WORCESTER, MA — Mary S. Keefe secured the Democratic nomination for the 15th Worcester District House seat Tuesday, defeating Ronald B. Waddell Jr. in one of Worcester County's two legislative primaries.
With six of 14 precincts reporting, Keefe had 1,285 votes, or 64.9 percent, compared with Waddell Jr. at 696 votes, or 35.1 percent, according to unofficial AP results reported by the Boston Globe after polls closed.
Seven-term incumbent Keefe was challenged by Waddell JR., the cofounder of Legendary Legacies, a Worcester nonprofit with former gang members and men returning from incarceration.
The 15th Worcester District consists of parts of Wards 3, 6, and 10 in the City of Worcester.
Keefe, first elected in 2012, made her experience and legislative record central to her campaign. Her official biography says she helped craft the 2018 criminal justice reform law and led the 2019 Student Opportunity Act. She also cited affordable housing, fair labor practices, environmental justice and arts funding as priorities.
In a post in May announcing his campaign, Waddell described it as focused on "collaboration," "accountability," and "showing up for people," while reflecting on his personal background growing up with a single mother and navigating foster care and public assistance programs.
Waddell, who is raising two sons and leads a nonprofit organization in Worcester, said his candidacy represents "ordinary people with extraordinary commitment" stepping forward to lead.
Criminal justice policy marked one of the clearest differences between the candidates.
Keefe defended the 2018 law's reduction of some mandatory minimum sentences, while Waddell said he opposed eliminating all mandatory minimums, particularly in major fentanyl cases, according to the Telegram & Gazette.
Both candidates said Worcester needs more education funding, but Waddell emphasized student outcomes while Keefe pointed to money delivered through the Student Opportunity Act, the newspaper reported.
Polls closed at 8 p.m. Election-night totals are unofficial and remain subject to local certification, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Editor's note: This story was last updated on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 10:30 p.m.
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