State Senate races

We've got two special elections for open Senate seats going on right now. Key dates:

Primary: April 13
General: May 11

Candidates:

Norfolk, Bristol & Middlesex (Brown's seat)
Lida Harkins (D)
Peter Smulowitz (D)
Richard Ross (R)

Middlesex, Suffolk & Essex (Galluccio's seat)
Michael Albano (D)
Dennis Benzan (D)
Sal DiDomenico (D)
Tim Flaherty (D)
Dan Hill (D)
Denise Simmons (D)

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Election Day open thread!

by: David

Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 07:00:00 AM EST

Where are you? What do you see? How's turnout? Who's got sign-holders? Why am I asking so many questions?

David :: Election Day open thread!

Tags: election, 2009, Open thread, (All Tags)

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Election Day open thread! | 18 comments

Voted early at a fire station in Dorchester Ward 15 and (0.00 / 0)

drove into town on the water route through S Boston and three other polling places. Lots of Firefighters coming off duty to stand with big Flaherty/Yoon signs alongside Menino folk with equally big signs (?)handing out very clever handouts (turn card over to see Tom's next deputy Mayor, and it's a mirror -- funny to watch people turn it over a couple of times before they get it.). I saw Murphy, Connolly, Arroyo, Jackson signs already up around the polling places. I'm coming back from 4-8 to hand out Ward 15 endorsements on the way in and hand out a Capuano piece on the way out.

by: Judy Meredith @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 07:37:13 AM CST

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Voted close to 7 a.m. in Readville (0.00 / 0)

Here was the scene from the voting line outside
and from the check-out table inside.
I voted for Flaherty, Kenneally, Pressley, Bennett, and Jackson. I wonder who the Mayor voted for?

by: Farnkoff @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 07:59:42 AM CST

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I'm volunteering in NOVA (6.00 / 2)

I'm serving as a turnout tracker in Fairfax County. NOVA turnout is critical to Democrats, but the weather is nice so hopefully that helps.

I must say I'm livid about what the Republicans have done to their own candidate in NY-23. I believe Newt Gingrich was the only one of the big national figures who came out in support of the party nominee. I never thought I'd be nostalgic for the days when Gingrich was the face of the GOP.

by: Christopher @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 08:01:44 AM CST

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HEY CAMBRIDGE! (0.00 / 0)

Vote for Marjorie Decker as a write-in candidate for City Council!!

by: midge @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 08:48:25 AM CST

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Looked busy at the rotary in W. Rox at 8am (0.00 / 0)

I haven't voted yet, but driving through the rotary at Centre and W.Rox Parkway, I saw tons of activity. Definitely more signs than usual, and a lot of cars parked on the streets. The Flaherty guys have staked out the rotary itself. I know its a key visibility spot because of the concentration of polling locations there, so the activity may just be campaign workers, but I doubt it. It is a beautiful day and I expect there to be high turnout. That should be good for Flaherty and will probably make it a close race for that fourth city council spot.

by: HR's Kevin @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 09:17:30 AM CST

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Still busy at 6:30 pm (0.00 / 0)

The polls looked pretty busy when I went to vote in ward 20, precinct 7. There were 406 ballots in the scanner at that time, compared to 449 for the 2005 election, so it looks like the turnout is probably going to be slightly higher than in 2005 in our precinct.

by: HR's Kevin @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 18:45:39 PM CST

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Been out at 19-2 in JP all morning (6.00 / 1)

Was greeted by an old friend as "howardjp", nice to boost the "name" rec - :)
Good turnout so far, mostly older, regular voters, nice to have people out there who know the neighbors as opposed to those sent to "cover" the poll.

Sam Y. out there early, Felix A. out for a few hours, Capuano and Coakley coverage, most council candidates covered there except Bennett and Jackson. Everyone friendly, swapping stories between voters, nice day so far.

Mayor showed up about 1030 for a bit, went into Manning School bake sale (ignore the Flaherty tweet that he "went into the polls there", he was buying cookies and apples as any good pol would).

Best to all laboring in the trenches today!

by: howardjp @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 10:31:09 AM CST

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Hung out at 22-1, 22-5, 22-? (0.00 / 0)

Three precincts, one polling place. Turnout was moderate/average for this kind of race according to the very experienced Election Officials.

by: stomv @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 12:51:50 PM CST

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Uptick in Lowell (0.00 / 0)

reports the Sun. We need 33% turnout and a majority to pass the Choice Voting ballot initiative today. The Election Commission administrator says she thinks we'll see 30%. That in and of itself is a 3% uptick from normal.

