High turnout in the tri-town for Nov. 6 election

Nov 7, 2018

Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester voters went to the polls in high numbers for the Nov. 6 midterm election, with the results not always echoing those seen across the state.

In Marion, 68 percent of all registered voters showed up to the polls, while 64 percent of Rochester voters and 77 percent of Mattapoisett voters did the same.

In Marion, 13 percent of registered voters utilized the early voting system, and 25 percent did the same in Mattapoisett. The early voting numbers for Rochester are not available at this time. 

Statewide, Democrat Elizabeth Warren cruised to reelection to the U.S. Senate with more than 60 percent of the vote. She earned only 54 percent of the vote in Marion and 49 percent in Mattapoisett. In Rochester, 57 of those who voted favored Republican Jeff Diehl.

In the 9th District congressional race, victorious Democratic incumbent Bill Keating recieved 59 percent of Marion votes and 57 percent in Mattapoisett. Rochester gave Republican challenger Peter Tedeschi its nod with 49 percent of the total votes cast. 

As was the case statewide, the tri-town overwhelmingly voted to re-elect incumbent Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. About 73 percent of voters picked the Republican ticket in Marion, 74 percent in Mattapoisett and 75 percent in Rochester. 

Marion and Mattapoisett voters gave incumbent Attorney General Maura Healey 62 percent and 59 percent of their votes, respectively. Rochester voted for Republican challenger James R. McMahon III, who received 52 percent of votes. Statewide, Healey was re-elected by 70 percent of voters.

In the Secretary of State race, the towns generally agreed with re-electing incumbent William Francis Galvin. 

Mattapoisett and Marion agreed again in the contest for Treasurer, with 57 percent voting to re-elect incumbent Deborah Goldberg in Marion and 52 percent in Mattapoisett, and 51 percent of voters in Rochester deciding on candidate Keiko Orall. 

The Bristol County District Attorney race was a tight contest in the tri-town, with Marion equally splitting their votes between Incumbent Republican Timothy Cruz and Democratic challenger John Bradley Jr. at 48 percent of its vote. Mattapoisett gave Cruz a slight edge with 51 percent of its votes. In Rochester, 59 percent voted for Cruz. 

A majority voted for Suzanne Bump for Auditor in both Marion and Mattapoisett, with her closest opponent Helen Brady receiving 48 percent of the vote in Rochester. 

For Governor’s Council, Joseph Ferreira had 56 percent of the vote in Marion and 54 percent in Mattapoisett. His opponent Thomas Keyes received 50 percent in Rochester. 

The Bourne seat on the Upper Cape Cod Technical Regional School Committee was also on the ticket in Marion. In a race was between write-in candidates David Sampson and Gregory Wirsen, Sampson took Marion and the overall contest. 

The tri-town was also generally in agreement on each of the ballot questions.

Voters turned thumbs down on establishing nurse-to-patient ratio limits in all three towns and statewide. 

Tri-town voters also were in favor of establishing a commission to look at the impact of money on elections. In Marion, 66 percent of voters voted “yes” while 64 percent voted the same way in Mattapoisett and 60 percent in Rochester. “Yes” won the day with 71.6 percent statewide.

The final ballot question was slightly more contested. Tri-town voters chose to uphold a law to protect people from discrimination on the basis of gender identity with 65 percent in Marion, 65 in Mattapoisett and 52 percent in Rochester. 

Statewide, 68 percent of voters voted to uphold the current law.