Sean Reid has won the Democratic primary for the 11th Essex District’s seat in the state House of Representatives, according to preliminary results from Tuesday’s election.
As of press time, the Lynn School Committee member had claimed 1,374 votes, according to the Lynn City Clerk’s office, while Lynn City Councilor-at-Large Hong Net had received 1,198 votes.
Reid will face no formal competition in the general election on Nov. 5, so it is projected he will be headed to the State House for the General Court’s 194th Session.
After the announcement of the preliminary results, Reid said he was excited to serve Lynn and Nahant.
“I will work tirelessly to provide effective representation from my first day,” Reid said. “I’m very grateful to the voters of the 11th House District for nominating me to this historic seat. This was truly a team effort and I thank all the volunteers who gave their time this summer.”
Reid commended Net’s campaign, saying he ran a “thoughtful and clean campaign.”
Reid and Net both announced their candidacy to represent West Lynn and Nahant following state Rep. Peter Capano’s announcement that he would be retiring at the end of this session of the House.
Net thanked those who voted for him, as well as everyone who dedicated time to his campaign.
“I thank them all from the bottom of my heart, and they really worked hard and they inspire me by campaigning hard,” he said.
Net also congratulated Reid on winning the race.
“I look forward to working with him,” he said.
In addition to being a School Committee member, Reid is the legislative director for state Sen. Brendan Crighton and the president and co-founder of Kayak and Sail Lynn, a nonprofit that works to make aquatic activities more accessible to residents of the city.
State Reps Dan Cahill, Jenny Armini, Donald Wong, Jessica Giannino, Sally Kerans, Tom Walsh, and House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. ran for reelection unopposed in their primaries.
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, and state Sens Brendan Crighton and Joan Lovely also went unchallenged in their primaries.
In the Democratic primary for Southern Essex register of deeds, Eileen Duff received 3,237 votes in Lynn, 446 votes in Nahant, 3,028 votes in Peabody, and 628 votes in Lynnfield. Her opponent, Joe Gentleman, received 1,703 in Lynn, 197 votes in Lynnfield, 1,345 votes in Peabody, and 138 votes in Nahant.
On the Republican ballot for Southern Essex register of deeds, Jonathan Edward Ring had no competition as he sought the nomination for register of deeds and will move on to the general election.
In the Democratic race for Essex County clerk of courts, Thomas H. Driscoll Jr. is seeking reelection but faces competition from James FX Doherty. Driscoll received 3,729 votes in Lynn, 498 votes in Nahant, 3,346 votes in Peabody, and 666 votes in Lynnfield. Doherty received 87 votes in Nahant, 150 votes in Lynnfield, 1,126 in Lynn, and 881 votes in Peabody. No Republican candidate ran for clerk of courts in Essex County.
Armini stressed the importance of turning out to vote in local elections.
“Participating in an election is critically important because you can still have your voice heard, you still make your view known,” she said.
People across the district headed to the polls to cast their votes Tuesday.
Lynnfield residents David and Diane Bjorkman said they have been voting as long as they’ve been old enough to and used to bring their children to the booths when they were growing up.
“It’s the only way that I have a voice in what’s going on in government — by trying to get people elected who, in my opinion, will do a good job,” David Bjorkman said after leaving his polling station. “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain.”
Diane Bjorkman said voting is important to her because she wants “to put people in office who have the same values, and options for a bright future.”
Peabody resident Joe Ellis said it is important for everybody to vote.
“A lot of people don’t bother with the primaries or these small elections, and it’s just not fair to the people doing the hard work to try and get elected,” he said.
Claire Crosby, also of Peabody, said her parents showed her the importance of voting at a young age.
“It was very important for them to vote, and they just kind of instilled it into us,” she said.
Peabody resident Bob Caruso said voting is “the right thing to do.
“That’s basically what it comes down to,” Caruso said. “Every vote does count.”
He said he has voted in every election since he has been old enough to vote.
“I always tell people, ‘Get out there,’” Caruso said. “You can sway an election very easily, or you can get your candidate elected.”
Peabody resident Johnny Lander said voting is part of being an American citizen.
“It’s just better to vote and try to get your voice out there,” he said. “Every little bit helps.”
Voters will return to the polls later this year on Nov. 5 to vote in the general election.
Stuart Foster and Emma Fringuelli contributed to this report.
