© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WECS · WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM · WVOF
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Massachusetts primary results: Diehl, Driscoll, Campbell, Galvin, DiZoglio prevail

Republican gubernatorial candidate businessman Chris Doughty, right, casts his ballot, as election worker Todd Duffy, left, looks on, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, in Wrentham, Mass., in the state's primary election. Doughty, a political newcomer, is going up against Republican Geoff Diehl who has former President Donald Trump's endorsement.
Steven Senne
/
AP
Republican gubernatorial candidate businessman Chris Doughty, right, casts his ballot, as election worker Todd Duffy, left, looks on, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, in Wrentham, Mass., in the state's primary election. Doughty, a political newcomer, is going up against Republican Geoff Diehl who has former President Donald Trump's endorsement.

Voters in Massachusetts picked Democratic and Republican nominees ahead of a general election that will result in turnover for at least four of the six statewide constitutional offices.

indicates the Associated Press has projected a winner.

MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR

The incumbent governor, Republican Charlie Baker, is not seeking a third term.

Note that state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz remained on the Democratic ballot, although she ended her campaign in June. Attorney General Maura Healey was the only active Democratic candidate for governor.

On the Republican side, former state Rep. Geoff Diehl, who has support from former President Trump, defeated entrepreneur Chris Doughty.

MASSACHUSETTS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

The incumbent, Republican Karyn Polito, is not seeking a third term. On the Republican ballot, former state Rep. Kate Campanale was Doughty's pick for lieutenant governor, while former state Rep. Leah Allen was Diehl's pick.

Lt. Governor: GOP 88.0% of estimated votes counted
Candidate Votes % of votes
Leah Allen 109,113 52.1%
Kate Campanale 100,189 47.9%

For the Democrats, the field included state Sen. Eric Lesser of Longmeadow, state Rep. Tami Gouveia of Acton, and Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll.

Lesser conceded to Driscoll around 10 p.m.

"Politics is up and down, elections are up and down," Lesser said. "But the vision and the ideas that we put forward in this campaign clearly resonated, especially in western Mass. The numbers really show that."

 Massachusetts state Sen. Eric Lesser concedes in the 2022 Democratic primary for lieutenant governor to Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll.
Adam Frenier
/
NEPM
Massachusetts state Sen. Eric Lesser concedes in the 2022 Democratic primary for lieutenant governor to Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll.

Lt. Governor: DEM 87.7% of estimated votes counted
Candidate Votes % of votes
Kim Driscoll 285,985 47.0%
Eric Lesser 198,801 32.7%
Tami Gouveia 123,873 20.4%

MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL

This is an open contest, as incumbent Maura Healey is running for governor. Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell prevailed over labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan in the Democratic primary. Note that Quentin Palfrey remained on the ballot, although he ended his campaign last week.

Campbell will face trial attorney Jay McMahon in November.

Former Boston City Councilor and candidate for state attorney general Andrea Campbell speaks during the state's Democratic party convention, June 4, 2022, in Worcester, Mass. Campbell prevailed over labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
File photo / Michael Dwyer
/
AP
Former Boston City Councilor and candidate for state attorney general Andrea Campbell speaks during the state's Democratic party convention, June 4, 2022, in Worcester, Mass. Campbell prevailed over labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

MASSACHUSETTS SECRETARY OF STATE

Secretary of State William Galvin has defeated lawyer and Boston NAACP President Tanisha Sullivan in the Democratic primary. Galvin, seeking an eighth term, was the only incumbent statewide officeholder to face a primary challenge.

Galvin will face Republican Rayla Campbell in the general election.

MASSACHUSETTS STATE AUDITOR

This is an open contest, as incumbent Suzanne Bump is not running for reelection. State Sen. Diana DiZoglio defeated former state transportation official Chris Dempsey in the Democratic primary.

DiZoglio will face Republican Anthony Amore, a museum security expert and former federal agent.

Auditor: DEM 87.9% of estimated votes counted
Candidate Votes % of votes
Diana DiZoglio 314,768 53.7%
Chris Dempsey 270,902 46.3%

GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL

Democrats are picking their nominee to succeed the retiring western Massachusetts representative on the Governor's Council, Mary Hurley, a former Springfield mayor and judge.

 Governor's Councilor Mary Hurley speaks at a council assembly on Feb. 16, 2022, about her reasoning behind voting for a pair of commutations.
Sam Doran
/
SHNS
Governor's Councilor Mary Hurley speaks at a council assembly on Feb. 16, 2022, about her reasoning behind voting for a pair of commutations.

Early Wednesday morning, the race was too close to call, with North Adams School Committee member Tara Jacobs narrowly ahead of lawyer and Springfield City Councilor Mike Fenton. Trailing farther behind were Shawn Allyn of Agawam, a partner at a Holyoke law firm, and attorney Jeff Morneau of East Longmeadow.

The winner will face Republican John Comerford of Palmer in November.

