Meet the Candidates: Winners of the Congressionals Primaries in Massachusetts

by Conor Kenny — September 17, 2008 - 12:03pm
  • Topics: Election 2008, U.S. Congress
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    For the full roster of candidates, see the Massachusetts state portal.

    By Congresspedia assistant editor Avelino Maestas

    The incumbents in Massachusetts’ contested primaries Tuesday were universally victorious, setting up November matchups that will likely keep members of the state’s congressional delegation in their jobs come January.

    Sen. John Kerry (D), facing his first primary opponent in 24 years, easily defeated challenger Ed O'Reilly Tuesday. O’Reilly, an attorney who questioned Kerry’s commitment to liberal issues, took several precincts, but conceded defeat before ¾ of results were in. Kerry will go on to face Republican nominee Jeff Beatty, the founder of an anti-terrorism consulting firm.

    In the state’s other contested primary, Rep. John Olver defeated his Democratic opponent, Robert Feuer. Olver will now shift focus to his general election challenger, Nathan Bech (R). Bech is a veteran of the Iraq War who now runs his family’s property management business.

    Only three other incumbents face challengers in November (see the unchallenged incumbents after the jump):

    As part of Congresspedia's Wiki the Vote project, citizen journalists from around the country (and even some candidates!) have been logging information about the candidates' positions, biographies and records. A full list of the candidates and their professions are below, but you can also find them at their respective state portals via the Wiki the Vote project homepage. We need your help to find out more about these candidates, so if you know something about them please add it to their profile. (You can always contact one of the staff editors for help.)

    Here are the victors of Massachusetts’ primaries:

    • Sen. John Kerry (D) is being challenged by Jeff Beatty, founder of anti-terrorism consulting firm Total Security.
    • In the 1st district, incumbent Rep. John Olver (D) is being challenged by Nathan Bech, a Republican, an Iraq War veteran and businessman .
    • In the 2nd district, incumbent Rep. Richard Neal (D) is unopposed.
    • In the 3rd district, incumbent Rep. Jim McGovern (D) is unopposed.
    • In the 4th district, incumbent Rep. Barney Frank (D) is running against Republican nominee Earl Sholley, a small business owner.
    • In the 5th district, Democratic incumbent Rep. Niki Tsongas faces no major-party opposition.
    • In the 6th district, incumbent Rep. John Tierney is running against Richard A. Baker, a Republican, who is a software engineer.
    • In the 7th district, incumbent Rep. Ed Markey (D) will face John Cunningham (R) the owner/manager of a web-based educational service.
    • In the 8th district, incumbent Rep. Mike Capuano (D) is unopposed.
    • In the 9th district, incumbent Rep. Stephen Lynch (D) is unopposed.
    • In the 10th district, incumbent Rep. Bill Delahunt (D) is unopposed.