A sleepy primary election day in Mass. has a few races to watch
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One of the most consequential elections in U.S. history is about to take place this November, but there's little action on Massachusetts ballots this primary election day.
Why it matters: Polls open at 7am for those who haven't voted early or by mail in the 2024 primary elections that determine November's head-to-head races.
- 32 of 200 seats in the legislature have primary opposition this year, meaning only around 16% of sitting lawmakers face any challenge to re-election from their own party and will probably be back on Beacon Hill in January.
- Still, a handful of retiring Democrats or those seeking new offices have opened up races in some left-leaning districts around Boston.
Of note: Voters will also select which Republican will face U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren in November.
Context: The sleepy legislative primary season comes just after the House and Senate failed to finish large chunks of the lawmaking they were expected to complete before the end of the formal session in July.
- Voters who want to express dissatisfaction with the job Beacon Hill is doing are mostly out of luck since so few electeds face any challenge to their jobs.
Yes, but: The high rate of incumbent re-election the past several cycles suggests the electorate are in fact happy with their lawmakers.
- The thinking in the halls of the State House is that if a representative or senator isn't drawing a challenger, they must be doing something right.
Zoom in: Some of the closest-watched races this year feature veteran Democrats challenged by candidates further left on the political spectrum
- Progressive Cambridge Rep. Marjorie Decker, a key lieutenant to speaker Ron Mariano, faces democratic socialist Evan MacKay in one of the state's — and likely the nation's — most progressive districts.
The departure of Rep. Ruth Balser means three Democrats are vying for her Newton and Brookline seat: Newton City Council members Bill Humphrey and Rick Lipof, as well as former councilor Greg Schwartz.
What's next: The winners will appear on the Nov. 5 general election ballot along with the presidential and U.S. Senate races and five ballot questions.