U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton easily won a fourth term in Congress after a decisive victory over his Republican opponent on Tuesday night.
Moulton, a Democrat from Salem, was declared the winner in the 6th Congressional District race shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday, with results showing he had nearly 65 percent of the vote.
By the time the race was called, Moulton was leading John Paul Moran, of Billerica by a 64.8 to 35.2 percent margin, with more than 353,768 votes counted, according to the Associated Press.
“I am honored to have earned another term to represent the North Shore and Merrimack Valley in Congress,” said Moulton. “The work ahead could not be more important as Congress continues to confront a deadly pandemic and repairs the damage done in four years of assault by the president on our fundamental American values.”
Moulton, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, will serve another two-year term representing the 6th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Essex and Middlesex counties, including Lynn, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Nahant, Peabody, Saugus, Salem, and Swampscott.
He was first elected to the House in 2014 after defeating nine-term incumbent U.S. Rep. John Tierney in a Democratic primary. Since then, Moulton has cruised to easy victories in his past re-election bids, a trend that continued on Tuesday night.
Moran, who describes himself as a lifelong conservative, gay Catholic, and long-time small business owner, ran on a platform that was focused on bringing jobs back to the 6th District, defending small businesses, improving the local economy, and supporting first responders.
Before polls closed, Moran said he was optimistic that he would win the race, based on conversations he had with voters at polling stations throughout the district on Tuesday, along with the “large amount of support we have seen and the tireless effort of my dedicated campaign team and volunteers.”
However, when results started coming in, polls immediately showed Moran was far behind, a lead he could not overcome throughout the night. Despite Moulton’s massive lead, Moran chose not to concede and the race was not called by the Associated Press until well past midnight on Wednesday.
In his victory statement, Moulton said the country is in need of a Congress that has the “moral courage to stand on principle, the empathy to listen and compromise, and a bias towards action.”
“America has faced greater challenges than we do now, and I am confident that our faith in democracy will allow us to unite and move past this divisive, vitriolic moment,” said Moulton. “Democrats will do the hard work of uniting this country.
“We can do it by leading with principle and conviction, and with genuine charity for all, not just those we perceive to be on our side. I am looking forward to restoring a government that truly works in the best interest of all Americans.”
