Gaskey, Minogue, Markey among winners in Middleboro primary
Signs for state representative candidates near Middleboro High School, one of the town's three polling locations. Photo by Christian Uva
Signs for state representative candidates near Middleboro High School, one of the town's three polling locations. Photo by Christian Uva
MIDDLEBORO – Nearly 4,000 residents went to the polls to vote in the Sept. 1 primary elections. Middleboro voted similarly to the rest of Massachusetts in many of the statewide races.
The town had an 18.69% voter turnout rate in this primary. Town Clerk Pamela Menconi said that voter turnout was similar to that of previous primaries.
Michael Minogue of South Hamilton handily defeated Brian Shortsleeve of Wellesley for the Republican nomination for governor.
Middleboro voted in line with the rest of the state. Minogue received 1,286 votes, and Shortsleeve received 375 votes.
Minogue, a billionaire medical device company executive, will face incumbent Democratic Governor Maura Healey in the November general election.
U.S. Senator Ed Markey fended off U.S. Representative Seth Moulton of Salem for the Democratic Senate nomination. Markey received 1,489 votes, while Moulton received 739 votes in Middleboro.
During the campaign, the 47-year-old Moulton tried to position himself as a younger alternative to the 80-year-old Markey, an established progressive who has served in the Senate since 2013.
The race between John Gaskey and Mark Townsend for the Republican nomination in the 2nd Plymouth District state representative race is still undecided. Middleboro Republicans narrowly voted for Gaskey: 287 voted for the incumbent, while 256 voted for Townsend.
Gaskey has held the seat since 2024. He was accused of sexual harassment by a former aide in early August.
Townsend is the chair of the Carver Select Board and branded himself as a results-driven conservative.
The winner will face the sole Democratic nominee, Sarah Hewins, in November.
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Keating held his seat against progressive challenger Craig Swallow of New Bedford. In Middleboro, 1,681 ballots were cast for Keating. Swallow received 488 votes.
Keating has served in Congress since 2011.
The Republican Plymouth County Commissioner race is still undecided. Sandra Wright of Bridgewater, the incumbent, received 617 votes. Former County Commissioner Anthony O’Brien, Sr. of Pembroke edged Wright with 649 votes, while Korey Welch of Rockland received 218 votes.
Of 21,064 registered voters, 3,938 submitted ballots. 2,260 registered Democrats voted, and 1,678 registered Republicans voted.
