The multi-page ballots caused delays in casting and counting ballots throughout Massachusetts yesterday, and that was no different in the Greater Lowell area, with cities and towns reporting their election results far more slowly and later than usual.
When the numbers did come in, however, in Lowell, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Pepperell and Tyngsboro, the results showed clear cut victories for Vanna Howard in a three-way race for the 1st Middlesex State Senate District seat and Lorena Betts for State Representative elect from the 16th Middlesex District.
Meanwhile, in the Greater Lowell Tech School Committee race, Ralph Hogan and Brady McCarron have earned the two Lowell seats that were up for grabs.
The unofficial results show the incumbent, Howard (D-Lowell) besting Republican challenger Sam Meas and Independent candidate Joe Espinola handily in a rematch of their March 3rd Special Election to replace Ed Kennedy in the Senate.
Howard secured 27,391 votes, roughly 58% of the ballots cast. Meas finished a distant second with 12,417 (27%) and Espinola third at 7,069 (15%). The 1st Middlesex seat is comprised of Lowell, Dracut, Dunstable, Pepperell and Tyngsboro.
Betts, meanwhile, easily outpaced her Republican challenger Karla Mille.. The first time candidate from North Chelmsford amassed 7,933 votes, roughly 68% of the ballots cast. Miller, making her second run at the 16th Middlesex seat, received 3,693 votes.
The 16th Middlesex is comprised of the Pawtucketville and Centralville neighborhoods in Lowell, along with North Chelmsford and the town’s Westlands neighborhood.
The GLTHS race saw the incumbent Hogan run away from the field with 19,229 votes, good for 54% of the ballots cast. McCarron secured the second seat with 10,161 votes (28.5%). Milisci finished third with 6,232 (17.5%).
