Election Day is Tuesday. Here's what's on the ballot in Central Mass.
Election Day is on Tuesday and Central Massachusetts has several competitive races and ballot measures to vote on this year.
Two incumbent members of Congress face Republican opponents.
In statewide races where polling suggests Democrats are heavily favored, a slate of mostly women Democratic candidates faces off against a Republican slate with ideological ties to former President Donald Trump.
WorcesterFind out where to vote
Money has poured into a few ballot questions with the possibility that they could be the most contested races of the night.
In Central Massachusetts, many incumbents are running unopposed while a few who waltzed through their primaries face challengers in the general.
In the state Senate, the winner of a marquee Democratic primary faces an unenrolled candidate. A part of Worcester has also been added to the Senate district of a Spencer Democrat who faces a young Holden Republican.
Two Democratic senators in districts on the further ends of Worcester County are also in competitive primaries.
In the Statehouse, most Worcester incumbents are running unopposed with one exception. Several competitive races are set throughout the rest of Central Massachusetts.
More:Check your voter registration status
Statewide races
Attorney General Maura T. Healey, a Democrat, and former Whitman state Rep. Geoff G. Diehl, a Republican, top the ticket in the gubernatorial election.
Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll is Healey's running mate, and former Peabody state Rep. Leah G. Cole Allen is Diehl's.
More:Gov. candidates Healey, Diehl talk community development at Polar Park forum
Former Boston City Council President Andrea J. Campbell will be the Democratic nominee to succeed Healey as attorney general. Attorney Jay McMahon of Cape Cod, the 2018 Republican nominee, will seek the position again for Republicans.
Longtime Secretary of State William F. Galvin is running for reelection against Republican radio host Rayla Campbell of Randolph.
Finally, state Sen. Diana DiZoglio of Methuen is the Democratic nominee for state auditor to succeed Suzanne M. Bump. She is running against Boston auditor and investigator Anthony Amore, the only statewide Republican running with the endorsement of Gov. Charlie Baker.
While DiZoglio is ahead in polling, the number suggest the auditor's race could be the closest statewide race of the night. The pasts of both candidates have received scrutiny: DiZoglio worked as a youth councilor for an Alabama church that has hosted anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, and Amore's ex-wife's claimed emotional and physical abuse in 2009 request for a restraining order; he was later cleared by the Department of Children and Families.
State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg is running for reelection as a Democrat unopposed.
Statewide ballot questions
Question 1 deals with taxes. Should the state Constitution be amended to impose an additional income tax on residents earning more than $1 million in a given year? The additional tax would be levied only on the amount of money that exceeds $1 million. Anything over $1 million would be taxed at a 9% rate, compared to the normal 5% income tax rate.
Question 2 would regulate the dental insurance industry. If approved, it would require that 83% of premiums be used for patient treatment. If the amount used in treatment falls below the 83% threshold, called the medical loss ratio, the difference would be refunded to the consumer.
Question 3 addresses liquor licenses. It deals with the number and type of licenses that can be issued to one license holder. While it gradually increases the number of “wine and malt beverages” licenses allowed to be issued to one applicant over a period of years to 18 by 2031, it also restricts the number of “all alcoholic beverages licenses” to seven total. Retailers that currently hold more than seven “all alcoholic beverages” licenses will be grandfathered in.
Question 4 deals with driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants. It asks whether Massachusetts should maintain a law that allows all residents, regardless of citizenship status, to apply for a state driver’s license. A "yes" vote would maintain the law while a "no" vote would repeal it.
Community Preservation Act
Worcester, Boylston and Westborough will vote on whether to adopt the Community Preservation Act. The question appears as Question 5 on the Worcester ballot.
Opting in would implement a property tax surcharge to preserve open and historic spaces, create affordable housing and develop outdoor recreation.
Supporters and detractors of Worcester adopting the measure have both been vocal in recent weeks.
