This is a developing story and will be updated as election results become available.
MARLBOROUGH, MA — The polls officially closed at 8 p.m. in the Massachusetts State Election, and an apparent winner has emerged in the race for the Middlesex and Worcester Senate seat.
Democratic state Sen. Jamie Eldridge and Republican Joseph Timothy "Tim" Shea both ran for the seat in Tuesday's election. Eldridge declared victory at around 11:15 p.m.
"With a handful of communities in the Middlesex and Worcester District reporting, I'm declaring my re-election as your State Senator tonight," he wrote in a social media announcement. "Thank you to the voters, my campaign team, and my State House staff for serving my constituents so well! I commend my Republican opponent Tim Shea for stepping up to run."
The district includes Marlborough, Sudbury and Wayland, along with Acton, Ayer, Boxborough, Hudson, Littleton, Maynard, Stow, Harvard and Southborough.
As of 11:17 p.m., Eldridge led the race by a 41 percent margin, according to election results from AP reported by WCVB.
Neither candidate faced a primary opponent in the Sept. 1 State Primary. Eldridge secured the Democratic nomination, while Shea secured the GOP nomination.
Polls closed at 8 p.m. Election-night totals are unofficial and remain subject to local certification, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Eldridge, an Acton Democrat, has represented the district since January 2009. His official Senate website says he chairs the Joint Committee on Revenue and serves as vice chair of the Judiciary and State Administration and Regulatory Oversight committees.
Eldridge's campaign centers on criminal justice reform, universal health care, clean energy and education. His campaign also highlights local work, including funding for Marlborough facilities, rail-trail projects serving Sudbury, and climate initiatives in Wayland.
Shea, an Acton Republican, describes himself as a business and technology adviser with more than 30 years of experience.
His campaign website lists lower taxes, lower energy costs, school choice, housing incentives and stricter immigration enforcement among his priorities. The campaign says he has served for two decades on the board of his condominium association, including more than 15 years as president.
Shea told Patch he is running to "bring some conservative common-sense policies to the legislature."
"I am not afraid to work hard nor reach across the aisle when it makes sense to help pass good legislation," he said. "Many people feel it is time for a change after 17 years of the incumbent and I am running to give people an option for common-sense, moderately conservative policies and perspectives
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