so-close house race.”

On Twitter this morning, the AP is reporting that with 94% of the votes counted, Koh has a slight lead over Trahan, 17,199 to 16,555. However, shortly after midnight, there were reports that with 98% of the vote counted, Trahan had a lead of about 100 votes.

“Provisional” ballots may account for the differing vote totals and percentage of the vote counted. A “provisional” ballot could be one cast by someone who is deemed “inactive” on the voting rolls but is allowed to cast a ballot on a provisional basis meaning whether or not the ballot counts will be adjudicated at a later time. In most elections, the margin of victory is large enough that the number of provisional ballots is too small to make a difference. In a very close race such as this one, they could prove decisive. No telling when the “final” count will be announced.

[Update as of Sept 6, 2018]. The confusion about which ballots had been counted was cleared up by mid-morning yesterday (Wednesday). The counts from two communities – Ashburnham and Dracut – had not been included in the count that gave Koh the 500+ vote lead. Although Koh won Ashburnham, Trahan took Dracut by a wide margin, wiping out Koh’s lead and giving her a 52 vote margin of victory. Also on Wednesday, Secretary of State William Galvin ordered local election officials to impound all ballots pending a possible recount. The candidates have until this Friday to file the necessary 500 voter signatures to request a recount].

First Middlesex State Senate was won by Ed Kennedy

Rady Mom was reelected state representative.

Secretary of State Bill Galvin defeated challenger Josh Zakim by a wide margin.

Jay Gonzalez defeated Bob Massie for the Democratic governor’s nomination and Quentin Palfrey defeated Jimmy Tingle for the Lt. Governor nomination.

District Attorney Marian Ryan defeated challenger Donna Patalano.

In the 1st Essex and Middlesex Senate district, Barry Finegold defeated Mike Armano as Democratic nominee for seat now held by Barbara L’Italien.

In the 36th Middlesex District (Dracut and Tyngsborough), incumbent Colleen Garry defeated challenger Sabrina Heisey.

In the 19th Middlesex District (Tewksbury and Wilmington), Dave Robertson was the nominee over Mark Kratman, Mike McCoy, Judy O’Connell and Erika Johnson.

In the 14th Middlesex District (Concord, Acton, Carlisle and portion of Chelmsford), Tami Gouveia defeated Ben Bloomenthal and Christian Krueger (seat now held by Cory Atkins).

On the Republican side, Charlie Baker defeated Scott Lively to be renominated. Geoff Diehl defeated John Kingston and Beth Linstrom to get the US Senate nomination.