Here Are the Massachusetts 2018 Primary Results
From Charlie Baker to contested House races, here's who won the primaries in Massachusetts.
Photo via State House News Service
Primaries in non-presidential election years can be unglamorous affairs, but in 2018, heavily Democratic Massachusetts has had a number of surprisingly competitive races. Whether it was City Councilor Ayanna Pressley facing off against Rep. Mike Capuano or the ten candidate free-for-all over the retiring Niki Tsongas’ House seat, voters had plenty of options to choose from. Here’s how they voted.
GOP Governor
In what will come as a surprise to no one, Gov. Charlie Baker has come out ahead in the Massachusetts Republican primary, the first race called by the Associated Press as statewide results continued to pour in.
Baker faced a long-shot bid from challenger Scott Lively, the conservative Springfield pastor best known for his anti-gay views and who pitched himself as a pro-Trump alternative to the state’s moderage governor.
Just after 9 p.m., with about 6 percent of precincts reporting, Baker’s share of the vote was 65 percent to Lively’s 35 percent.
Democratic Governor
Former Deval Patrick administration official Jay Gonzalez defeated Bob Massie to earn the right to face Charlie Baker in the race for governor.
District 7
In an upset win, Ayanna Pressley defeated longtime incumbent Mike Capuano. “It seems like change is on the way,” Pressley told supporters in a speech. “These times demanded more from our leaders and from our party. These times demanded an approach to governing that was bold uncompromising and unafraid. That with our lives under assault with our freedoms under siege that it’s not just good enough to see the Democrats back in power, but it matters who those Democrats are.”
GOP Senator
Geoff Diehl, who co-chaired the state campaign for Trump’s 2016 campaign, will be facing off against Elizabeth Warren for the Senate in November.
Suffolk District Attorney
Rachael Rollins will be the next district attorney for Suffolk County, defeating Greg Henning. In a press release, Rollins said, “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.”
Democratic Secretary of State
Bill Galvin defeated City Councilor Josh Zakim in his first serious primary battle in years. Galvin, who’s been Secretary of State since 1995, will now face Republican Anthony Amore in November.
Republican Attorney General
Cape Cod lawyer James McMahon has earned the right to face off against Maura Healey in November.
Democratic Lieutenant Governor
Quentin Palfrey, a former Barack Obama adviser, will be the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. He defeated comedian Jimmy Tingle, who had Matt Damon record robocalls for him.
