Allison Cartwright won the Democratic nomination for Suffolk County Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court, defeating Boston City Councilwoman Erin Murphy in Tuesday’s primary election. The election, held against a backdrop of limited competition and low turnout, saw Ms. Cartwright lead by a substantial 60-40 margin, according to preliminary data from the Boston Department of Elections. Ms. Cartwright triumphed in 18 of Boston’s 22 precincts, including key neighborhoods such as Dorchester and Mattapan. Erin Murphy managed victories in specific areas, including Neponset Ward 16, as well as Charlestown and South Boston.
The race for Clerk, held for nearly 30 years by Dorchester’s Maura Doyle, attracted particular attention, becoming the focal point of a broader political debate. Cartwright received strong support from progressive leaders, including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, while Murphy had attracted support from Wu’s critics and more centrist political figures, noted local newspaper *Dorchester Reporter*.
Elsewhere in the state, several Democratic incumbents ran unopposed, including Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Stephen Lynch, and State Senator Liz Miranda. State Senator Nick Collins easily defeated Juwan Skeens, while State Representative Russell Holmes scored a decisive victory over Haris Hardaway and Samuel Pierce. The general election, which will include the presidential race, is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5.
At the federal level, Marine Corps veteran and cryptocurrency advocate John Deaton secured the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Tuesday’s primary. Mr. Deaton now faces an uphill battle to unseat popular incumbent Senator Elizabeth Warren in November’s general election. He defeated Quincy City Council President Ian Cain and Bob Antonellis, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, in the GOP primary.
Deaton, 56, recently moved from Rhode Island to Massachusetts and has positioned himself as a champion of the working class, campaigning on promises to “fight corruption and restore sanity to Washington.” Democrat-controlled Massachusetts is a deeply blue state. However, Bay State voters are notorious for electing Republicans as governors. The most recent was Charlie Baker, replaced by Maura Healey.
The last time a Republican won a Senate seat in Massachusetts was in 2010, when local Senator Scott Brown won the special election to fill the seat of legendary Senator Edward Kennedy. But his adventure in the U.S. Senate was short-lived. In 2012, he was easily defeated by Professor Elizabeth Warren, who has held the seat ever since.
This roundup includes reports from Dorchester Reporter and WBUR.