By Beth David, Editor
A higher than usual turnout for a mid-term election gave victories to the incumbents in Mass. Incumbent US Senator Elizabeth Warren (D) and incumbent Governor Charlie Baker (R) easily won second terms in the midterm elections on Tuesday, 11/6/18. Nationally, as of press time, the Democrats had a net gain of 26 seats in the House of Representatives, more than the 23 seats needed to regain control of the House, with more than 20 still undecided. Republicans remained in control of the Senate, with at least 51 seats after both parties won and lost seats in the Senate. A handful of Senate races were still undecided as of press time.
In Mass. Gov. Baker handily beat Democratic challenger Jay Gonzalez 66.8% to 33.2%, according to the Boston Globe, with 98% of precincts reporting. All numbers are unofficial. Results will not be certified for at least several days.
Sen. Warren beat Republican challenger Geoff Diehl, 60.5% to 36.1% with Independent party candidate Shiva Ayyadurai receiving 3.4% of the vote.
Question One, which would have put limits on nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals, failed by a 70-30% margin.
Statewide, voters passed Question Two 71.4% to 28.6%, to create a commission to explore a way to overturn the 2010 Supreme Court decision that allowed corporations to spend unlimited money on political campaigns.
Question three also passed, which leaves in place the protections for transgender individuals in public accommodations. The law has been in effect for two years. The “yes” vote, in a 67.9% to 32.1% margin, keeps the protections in place and does not change any laws.
In Acushnet, 56% of the eligible voters cast ballots, a big number for a midterm election.
Voters in Acushnet chose Diehl over Warren, 2255-1732, with 120 voting for Green-Rainbow party candidate Shiva Ayyadurai; chose Baker/Polito over Gonzalez/Palfrey 2075 to 968; Incumbent Attorney General Maura Healey over challenger James McMahon III (R), 2137-1921; Secretary of State William Francis Galvin over Republican Anthony Amore 2275-1644, with 90 votes for Juan Sanchez (G-R); Treasurer Deborah Goldberg over Lakeville’s Keiko Orrall (R), 1984-1897, with 101 votes to G-R candidate Jamie Guertin. Acushnet voters chose incumbents down the rest of the ballot.
On the questions, Acushnet voted no on One, 2781-1215; yes on Two, 2483-1521; and no on Three, 2041-2006.
In Fairhaven, turnout was also large, with approximately 61.5% of the eligible voters casting ballots, going all in for incumbents and aligning with the rest of the state.
In the closest matchup, voters in Fairhaven chose Warren over Diehl, 3,571 to 3197, a difference of just 374, and 239 for Ayyadurai; chose Baker/ Polito over Gonzalez/Palfrey 4924 to 1932; Healey over McMahon 4123-2806; Galvin over Amore 4306-2298, with 195 for Sanchez; Goldberg over Orrall 3802-2783, with 167 for Guerin. Fairhaven voters chose incumbents for the rest of the ballot.
On the questions, Fairhaven voters rejected Quesion One, 4470-2417; supported Question Two 4627-2184; and voted yes on three 4138-2750.
Nationally, a record number of women were elected to both chambers in Washington, with the House now having more than 100 women in Congress for the first time ever.
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