REVERE — Jeffrey Turco won Tuesday’s Democratic primary election in the race for the Massachusetts House of Representatives seat for the 19th Suffolk District, which covers Winthrop and portions of Revere.
Turco defeated Revere resident Juan Jaramillo and Winthrop residents Valentino Capobianco and Alicia DelVento for the Democratic nomination with 36.2 percent of the vote. Jaramillo came in second after a very close race, with 30 percent of the vote.
The House seat opened after Robert DeLeo, the longest-serving House Speaker in state history, announced his resignation in December in order to accept a position at Northeastern University.
The special election to fill the seat will take place on March 30.
Turco, a Winthrop resident, was raised in Revere and now practices law in Chelsea. He attended Northeast Regional Vocational School, Malden Catholic High School and University of Massachusetts-Amherst, before getting his law degree from Quinnipiac University. His political career has so far included serving as an aide to the late Rep. William G. Reinstein, chief of staff for Sen. Guy Glodis, and multiple terms as the elected representative to the Democratic State Committee for Revere and Winthrop at the Democratic State Party.
“It’s refreshing that a moderate can win in a Democratic primary still in Massachusetts,” said Glodis, who served as Turco’s campaign manager. “I expect him to be a leader, not only in the 19th Suffolk District, but in the House of Representatives as well, and I look forward to watching his career representing the people of Winthrop and Revere.”
Turco has cited education and substance abuse legislation as two top priorities if elected. One of seven siblings, he has lost three siblings to substance abuse.
