Tri-Town voter turnout surges for midterm elections, ballot questions

Marion, Mattaposiett and Rochester voters turned out in droves this Election Day to support candidates for local and state races and make their voice heard on a lengthy list of ballot questions. 

Democratic incumbent Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA 9) won a ninth term against former Mattapoisett Select Board member Tyler Macallister after voters cast their ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 3, marking over 15 years in the House. 

The majority of Marion and Mattapoisett voters favored Keating, where he earned 55% of votes in Mattapoisett and 63% in Marion. Rochester supported Macallister by 54%. 

Keating has served as the U.S. representative for the 9th congressional district since 2013 and for the 10th congressional district from 2011 to 2013. He won in a marginally competitive race in 2024 against opponent Dan Sullivan, winning 56% of state votes.

Macallister has never held state or federal office but served five terms as a Mattapoisett Select Board member, including a term as chair. He said he was disappointed with the loss but doesn’t regret running.

“The response to the campaign from people around the district was incredible, and I don’t regret any time doing this,” he said. “It was something I felt was very important, and there were some significant differences between my opponent and I, and I hope that the people realize those differences.”

Incumbent state Rep. Mark Sylvia won against Republican Brendalee Smith as the 10th Bristol District representative.

Sylvia stopped by polls in the district on Election Day. He took home 69% of Marion votes and 60% of Mattapoisett votes. His opponent Brendalee Smith won the majority vote in Rochester with 49% of votes. 

“I’m really proud of the work we’ve all done,” Sylvia said. “We’ve done everything we can to demonstrate to the voters that we’ve done a great job over the last two years in helping to represent the district. Hopefully, they will agree and today, we’ll be returned to the legislature.”

Mattapoisett voters favored Democratic state Sen. Mark Montigny over Republican Robert Scott McConnell, supported by 59% of voters. 

Rochester, in the 1st Plymouth District, supported Republican state Sen. nominee Gabriel Boomer Amaral by 50%.

Marion’s state senator race was uncontested. 

In the Tri-Town, Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, won 59% of votes in Marion and 53% of votes in Mattapoisett. Rochester leaned Republican with 58% of votes favoring Mike Minogue and Shawn Oliver, Republican candidates.

As of this writing, the Associated Press has called the election in favor of Healey and Driscoll.

Tri-Town voters largely favored incumbent Democrat Sen. Edward Markey for the U.S. senator seat. He earned 61% of votes in Marion and 55% of votes in Mattapoisett. Republican John Deaton won the majority of Rochester, with 55% voting red.

Voters were also presented with nine ballot questions, an abnormally lengthy list. Some of the standout questions centered on primary election changes, state revenue and gun laws.

Question nine, one of the most discussed questions, asks voters to keep or repeal a state law expanding firearm regulations. A no vote would repeal the law, and a yes vote would keep the regulation in place.

The Tri-Town largely voted yes on nine, with 65% of yes votes in Marion and 59% in Mattapoisett. Rochester leaned no with 58% of no votes.

If approved, question three would eliminate political party-based primaries for state elections, meaning all candidates would appear on the primary ballot and the top two candidates would appear on the November ballot.

Tri-towns voted no on three, with 63% of Mattapoisett voters opposing the move. In Marion and Rochester, 62% and 67% of voters said no respectively. 

If approved, question five would limit state revenue to the prior year’s collections plus average wage and salary growth. Excess collections would be refunded to tax payers the following year. 

Marion and Mattapoisett were split, with ultimately more no votes. Mattapoisett had a 32-vote difference between yes and no votes, while Marion had a 75-vote difference. Rochester largely voted yes with 57% of the votes.

Voter turnout was high this election day. Marion had approximately 76% voting by Election Day. Mattapoisett had 68% of voters cast ballots, and Rochester had a 67% voter turnout.