2nd Congressional District
Longtime U,S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, faces Shrewsbury businessman Jeffrey Sossa-Paquette in the general election.
The two debated inflation, Ukraine and the Jan. 6 committee along with other issues in a September debate hosted by Springfield-area TV station WWLP-22News.
McGovern is running for his 14th two-year term. In 2020, he was reelected with about two-thirds of the vote in the general election.
(The 2nd Congressional District now includes the following Worcester County municipalities: Worcester, Leominster, Auburn, Holden, Shrewsbury, Millbury, Leicester, Paxton, Boylston, West Boylston, Grafton, Athol, Barre, Douglas, Hardwick, Hubbardston, Northborough, Northbridge, Oakham, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Rutland, Southborough, Sterling, Sutton, Templeton, Upton, Uxbridge, much of Webster, part of Westminster, and Westborough.)
3rd Congressional District
U.S. Rep. Lori A. Trahan, D-Westford, faces former Republican state Sen. Dean A. Tran of Fitchburg.
Tran pleaded not guilty in Worcester Superior Court in July to charges including larceny of a firearm and misleading a police investigation. He also announced a lawsuit against Healey alleging the charges are politically motivated.
On Sept. 13, U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts Judge Leo T. Sorokin dismissed Tran's lawsuit against Healey. Tran appealed the dismissal in October.
Trahan is running for her third two-year term. She was unopposed in 2020.
The 3rd Congressional District now includes the following Worcester County municipalities: Fitchburg, Lunenburg, Gardner, Ashburnham, Berlin, Bolton, Clinton, Harvard, Lancaster, most of Westminster and Winchendon.
Worcester and Hampshire District
(Covers Worcester, Holden, Spencer, Leicester, Paxton, Sterling, East Brookfield, North Brookfield, Brookfield, West Brookfield, Princeton, Rutland, Oakham, Hardwick, Ware, New Braintree, Gardner, Barre, Hubbardston, Templeton, Phillipston and Westminster)
State Sen. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, is running for reelection to a seat that has changed considerably due to redistricting. Her seat now includes a part of Worcester.
She is being challenged by Republican James Amorello of Holden. Amorello said he is hoping to bring a youth perspective and a focus on fiscal issues to the state Senate.
More:Gobi faces Amorello in Worcester, Hampshire race for Senate
1st Worcester District
(Covers Worcester, Boylston, Berlin, Bolton, Northborough and West Boylston)
After her commanding primary win over Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty, former YWCA executive Robyn K. Kennedy of Worcester will be the Democratic nominee in the race to succeed state Sen. Harriette L. Chandler, D-Worcester.
She will face unenrolled candidate Lisa Mair of Berlin in November.
Middlesex and Worcester District
(Covers Acton, Harvard, Ayer, Littleton, Stow, Maynard, Hudson, Sudbury, Southborough, Boxborough and Wayland)
Incumbent James B. Eldridge, D-Acton, is running against Republican Anthony Christakis of Wayland.
More:Here are the candidates vying for the Middlesex and Worcester state Senate seat
Worcester and Middlesex District
(Covers Fitchburg, Gardner, Lunenburg, Lancaster, Clinton, Shirley, Leominster, Ashby, Townsend, Westford and Groton)
Incumbent John J. Cronin, D-Lunenburg, is running for reelection against Ken Hoyt, a Republican of Westford.
STATE HOUSE RACES
2nd Worcester District
(Covers Ashburnham, Gardner, part of Winchendon and Templeton)
Incumbent Jonathan D. Zlotnik, D-Gardner, is running for reelection against Bruce K. Chester, a Republican from Gardner.
More:In 2nd Worcester District, it's Zlotnik vs. Chester
3rd Worcester District
(Covers Fitchburg and part of Lunenburg)
Rep. Michael P. Kushmerek, D-Fitchburg, is running for reelection against Republican Aaron Packard of Fitchburg.
