Supporters of local candidates hold signs at the top of the hill at Acushnet’s polling place at the Elementary School on Middle Street in the election on 11/5/24. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
Former president Donald J. Trump has won the presidency again.
Just moments before sending this issue to press, the race was called, with Trump receiving 277 electoral votes and Harris receiving 224. A handful of states still have not reported results but it takes 270 electoral votes to win.
In Acushnet, Mr. Trump won 3,745 to 2,261. In Fairhaven, VP Harris prevailed, 4,768–4,601.
Closer to home, US Senator Elizabeth Warren (D) was projected to win re-election against Republican challenger John Deaton with 51% of precincts reporting.
In Acushnet, Mr. Deaton beat out Sen. Warren 3,711–2,253. Mr. Deaton also beat Sen. Warren in Fairhaven, 4,734–4,586.
Incumbent US Rep. Keating (D) beat out challenger Dan Sullivan. In Acushnet, it was Sullivan 3,282, Keating, 2,545.
Fairhaven’s Mark Sylvia (D) won his bid to to fill the state representative seat in the 10th Bristol District* vacated by William Straus, who retired. Mr. Sylvia faced Republican Joe Pires (R) of Rochester..
In Acushnet (Precincts 1 & 2A only), Mr. Pires won, 1,150–833; in Mattapoisett, the count was 2,611 for Mr. Sylvia to 2,121; in New Bedford, the two were neck-and-neck with Mr. Pires winning 1,288-1285; in Marion, Mr. Sylvia won 2,002–1,403.
Mr. Sylvia’s home town of Fairhaven delivered a big win, which put him over the top, with a count of 5,278 to 3,907.
Rochester had not posted results by press time, but the Globe reported that 93.33% of precincts (14 out of 15) had reported, and so they called the race.
People hold signs for Republican candidates in Fairhaven outside the polling place at the Recreation Center on 11/5/24. Photo by Beth David.
People hold signs for Democratic candidates in Fairhaven outside the polling place at the Recreation Center on 11/5/24. Photo by Beth David.
And Mr. Sylvia’s internal numbers, that he posted on Facebook, sup-ported that result, showing that Mr. Pires won his hometown by a very big margin, 2,358 to 1492, but not enough to put him over the top.
Adding up the Globe’s numbers with the Rochester numbers from Mr. Sylvia, the Neighb News calculates that Mr. Sylvia received 13,501 votes to Mr. Pires’s 12,227.
In the 8th Bristol District*, independent Jesse St. Gelais of Acushnet showed a valiant effort, but was in third place at press time, with all precincts except Fall River counted, according to the Boston Globe.
Democrat Steven Ouellette was squeaking out a win over Rep. Christopher Thrasher, 5,922–5,887; with St. Gelais with 4,033. In Acushnet (precincts 2 & 3), the vote was 1,870 for Mr. Gelais, the hometown candidate, and 937 for Mr. Thrasher; in Freetown, 1,165 Thrasher, 1,081 St. Gelais; in New Bedford, 311 Ouellette, 3,519 Thrasher; Westport, 3,941 Ouellette, 3,519 Thrasher.
For Bristol County Commissioner John R. Mitchell (D) came out on top with Julie Ruggiero (D) second, and Gregory DeMelo (U) third, according to the Globe. In Acushnet Mr. Mitchell received 2,690 votes; Ms. Ruggiero got 1,690; and Mr. DeMelo got 1,520.
In Fairhaven the count was Mr. Mitchell, 4,814; Ms. Ruggiero, 3,077; Mr. DeMelo, 2022.
Acushnet has 8,742 registered voters; turnout was 70%; 3,396 people voted early or by mail.
Fairhaven has 13,432 registered voters with 9,607 votes cast in this election for a turnout of 71.52%; 5,041 voted early or by mail.
The Boston Globe posted results on all the ballot questions by press time nearly 72% of precincts reporting.
Statewide question 1, to allow the Auditor to audit the legislature was poised to pass overwhelmingly, 71.5% to 28.5%; Q2 to eliminate the MCAS as a requirement for high school graduation was also looking like it would pass with 58.8% to 41.2%; Q3 to allow rideshare drivers to unionize, also looked ready to pass with 53.7% voting yes to 46.3% no; Q4 to legalize use of certain psychedelic drugs, was on the path to fail, with 56.9% against the change, to 43.1%; Q5 to give tipped workers the same minimum wage as other workers looked ready to fail, 64.1% top 35.9% leaving tipped workers with the subminimum wage of $6.75/hour.
Acushnet voted yes on Questions 1 and 2, and voted no on 3, 4, 5.
Fairhaven voted yes on Questions 1 abd 2, and no on 3, 4, 5.
*All numbers are preliminary and will be certified later this week.
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