Updated Aug. 30 at 4:11 p.m. after Quentin Palfrey exited attorney general race.
In less than two weeks, voters will determine which candidates receive their party’s nominations for several positions in the statewide primary.
Tomorrow, Aug. 27, is the last day to register to vote or update your party affiliation. You can do this online, and the Town Clerk’s Office will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to support in-person registration.
To vote early by mail, you need to fill out and return the vote-by-mail application form by Monday, Aug. 29 at 5 p.m. The state legislature expanded mail-in voting and early voting by passing the VOTES Act earlier this summer, which made many of the temporary absentee voting measures implemented during the pandemic permanent.
As of Thursday, 4,917 Lexingtonians had requested early voting, with an additional 395 absentee requests and 14 “Specially Qualified” absentee requests, according to Town Clerk Mary de Alderete.
Lexington saw a 51% turnout in the last state primary, which fell during a presidential election year and included Joe Kennedy III’s high-profile challenge to Ed Markey (D-MA) in a Democratic Senate primary race. Two years earlier, the 2018 primary drew a far lower 35% turnout.
In this year’s primary, only one state legislature nomination for a Lexington representative is contested in either party. In Precinct 6, Timothy Sullivan of Burlington is challenging Bedford incumbent State Rep. Kenneth Gordon (D-21 Middlesex) for the Democratic nomination. This is the first state election cycle in which Lexington’s Precinct 6 is included in the 21st Middlesex District due to redistricting in 2021; prior to this redistricting, which increased the number of majority-minority districts statewide to reflect diverse population growth revealed by the last census, all nine Lexington precincts fell into the 15th Middlesex District.
State Rep. Michelle Ciccolo (D-15 Middlesex) is on the Democratic ballot in all eight other Lexington precincts.
For the Democratic nomination to Massachusetts Senate, incumbent State Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-4 Middlesex) is running in Precincts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Incumbent State Sen. Mike Barrett (D-3 Middlesex) is running in Precincts 3, 8 and 9.
No Republicans are running for any state legislature position across Lexington’s nine precincts.
A down-ballot race for District 3 Governor’s Councillor is also contested. The Governor’s Council is an eight-person body that has the final say on pardons, commutations and gubernatorial appointments such as judges. Public Defender Mara Dolan of Concord is challenging incumbent Democrat Marilyn Petitto Devaney, who has faced criticism for unprofessional conduct. If elected, Dolan would be the first public defender to serve on the Governor’s Council. Dolan has earned several endorsements from Lexington state and local leaders. No Republicans are running for Governor’s Councillor in District 3.
On the federal level, Assistant Speaker of the House Katherine Clark (D-MA5) is running uncontested for the Democratic nomination for reelection. Caroline Colarusso is running uncontested in the Republican primary.
Several statewide leadership positions are also on the line in this primary. Attorney General Maura Healey is running uncontested for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Her candidacy is largely shaping the three-way race for Democratic lieutenant governor among Kimberley Driscoll, Tami Gouveia and Eric Lesser.
On the Republican ballot, Geoff Diehl and Chris Doughty are facing off for governor, while Leah Allen and Kate Campanale are running for lieutenant governor.
Three candidates were also vying for the Democratic nomination for attorney general to replace Healey: Andrea Campbell, Shannon Liss-Riordan and Quentin Palfrey. But Palfrey dropped out of the race Aug. 30, after early and mail-in voting had already begun, and endorsed former rival Campbell. James McMahon III is the only Republican candidate.
For secretary of state, Tanisha Sullivan is challenging Democratic incumbent William Galvin – the only primary challenge to a Democratic incumbent for this position in the country. On the Republican ballot, Rayla Campbell is the only candidate.
Chris Dempsey is running against Diana DiZoglio to serve as state auditor. Dempsey, who campaigned yesterday in Lexington, has been endorsed by Ciccolo and Friedman. Republican Anthony Amore is running uncontested.
There is no contest for state treasurer, sheriff of Middlesex County or district attorney of the Northern District; Democratic incumbents are running for all three positions without primary or Republican challengers.
All in-person early voting will take place at Cary Memorial Building from Aug. 27 to Sept. 2; you can find your polling place here.
On Tuesday, Sept. 6, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. All absentee ballots must be also returned by 8 p.m.
Leave a comment