4th Worcester District
(Covers Leominster)
Rep. Natalie Higgins, D-Leominster, is running for reelection. John Dombrowski, a former Leominster city councilor, is running as an unenrolled candidate.
7th Worcester District
(Covers Auburn, part of Charlton, Millbury, much of Oxford and part of Leicester)
Incumbent Paul K. Frost, R-Auburn, is running for reelection. Terry Burke Dotson of Millbury is running as an unenrolled candidate.
11th Worcester District
(Covers Shrewsbury and part of Westborough)
Rep. Hannah E. Kane, R-Shrewsbury, is running for reelection; she faces Democrat Stephen Fishman of Shrewsbury.
12th Worcester District
(Covers Clinton, Boylston, Berlin, Sterling, part of Northborough and Lancaster)
Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne, D-Clinton, is running for reelection against Republican Michael A. Vulcano III of Northborough, director of football operations at the College of the Holy Cross.
17th Worcester District
(Covers part of Worcester and part of Leicester)
State Rep. David H.A. LeBoeuf, D-Worcester, is running for reelection against Republican Paul Fullen of Worcester, a Worcester firefighter.
LeBoeuf was arrested for drunken driving in April. He has said he is receiving treatment for addiction and that he has been sober for several months.
The two debated in late October where LeBoeuf ran on his record and Fullen pushed for lower taxes and support for police. During the debate, Fullen also claimed that he witnessed a potential incident of voter fraud in 2020. No evidence or proof that the incident was reported has been provided by Fullen.
More:House debate: LeBoeuf runs on record, Fullen pushes less taxes, support for police
19th Worcester District
(Covers much of Westborough, part of Northborough, Southborough and part of Framingham)
Two candidates are vying for this new open seat. Veteran Democratic campaigner Kate Donaghue of Westborough is running against Republican Jonathan Hostage of Southborough.
More:Kate Donaghue, Jonathan Hostage are vying for new 19th Worcester District seat
2nd Franklin District
(Covers Athol, Phillipston, Royalston, part of Winchendon, Erving, Northfield, Gill, most of Greenfield, Orange, Warwick and Precinct A of Belchertown)
Incumbent Rep. Susannah M. Whipps of Athol, an unenrolled state representative, is running against Republican Jeff Raymond of Athol.
More:In 2nd Franklin District, incumbent Susannah Whipps challenged by Jeffrey Raymond
Worcester County Sheriff
Sheriff Lewis G. Evangelidis, a Republican, is facing a challenge from Democrat David Fontaine of Paxton.
More:Showdown for Worcester County sheriff nears between Evangelidis, Fontaine
Governor's Council District 7
Democrat Paul DePalo faces a challenge from Republican Gary Galonek of Sturbridge, an actor who served two terms on the Sturbridge Zoning Board of Appeals.
More:DePalo, Galonek vying for Governor's Council
Unopposed
The following incumbents are unopposed: State Sen. Michael O. Moore, 2nd Worcester District; State Sen. Ryan C. Fattman, Worcester and Norfolk District; state Rep. Kimberly N. Ferguson, 1st Worcester District; state Rep. Donald R. Berthiaume Jr., 5th Worcester District; state Rep. Peter J. Durant, 5th Worcester District; state Rp. Michael J. Soter, 8th Worcester District; state Rep. David K. Muradian Jr.; 9th Worcester District; state Rep. Brian W. Murray, 10th Worcester District; state Rep. John J. Mahoney, 13th Worcester District; state Rep. James J. O'Day, 14th Worcester District; state Rep. Mary S. Keefe, 15th Worcester District; state Rep. Daniel M. Donahue, 16th Worcester District; state Rep. Joseph D. McKenna, 18th Worcester District; state Rep. Todd M. Smola, 1st Hampden District; state Rep. Danielle W. Gregoire, 4th Middlesex District.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: What's on the ballot this November in Central Massachusetts
