Amherst Chooses Markey, Minoque, and Jacobs in Contested Primaries

In the only three contested races in Amherst in Tuesday’s statewide primary election, Senator Ed Markey won the Democratic nomination for Senate, Michael Minoque won the Republican nomination for Governor, and Tara Jacobs won the nomination for a seat on the Governor’s Council. All won by large margins statewide and in the Town of Amherst. All results posted below are unofficial and are based on NBC News and AP reporting with 95.8% of ballots returned.

Markey has served in Congress for nearly 50 years, starting in the House of Representatives in 1976 and moving to the Senate in 2013. In the general election, he will face Republican John Deaton, an attorney and Marine Corps veteran who ran unopposed in the primary. Markey’s win flipped the script on a youth insurgency that saw several young progressives oust older centrists in recent Democratic primaries. Markey, an unapologetic progressive, received 64.9% of the vote to centrist Seth Moulton’s 35.1%. Markey had emphasized Medicare for all and defense of trans rights as central themes of his campaign. Moulton had opposed the participation of trans athletes in sports and called for new, younger leadership in the party, highlighting Markey’s age. Markey is 80, and Moulton is 47.

In the race for governor, Republican Michael Minoque, a biotech CEO, will face incumbent Governor Maura Healey in the general election. Healey ran unopposed in the primary. Minoque received 75.8% of the vote, while Brian Shotsleeve received 24.2%.

In the District 8 Governor’s Council primary, incumbent Tara Jacobs defeated Michael Fenton 62.2% to 37.8%. She will run unopposed in the general election. The eight-member council votes on judicial appointments, pardons, and commutations.

Amherst Election Results
Amherst results mirrored those from across the state. Local voter turnout was 29%.

Democratic Senate Primary

Edward Markey – 2932 (77.1%)
Seth Moulton – 865 (22.8%)

Republican Gubernatorial Primary

Michael Minoque – 87 (67.4%)
Brian Shortseleeve 42 (32.6%)

District 8 Governor’s Council
Tara Jacobs – 2544 (78.8%)
Michael Fenton 686 ( 22.2%)