Gov.'s Council: DEM 84.2% of estimated votes counted
Candidate Votes % of votes
Shawn Allyn 15,437 21.4%
Mike Fenton 22,207 30.7%
Tara Jacobs 22,334 30.9%
Jeff Morneau 12,267 17.0%

LEGISLATURE

There were five contested primaries in western Massachusetts for the state Legislature, all on the Democratic side. That includes two contested state primaries for open state Senate seats. State Rep. Paul Mark beat former small business owner Huff Templeton for the district currently represented by Adam Hinds, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor.

Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin & Hampshire Senate District: DEM 69.4% of estimated votes counted
Candidate Votes % of votes
Paul Mark 14,551 84.0%
Huff Templeton 2,778 16.0%

In a Senate seat vacated by another candidate for lieutenant governor, Eric Lesser, two candidates sought the Democratic nomination, with state Rep. Jake Oliveira prevailing against former congressional and campaign aide Sydney Levin-Epstein.

Hampden, Hampshire & Worcester Senate: DEM 41.3% of estimated votes counted
Candidate Votes % of votes
Sydney Levin-Epstein 2,451 34.1%
Jake Oliveira 4,732 65.9%

There was one contested state House primary in western Massachusetts without an incumbent in the mix. In Chicopee, veteran and former congressional aide Shirley Arriaga defeated City Councilor Joel McAuliffe in the Democratic primary. Arriaga had the support of retiring state Rep. Joe Wagner.

On Tuesday night, Arriaga said her victory was the result of hard work and asking voters what changes they want to see in Chicopee.

"I think that was really the key. And I was able to form a bond with my community and they showed up today and they proved that they were behind me," Arriaga said. "And I am just truly humbled."

That's a lesson Arriaga said she would take with her to Beacon Hill. But first, she has to get by unenrolled candidate Sean Goonan in November.

Eighth Hampden House: DEM 99% of estimated votes counted
Candidate Votes % of votes
Shirley Arriaga 3,035 63.6%
Joel McAuliffe 1,735 36.4%

Two incumbent state representatives have challengers in the primary. In northern Berkshire County, Rep. John Barrett handily defeated challenger Paula Kingsbury-Evans, a recent gradate of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

First Berkshire House: DEM 92.9% of estimated votes counted
Candidate Votes % of votes
John Barrett 4,445 72.1%
Paula Kingsbury-Evans 1,723 27.9%

State Rep. Bud Williams of Springfield held off former labor union coordinator Jynai McDonald by about 30 percentage points.

Eleventh Hampden House: DEM 99.0% of estimated votes counted
Candidate Votes % of votes
Bud Williams 1,788 64.1%
Jynai McDonald 1,003 35.9%

SHERIFFS

Two western Massachusetts sheriffs faced primary challenges this year. Berkshire County's Tom Bowler defeated Alf Barbalunga, chief probation officer in the Southern Berkshire District Court.

 Sheriff Tom Bowler is finishing up his 12th year as Berkshire County sheriff. He is running for a third term.
Nancy Eve Cohen
/
NEPM
Sheriff Tom Bowler is finishing up his 12th year as Berkshire County sheriff. He is running for a third term.

"We strive to create a community that's safer, healthier and stronger. And it just resonated with the voters," Bowler said Tuesday night.

During the campaign, Barbalunga criticized Bowler for not restarting an work release program more quickly after the COVID shutdown, and for relocating female inmates to a correctional center in Chicopee.

Berkshire Sheriff: DEM 70.3% of estimated votes counted
Candidate Votes % of votes
Alf Barbalunga 3.958 26.6%
Tom Bowler 10,944 73.4%

In Hampshire County, Sheriff Patrick Cahillane held off a primary challenge from two former employees at the jail: Caitlin Sepeda and Yvonne Gittelson.

Cahillane said Tuesday night he was not surprised by the relatively tough Democratic primary.

"I fully expected this to be a full race," he said in an interview. "One of the things with the Hampshire County community is people are engaged, and they make decisions based on what they believe in."

Hampshire Sheriff: DEM 83.1% of estimated votes counted
Candidate Votes % of votes
Patrick Cahillane 9,166 47.9%
Yvonne Gittelson 5,513 28.8%
Caitlin Sepeda 4,463 23.3%

In both contested races for sheriff, no Republican candidate filed to run.

BERKSHIRE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

One western Massachusetts district attorney trailed a primary challenger on Tuesday. First-term Berkshire DA Andrea Harrington appeared headed for defeat against trial attorney Timothy Shugrue. No Republican candidate filed for this race.

Pittsfield, Massachusetts, trial lawyer Timothy Shugrue is a candidate for Berkshire County district attorney in the Democratic primary.
Nancy Eve Cohen
/
NEPM
Pittsfield, Massachusetts, trial lawyer Timothy Shugrue is a candidate for Berkshire County district attorney in the Democratic primary.

Berkshire DA: DEM 69.6% of estimated votes counted
Candidate Votes % of votes
Andrea Harrington 6,128 42.5%
Timothy Shugrue 8,276 57.5%

This story contains reporting from the State House News Service and the Associated Press.

Copyright 2022 New England Public Media. To see more, visit New England Public Media.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.