SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – We are just days away from the state primary election and Wednesday night was another chance for residents to hear from the candidates who will be on the ballot in September.
Early voting in Massachusetts primaries ends this week The event at the Sumner Avenue School hosted by the Springfield Ward 1 and Ward 6 Democratic committees focused on the local primary candidates, who are urging people to get out and vote.
Springfield Ward 6 Democratic Committee Chair Matt Szafranksi says it’s never a bad time to hear from our elected officials and those that represent us in government. The ward committees invited residents Wednesday night to meet with candidates and ask how they will get their voices heard on Beacon Hill.
“Concerned about housing? Ask them about housing,” said Linda Matys O’Connell, Chair of the Springfield Ward 1 Democratic Committee. “Concerned about healthcare? Tell your story. What do you care about? Put it out there and see if they have answers.”
Locally, there are contested Democratic primaries in three legislative races; two of which affect voters in Springfield. Incumbent Springfield State Senator Adam Gomez is running for a third term. Gomez is defending his seat against Springfield Ward 4 Councilor Malo Brown, and Johnnie Ray McKnight is challenging State Representative Bud Williams who is running for a 5th term to represent the 11th Hampden District in the State House.
Also in the State House of Representatives, three Democrats are running to fill the 3rd Berkshire District seat being vacated by Lenox Democrat William “Smitty” Pignatelli.
“I 100% urge everyone to turn out on September 3rd,” Szafranski added. “Here in Springfield all of the races are happening on the Democratic side. But you don’t have to be enrolled as a Democrat. Unenrolled people can vote in the primary on September 3rd. And I urge you to do so.”
The only statewide contested primary is the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, where three candidates- Robert Antonellis, Ian Cain, and John Deaton- are vying to challenge incumbent Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren. Warren, who is running for a third term in the Senate, is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
22News is your local election headquarters- tune in on Tuesday, September 3 for our live coverage of the state primaries, and the latest election results.
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