Patriot Ledger / Wicked Local Randolph
By Mary Whitfill
Local election results are in.
The South Shore’s races for county positions, seats in the Legislature and congressional representation were all but decided Tuesday night despite a race for president that continues to drag on.
More than 330,000 voters cast ballots on the South Shore on or before Election Day. Democratic candidates were largely victorious with the exception of several Republican incumbents. Historically, the South Shore splits the ticket in state and local races. But all but two local towns voted majority Democrat this time around.
U.S. Reps. Stephen Lynch Lynch defeated Stoughton’s Jon Lott, an independent candidate, 246,612 votes to 59,058, with 82 percent of precincts reporting.
“From the beginning of this campaign, I knew this election would be an uphill battle,” Lott said in a post-election statement. “I would like to sincerely congratulate Congressman Stephen Lynch on another clear victory. I know he is an honest and dedicated public servant, and I respect and wish the best for him going forward.”
There were no surprises in the elections for local seats in the state House of Representatives. All eight of the South Shore’s incumbents up for reelection won their races.
Democrats Ronald Mariano and Mark Cusack held on to their seats.
Norfolk County sheriff
Democrat Patrick McDermott managed to unseat sitting Norfolk County Sheriff Jerry McDermott (no relation) in one of the region’s most heated contests this election cycle. Patrick McDermott said his challenger called to concede the race Tuesday night and the two discussed a plan for the transition.
“It’s not like the Legislature, where there’s a break,” he said. “We have to keep the jail running.”
Patrick McDermott said he wants to make sure there’s a continuity of service, programming and public safety during the transition. He said he will do a full review of the Norfolk County jail to see what programming stays and what goes.
The 2020 race was a special election that will fill the final two years of former Sheriff Michael Bellotti’s term, who stepped down in 2018 to become the president of Quincy College. Gov. Charlie Baker appointed Jerry McDermott to the seat until the special election could be held. Another election in 2022 will fill a full, six-year-term.
Patrick McDermott said he will run again in 2022 for the full six-year term.
“No doubt in my mind,” he said.
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