US primaries: William Galvin wins Democratic nod for Secretary of State in Massachusetts

William Galvin won the Democratic primary in Massachusetts on Tuesday and will contest the midterm polls for the office of Secretary of State. The 71-year-old was the incumbent in the elections and aims to hold office for his eighth term. 

More than 400,000 votes had been added to Galvin’s tally after nearly 3 hours of counting. The Democratic politician defeated primary rival Tanisha Sullivan, who heads the Boston branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Also Read: Why Maura Healey’s midterm victory will be historic for Massachusetts

Massachusetts voters have now pit William Galvin against Rayla Campbell in the upcoming midterm elections scheduled for November 8 this year. Rayla Campbell ran uncontested on Tuesday and would be the first Black person to serve in the post if elected.

In the Democratic primary elections for governor’s office, Massachusetts picked current Attorney General Maura Healey. On the Republican side, Geoff Diehl advanced to the midterms with former US President Donald Trump‘s endorsement.

Massachusetts has a history of electing fiscally conservative, socially moderate Republican governors — including former Governors William Weld and Mitt Romney — to provide a check on overwhelming Democratic legislative majorities. Baker, another Republican in that mold, has remained popular in the state.

Former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell defeated workers’ rights attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan in the Democratic primary for attorney general. A week before the election, a third candidate, former assistant attorney general Quentin Palfrey, announced he was suspending his campaign and endorsed Campbell; he remained on the ballot.

Also Read: US primaries: Massachusetts pits Maura Healey, Geoff Diehl for governor’s office

Campbell would be the first Black woman to hold the office in Massachusetts if elected in November. She will face Republican Jay McMahon, a trial attorney who previously ran against Healey and lost, news agency Associated Press reported.

In the Democratic three-way race for lieutenant governor, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll defeated state Rep. Tami Gouveia of Acton and state Sen. Eric Lesser of Longmeadow.