Beyond actual ballot initiatives, there wasn’t much of a question about what would happen across the North Shore in the midterm elections’ key races Tuesday.
Across the region, most local representatives faced no challengers in the election, as state Rep.-elect Jenny Armini (D-Marblehead), as well as Representatives Sally Kerans (D-Danvers), Thomas Walsh (D-Peabody), Peter Capano (D-Lynn), Dan Cahill (D-Lynn), Donald Wong (R-Saugus), Jessica Giannino (D-Revere), and Bradley Jones Jr. (R-North Reading) all breezed to reelection.
Tuesday’s election also solidified the results of several other uncontested races. They include State Rep. Paul Tucker’s victory in the race for Essex district attorney and Terrence Kennedy’s re-election as sixth district councilor on the Governor’s Council. Voters also re-elected Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger.
Although Democratic Sen. Brendan Crighton did not run unopposed, he beat his opponent, independent Annalisa Sulustri, by more than a 40 percent margin.
Similarly, Democrat Seth Moulton beat his Republican challenger Bob May in the race to represent the state’s sixth congressional district. Democrat Joan Lovely also beat her Republican challenger Damian Anketell in the race to represent the second Essex district in the state senate.
Notably, Democratic candidates Maura Healey and Kim Driscoll made history as the first female duo elected in a landslide to the Massachusetts governorship and lieutenant governorship respectively, over Republican governor candidate Geoff Diehl and lieutenant governor candidate Leah Cole Allen, of Lynn and Peabody.
The four Massachusetts ballot question races, however, were more competitive.
Question 1 passed statewide. Sometimes known as the “Fair Share Amendment,” it proposed an additional tax on income over $1 million. Saugus, Peabody, Nahant, Lynnfield, and Marblehead voters failed to approve the initiative, but it passed in Lynn and Swampscott.
“On Tuesday, Massachusetts voters seized a once-in-a-generation opportunity that was years in the making,” said Fair Share for Massachusetts Campaign Manager Jeron Mariani in a statement. “We’ve done what some thought was impossible: passed the Fair Share Amendment to create a permanently fairer tax system and deliver billions of dollars in new revenue for our public schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and transit systems.”
The closest Question 1 contest was in Nahant, where it failed by a narrow margin of 155.
The second ballot question before voters concerned the regulation of dental insurance. It received a resounding “yes” from voters statewide, with more than 70 percent of voters in approval. Across the North Shore, that pattern continued with Lynn, Saugus, Swampscott, Peabody, Nahant, Lynnfield, and Marblehead all voting in favor.
Passing comfortably across the board, Question 2 passed with a notably wide margin in Lynn where 8,435 more voters approved of the initiative than were opposed. Its passage will require dental insurers to spend at least 83 percent of premiums on patient care rather than administrative expenses, including salaries.
Lynn dentist Peter Meaney is in favor of the regulations and said he expected Question 2 to pass.
“It seems like it was a no-brainer for anyone with teeth and some without,” Meaney said. “The only people standing against it were the insurance companies and that writes itself.”
Question 3, which sought to expand the availability of alcohol sale licenses is the only initiative that failed statewide. Across the North Shore, voters were split. Saugus and Swampscott voted “yes” on Question 3. However, in Lynn, Peabody, Nahant, Lynnfield, and Marblehead the measure failed.
Question 4 garnered the most narrow margin of victory statewide, with nearly 54 percent of votes cast in favor of maintaining a law allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses. North Shore voters were also split on Question 4. It failed in Saugus, Peabody, and Lynnfield, however, voters passed the initiative in Lynn, Swampscott, Nahant, and Marblehead.
“Massachusetts voters last night spoke loud and clear,” Sen. Brendan Crighton said. “We showed where our values are. We’re on the side of safer roads for everyone. I think this certainly will give folks better access to things we take for granted, whether it’s getting to a hospital, school, work, a grocery store, or simply visiting a family member.”
Anthony Cammalleri of the Item staff contributed to this report.
