Westborough 2022 Voting Guide: Candidates, How To Vote

WESTBOROUGH, MA — Election Day 2022 is here, and no one would blame you if you feel like it's arrived without much fanfare.

The 2022 statewide elections in Massachusetts haven't been hotly contested, especially in the race to replace Gov. Charlie Baker. On Monday, Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin (who is up for election against Republican Rayla Campbell) issued his pre-election forecast of about 2.2 million votes, down about 500,000 from the 2018 statewide election.

Galvin said there's "not a lot of enthusiasm" about the main 2022 contests.

But that doesn't mean there aren't important local races on the ballot.

Before you head to the polls on Nov. 8 (or to a ballot drop box), here's a cheat sheet on all the local items you'll be voting on, plus tips on how to vote.

Where, When To Vote

Polls in Massachusetts will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 8. Find out where to vote here, and find out if you're registered to vote here.

If you're voting by mail, you can drop off your ballot at the clerk's office and in any ballot drop box — but not at polling locations. You can also mail your ballot on Election Day, but it won't be counted if it arrives after Nov. 11. Your best bet is the drop box or handing it off in-person.

The deadline to register to vote passed on Oct. 22, and the deadline to request a mail-in ballot passed on Oct. 25.

Local Issues

If you're looking for statewide issues, including candidates and ballot questions, Patch has put together a guide here. Here are the local races to watch for in Westborough in 2022:

Donaghue vs. Hostage

Well known Westborough Democrat Kate Donaghue is running for the newly created 19th Worcester seat, which includes pieces of Southborough and Framingham. Republican Jonathan Hostage is running against her. Read more about Donaghue in our candidate questionnaire (Hostage declined to answer the questionnaire).

Kane (i) vs. Fishman

Republican state Rep. Hannah Kane represents Shrewsbury and Westborough's 11th Worcester District. She's represented the district since winning election in 2014, but Shrewsbury Town Meeting member Stephen Fishman wants to replace her, running on a platform of environmentalism and protecting abortion access. Only voters in Westborough Precinct 4 will vote in this race.

McGovern (i) vs. Sossa-Paquette

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern has won every election since he won a congressional seat in 1996, unseating Republican Peter Blute. In 2022, he's facing a challenge from first-time candidate Jeffrey Sossa-Paquette, a Shrewsbury Republican.

Sossa-Paquette earned headlines over the summer when he harangued McGovern for participating in a drag queen storytime event at Redemption Rock Brewing in Worcester. But Sossa-Paquette has struggled to get support from the Republican National Committee.

DePalo (i) vs. Galonek

Incumbent Democratic Governor's Council member Paul DePalo will face a challenge on Tuesday from Sturbridge Republican Gary Galonek. DePalo, a former Worcester Planning Board member, first won the seat in 2020, and represents a huge portion of central Massachusetts. Galonek has previously served on the Sturbridge Zoning Board of Appeals and as a member of the Tantasqua School Committee.

The Governor's Council advises the governor on "appointments, warrants for the state treasury and pardons and commutations."

Evangelidis vs. Fontaine

One of the few local elected Republicans, Sheriff Lew Evangelidis is seeking to continue his decade-long reign over the county prison, plus civil processing (lawsuits, evictions) and the community corrections program. David Fontaine, a Paxton Democrat, is the first person to challenge Evangelidis since 2010.

Westborough Patch will bring you election results as soon as they come in. Sign up for our email newsletter here.