Massachusetts State Primary Election Results 2018: Upsets Galore

BOSTON, MA — It was not a good night to be an incumbent in Massachusetts.

Ayanna Pressley landed the biggest upset blow of Tuesday's State Primary elections, upending 10-term U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano in the 7th congressional district. With no Republican challenger in November's general election, Pressley is poised to become the first black woman elected to represent Massachusetts in Congress.

"It seems like change is on the way," Pressley said in a victory speech. "I am so humbled to be standing before you tonight victorious."

The race for Capuano's seat was seen by many as a referendum on the Democrats' push for fresh representation. Pressley's win is being compared to the headline-stealing victory Alexandria Ocassio-Cortez recently secured in New York's 14th congressional district. Ocassio-Cortez tweeted out congratulations to her "sister," as did U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, two rumored 2020 presidential hopefuls who were among the lucky ones coasting to uncontested victories Tuesday night.

Read: Pressley Breaks Capuano's Hold On 7th Congressional District.

Other upsets Tuesday saw Ways and Means Chairman Jeffrey Sanchez and Assistant Majority Leader Byron Rushing, both Democrats, fall short in their bids to be re-elected. Sanchez, who was the highest-ranking Latino lawmaker on Beacon Hill and had a large part in planning the state's annual spending, lost to Nika Elugardo. Rushing, the highest-ranking black legislator on Beacon Hill, fell to Jon Santiago.

It wasn't all bad for incumbents, however. Secretary of State William Galvin held off a youthful push for his job by Josh Zakim in the Democratic primary. Galvin is the longest-serving constitutional officer in state history.

Gov. Charlie Baker has secured his second Republican nomination for the job.Baker's easy win over controversial conservative pastor and vocal supporter of President Trump Scott Lively was expected. Lively, who founded what the Southern Law Poverty Center deemed a hate group, still got some 35 percent of the vote.

Baker awaits Democratic challenger Jay Gonzalez, who topped Bob Massie Tuesday night.

In the crowded race for the Democratic nomination to replace retiring U.S. Rep Niki Tsongas in the 3rd congressional district, only a few dozen votes separated the top candidates as the clock struck midnight. The contest remained undecided into the early morning hours.

Several U.S. Representative incumbents held on Tuesday night. Richard Neal outlasted Tahirah Amatul-Wadud in the 1st congressional district. He does not have a general election opponent from the other side of the ballot. Amatul-Wadud would have become the first Muslim elected to Congress in Massachusetts.

Stephen Lynch beat out two Democratic challengers in the 8th congressional district and won't face a Republican opponent in November; Joe Kennedy won in the 4th congressional district, trouncing Gary Rucinski, essentially securing Kennedy another term as well; And Bill Keating defeated challenger William Cimbrelo in the Democratic primary for the 9th congressional district. He will face Republican Peter Tedeschi, who was unopposed.

Dozens of candidates across Massachusetts in uncontested State Primary races declared victory once the polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday night.

Warren was among those who coasted into November's general election. She'll take on State Rep. Geoff Diehl in November. Diehl, who was co-chair of Trump's 2016 Massachusetts campaign, held off John Kingston and Beth Lindstrom Tuesday night.

"With her abysmal record of hyper-partisanship and her consistent willingness to put her own political ambitions above her constituents, Senator (sic) is failing Massachusetts," MassGOP Chairman Kirsten Hughes said in a statement congratulating Diehl on Tuesday night. "Senator Warren has had six years to be the kind of Senator we can be proud of, but all she's done is abandon her constituents and inflame tensions with divisive rhetoric."

Democratic U.S. Reps. Jim McGovern in the 2nd congressional district, Katherine Clark in the 5th, and rumored possible 2020 candidate Seth Moulton in the 6th all advanced at 8 p.m. as well. They will all face Republican challengers in November.

Attorney General Maura Healey, State Auditor Suzanne Bump, and State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg also declared victory when the polls closed. They will now focus on the general election.

Reporting from the State House News Service was used in this report

(Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)