State Senate, House races to watch in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Democrats are hoping for a tailwind off the national election to help swipe seats on Beacon Hill from the state Republicans who have already lost ground in a series of special elections this year.

Democratic Party Chairman Gus Bickford said his party is winning favor in Massachusetts because State Republican Party Chairman Jim Lyons,  “and his party are so significantly buying into the president’s message that it has put an albatross around the many of the candidates’ necks.”

Lyons fired back, “We’ve all seen what happens when one party rules — the radical left is now in control. We’re trying to bring some balance to Beacon Hill.”

For Republicans, the goal is to increase — or at least retain — their ranks in the state Legislature where Democrats rule by an ever-growing majority. Just 31 of the state’s 160 representatives in the House are Republican and in the Senate, the margin is even wider. Just four of the state’s 40 senators are Republicans.

Lyons said he’s not holding out too much hope for a red wave, but said there are “some areas where Republicans can be competitive.” Presidential elections have historically been better for Democratic candidates in the overwhelmingly blue state.

Democrats have already flipped three seats in special elections this year. Sens. Susan Moran and John Velis beat out Republican contenders, successfully flipping the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire and Plymouth and Barnstable districts. Carol Doherty beat out a Republican challenger to flip the 3rd Bristol District seat previously held by Taunton Mayor and outspoken Republican Shaunna O’Connell.

Here are the races to watch:

Worcester and Middlesex Senate District
Democratic candidate John Cronin is hoping to steal a seat from incumbent Dean Tran, a Republican.

5th Barnstable House District
Democrats are hoping to flip the open seat currently held by Republican Rep. Randy Hunt, who is not seeking re-election. Democratic candidate James Denver faces Republican Steven George Xiarhos.

2nd Barnstable House District
Democrats are hoping to flip the seat currently held by Rep. William Crocker. He is being challenged by Democrat Kip Diggs and Independent Michael Luis Mecenas.

1st Middlesex House District
Democrat Deborah Busser is hoping to steal a seat from Republican incumbent Rep. Sheila Harrington.

12th Worcester District
Candidates Democrat Meghan Kilcoyne, Republican Susan Smiley and Green-Rainbow Charlene DiCalogero are competing for the seat left open by Democratic Rep. Harold Naughton, who isn’t running.

6th Plymouth District
Republican candidate Tatyana Medvedev Semyrog is challenging Democratic incumbent Rep. Joshua Cutler.

1st Essex District
Republican Rep. James Kelcourse is fighting to keep his seat against Democratic challenger Amber Hewett.

2nd Essex District
Rep. Leonard Mirra is seeking to retain his seat against Democratic challenger Christina Eckert, who lost to him by just a few hundred votes in 2018.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3mGyx5c