Local voters against Q1; Dombroski gracious in defeat

WAKEFIELD — Over 60 percent of the town’s registered voters cast ballots in yesterday’s State Election, and most of the still-unofficial results mirror those from other parts of the Commonwealth.

Wakefieldians voted to send Democratic gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey to the corner office on Beacon Hill with Salem Mayor Kimberly Driscoll as lieutenant governor. A majority also picked Andrea Campbell for attorney general, William Galvin to remain as secretary of state, Deborah Goldberg for state treasurer and Diana DiZoglio as auditor.

This morning, a couple of the ballot questions — a tax on people earning $1 million or more and letting undocumented citizens obtain state driver’s licenses — were still too close to call. In Wakefield, those voting no on Question 1 outnumbered those in favor of the so-called Millionaire’s Tax, 6,235 to 5,528. Unofficially, Wakefieldians supported keeping a current state law allowing undocumented people to get driver’s licenses, 5,954 to 5,780.

However, the race for our state Senate seat, pitting Chestnut Street Republican Edward F. Dombroski against incumbent Democrat Jason M. Lewis, was not. Dombroski, a Wakefield Town Councilor, waged a valiant campaign against the entrenched Lewis, a champion of all liberal causes, but in the end Lewis won with a 63 percent to 37 percent margin across the district. In Wakefield, Dombroski unofficially received 5,763 votes while Lewis garnered 6,089.

Dombroski said, “I’m incredibly proud of my amazing, dedicated team of campaign volunteers, the issues we championed, and the operation we built from the ground up. Over these last several months, we engaged thousands of voters who have for too long felt like their voice hadn’t been heard. I listened and carried with me their personal stories and concerns, which inspired me to work harder every day. I congratulate Senator Lewis on his re-election and commit to finding other ways I can continue to contribute to my community in a meaningful way.”

Lewis, at an election night event in Malden, thanked his supporters. He said, “I’m excited and grateful to have the opportunity to continue to serve the residents of our district in the State Senate, and look forward to continuing to deliver results for our communities and Commonwealth. I want to thank everyone who took the time to vote in this important election, and express my deep gratitude to our campaign team, volunteers and supporters for all your hard work.”

Wakefield’s two state representatives — Melrose’s Kate Lipper-Garabedian, a Democrat, and Saugus Republican Donald Wong — ran without opposition this election cycle.

Congressman Seth Moulton, the Salem Democrat, won his race easily in Wakefield, besting Peabody Republican Bob May and Mark T. Tashjian.

Yesterday’s results across the state included a historic victory for Healey, the Democratic attorney general who became the nation’s first openly lesbian governor.

Healey, the state’s first woman and openly gay candidate elected to the office, defeated Republican Geoff Diehl, a former state representative who had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.

Her election returns the governor’s office to Democrats after eight years of Republican leadership under the popular Gov. Charlie Baker, who opted not to seek reelection.

Healey and her running mate, Driscoll, were among three all-female governor/lieutenant governor tickets in the U.S. that began Election Day with a chance to become the first such pairing elected to lead a state.

The Republican all-female ticket of Sarah Huckabee Sanders for governor and Leslie Rutledge for lieutenant governor won in Arkansas. In Ohio, the ticket of Democrat Nan Whaley and running mate Cheryl Stephens lost to Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.

Healey was also one of two openly lesbian candidates who ran to be a governor in the country. Healey and Democrat Tina Kotek, a candidate for governor in Oregon, each began the day with a chance to become the first open lesbian elected governor of a state.

Healey addressed supporters at a downtown Boston hotel after her victory Tuesday night.

“To those who voted for me and to those who didn’t I want you to know that I’ll be a governor for everyone and I’ll work with anyone who’s up for making a difference in this state,” Healey said.

Healey also addressed the historic nature of her win.

“Tonight I want to say something to every little girl and every young LGBTQ person out there. I hope tonight shows you that you can be whatever, whoever you want to be and nothing and no one can ever get in your way except you own imagination and that’s not going to happen.” Healey said.

“I stand before you tonight proud to be the first woman and the first gay person ever elected governor of Massachusetts,” she added.

Diehl told supporters at a Boston hotel that he had called Healey to congratulate her on her win.

“The people of the commonwealth have spoken. I respect their choice and I ask everyone who has supported me and Leah to give her the same opportunity that I would have asked for if the shoe had been on the other foot,” he said, referring to his running mate Leah Allen.

“Despite the outcome, I’m proud of the race we ran,” he added. “We highlighted issues that are important for people across the state.”

Healey — elected eight years ago as the nation’s first openly gay attorney general — snapped what’s become known in Massachusetts as the “curse of the attorney general.” Since 1958, six former Massachusetts attorneys general have sought the governor’s office. All failed.

During the campaign, Healey pledged to expand job training programs, make child care more affordable and modernize schools. Healey has also said she would protect “access to safe and legal abortion in Massachusetts” in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

The 51-year-old has also checked off what she considers a series of accomplishments during her time as the state’s top law enforcement officer, including protecting students and homeowners from predatory lenders and suing Exxon Mobil over whether the oil giant misled investors and the public about its knowledge of climate change.

Healey also targeted OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family over allegations they deceived patients and doctors about the risks of opioids.

During the campaign, the Democrat warned Diehl would “bring Trumpism to Massachusetts.” Diehl served as co-chair for former President Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign in Massachusetts and won his endorsement for governor in a state that roundly rejected Trump in 2016 and 2020.

Although Healey is the first woman in Massachusetts elected governor, she’s not the first to serve in the office. Republican Jane Swift, then lieutenant governor, became acting governor in 2001 when Gov. Paul Cellucci resigned to become ambassador to Canada. Swift was never elected governor.

Since 1991, Republicans had held the corner office at the Statehouse for all but eight years when Democrat Deval Patrick was governor.

— Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.