Write-ins factor large for Rayla
Rayla Campbell is expecting to find out later this week whether she has the write-in votes to appear on the ballot opposite U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley as the results from Tuesday’s unusual coronavirus-era primary continue to shake out.
Campbell, a Randolph Republican, said she hopes to hear as of Thursday whether she did collect enough write-in votes to be on November’s ballot for the 7th Congressional seat, which includes much of Boston. If so, she’ll be opposite Pressley, a freshman rep who’s seen as a rising star of the left.
Campbell would need 2,000 votes to be on the ballot against Pressley, who was unopposed on the Democratic side, in the Nov. 3 election. Tuesday’s primary appears to have gone off more smoothly than many feared, with results coming in fairly quickly; the marquee race in the state, the result of the U.S. Senate primary between incumbent Edward Markey and challenger Joseph Kennedy III, was clear before the 11 p.m. news, and didn’t turn into the multi-day votecounting affair some worried about amid the massive vote-by-mail push during the pandemic. The 4th Congressional District race for an open seat remains the outlier, as results trickle in and the race between frontrunners Jake Auchincloss and Jesse Mermell remains tight.
The primary also sorted out races on the state and county levels, with results coming in late Tuesday and into Wednesday.
Former Boston City Councilor Rob Consalvo won the open Democratic primary for the 14th Suffolk seat in the state House, beating Gretchen Van Ness.
In the 12th Suffolk, Brandy Fluker Oakley has won, meaning the Mattapan-Dorchester district heavily populated by people of color will now be represented by a Black person, following the retirement of Rep. Dan Cullinane. Fluker Oakley, an attorney, beat a field of popular candidates.
Rep. Dan Ryan of Charlestown staved off a challenge from his left by Chelsea City Councilor Damali Vidot in the 2nd Suffolk seat.
And longtime Rep. Kevin Honan defeated progressive activist Jordan Meehan for the 17th Suffolk seat in Allston-Brighton.
Outside Boston, State Sen. Michael Brady of Brockton kept the incumbent success streak going despite his drunken-driving guilty plea last year, fending off challenger Brockton City Councilor Moises Rodrigues
Federally indicted Rep. Dave Nangle was a rare incumbent to lose, falling to former Niki Tsongas aide Vanna Howard of Lowell.
In Norfolk County, the three-way slugfest for the Democratic sheriff nomination remained uncertain Wednesday night, with Register of Probate Pat McDermott holding a slight edge on former Quincy Mayor Bill Phelan, with retired state trooper James Coughlin not far behind. The three are vying to face Republican appointed Sheriff Jerry McDermott — no relation — in November.