Besides the ballot init, which is attracting some new voters due to the hard work of the Fair Vote Lowell people, there's a contentious city council race with five incumbents who need some ousting in my humble opinion...there is one "open" seat (technically all nine are open) which will land in the hands of a challenger, but there are some endangered incumbents too if you ask me.

Out on the street holding signs, I've talked to quite a number of "regular voters" who express disgust at those same incumbents...so I am quietly optimistic...

Left in Lowell: cuz why read the Lowell Sun if you don't have to? ;)

by: Lynne @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 13:28:46 PM CST

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Boylston Street (0.00 / 0)

I swung by the main branch of the library. Pretty quiet, though it is a slow time of day.

Only one human signholder; the others are attached to things. Call me old and cranky, but I don't like that. It's not like it's raining.

There is one Khazei sign. Since he's not on the ballot, I find that mildy tasteless. Whoever left that there should let the local campaigns have their day.

by: JimC @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 13:48:29 PM CST

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"Whoever left that there should let the local campaigns have their day." (6.00 / 1)

Really? Doesn't bother me -- actually, I'd think that showing up at polling places in an off-year is an excellent way to identify and talk to voters who are likely to show up for a special election primary in December.

by: David @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 15:03:49 PM CST

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Sure (0.00 / 0)

But one could do that, and hold the sign of someone on the ballot.

by: JimC @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 15:10:06 PM CST

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funny that (0.00 / 0)

At my polling place, signs not attached to human beings get removed. If the poll workers don't get them, the other sign carriers will.

by: huh @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 15:17:10 PM CST

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Lawrence: Pure entertainment (0.00 / 0)

Anyone know what's going on in Lawrence? I've been following the Mayor's Race in the paper. If Lantigua wins, it will be hysterical. He has pretty much refused to participate in the process...and no one knows when he is going to resign from his State Rep Seat. Lawrence elections have got to be some of the most entertaining in Massachusetts. Who knows? He might even end up being an effective mayor...

by: pcsmith32 @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 15:32:47 PM CST

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Fairly heavy turnout in Pittsfield (0.00 / 0)

Even before the after-work crowd started to arrive, reports were that the voter participation was pretty heavy at many of the city's 14 precincts.

So many people holding signs at some polling places that they were taking convenient parking spaces away from voters. There was good esprit de corps among the sign-holders, however, and interesting combinations of supporters of different candidates milling around together in a friendly way.

Clear consensus that it's great to have a restaurant owner running for City Council: the Mazzeo's catering truck brought around hot Chicken Pastina soup and Eggplant Parmigian to feed sign-holders at each polling place. Hey, that IS ordinary hospitality for that campaign. Lots of other sandwiches, coffee, broth, etc. from other campaigns.

There was rain at about 2:30 p.m., but it was light and lasted only about an hour. Mostly good, sunny weather.

One long-time observer is predicting a 53-47 victory for Bianchi in the mayor's race, but I think it may be a closer margin. Another longtime observer predicted a 10% margin for Bianchi. Several ward contests, and one candidate will be knocked out of the at-large council race as well as one extra School Committee candidate to be eliminated. We'll know in about 3 hours!

by: shack @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 16:18:51 PM CST

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C'mon (0.00 / 0)

You don't think the last minute announcement by PEDA that there are tenants at the William Stanley Business Park is going to swing the election back to Ruberto? I hear the tenants are getting ready to flood the place any day now. They've just been waiting for the exact perfect moment.

by: Jarstar @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 18:33:46 PM CST

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Feeling strange - election day, and I don't have a candidate (6.00 / 1)

Off to the office to work while others make democracy work.

"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody." -Longfellow

by: Bean in the 'Burbs @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 17:11:51 PM CST

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Just Elected a New Mayor of Worcester (0.00 / 0)

LAte to the thread, but I spent the day campaigining and the evening celebrating. Joe's team ran a textbook campaign. They don't get much better than Joe!

What a day for the greassroots!

Kate

Kate Donaghue, volunteer.

by: Kate @ Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 23:40:00 PM CST

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Election Day open thread! | 18 comments