LUDLOW—In what may be the least climactic open Democratic gubernatorial primary in half a century, on Tuesday Attorney General Maura Healey became her party’s nominee to succeed outgoing GOP Governor Charlie Baker.
For much of the Chicopee-packed 8th Hampden House race, Ward 1 City Councilor Joel McAuliffe has held an edge. On Wednesday, retiring State Rep Joseph Wagner, the 413’s legislative dean, endorsed Arriaga in a statement her campaign released.
Amid a wave of retirements with varying degrees of shock, the 413 will have several competitive legislative races this year. Campaign finance reports are telegraphing a spectrum of suspense in the local races the September 6 Democratic primary will decide.
Another shift has come to the open 8th Hampden District. This time, it brings a smaller field. On Tuesday, Chicopee Ward 2 City Councilor Shane Brooks ended his bid for the seat.
CHICOPEE—A crane hovered over a cul-de-sac punctuated subdivision. Aloft was a ginormous American flag framing the stage for Ward 1 City Councilor Joel McAuliffe’s kickoff for his bid to be the Democratic nominee for 8th Hampden district.
The race to succeed Joseph Wagner in the Chicopee-centric 8th Hampden House district is about to grow again. Joel McAuliffe, the city councilor for Ward 1 and a former aide to Senator Eric Lesser, entered the race Monday. He is the third Democrat in the primary.
Just a couple weeks after nomination papers became available, the complexion of the 413’s open legislative races is coming into focus. Between falling dominos and shock retirements, at least three seats will be open in the Springfield area in addition to a Senate race (mostly)
Apparently, longtime Chicopee Rep Joseph Wagner felt Ludlow could not have all the electoral fun in Hampden County this cycle. On Tuesday, Wanger, the dean of the 413’s legislative delegation, announced he would not seek another term representing the Chicopee-centric 8th Hampden District.