Few decisions on Sept. 3 primary ballot

Easthampton voters in 2018. The state primary on Sept. 3 will feature few contested races.

Easthampton voters in 2018. The state primary on Sept. 3 will feature few contested races. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Staff Writer

Published: 08-19-2024 5:00 PM

A three-way race between Republicans for a Massachusetts U.S. Senate seat is the only contest on the state primary ballot Sept. 3, with Democratic ballots featuring candidates but no contests and Libertarian ballots having no nominees.

With mail-in ballots already out to voters and early in-person voting to commence across the state on Saturday, Aug. 24, most voters throughout Hampshire County, southern Franklin County and Worcestor County, unless participating in the GOP state primary, will not have any electoral decisions to make.

On the Republican ballot, Robert Antonellis of Medford, Ian Cain of Quincy and John Deaton of Swansea are competing for the U.S. Senate nomination to face off against incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren at the presidential election in November.

Warren, like all other Democrats on the ballot locally, is running unopposed in the primary.

There is only potential for one contested election in the region in November, in the Fourth Hampden District, where both the Democratic and Republican parties are putting forward candidates for voters in Southampton and Westfield to consider.

For the GOP, incumbent state Rep. Kelly Pease, R-Westfield, is seeking reelection, while Democrat Bridget Matthews-Kane of Westfield is seeking the nomination.

In addition to Warren, all Democratic ballots in the region list incumbent Governors Councilor Tara J. Jacobs, who is vying for another term.

The Democratic ballots will also feature U.S. Rep Richard Neal in the First District communities, which includes Easthampton, Belchertown, South Hadley, Granby, Cummington, Huntington, Middlefield, Plainfield, Southampton, Worthington and Ware, while U.S. Rep. James McGovern will be on the ballots in the Second District communities, including Northampton, Amherst, Hadley, Hatfield, Chesterfield, Goshen, Pelham, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Deerfield, Leverett, Shutesbury, Sunderland and Whately.

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Democratic ballots in Hampshire County will have Clerk of Courts candidate Daniel Carey, who is leaving his position as Second Hampshire District state representative. In Franklin County towns, the Clerk of Courts candidate is Benjamin Simanski, while on Holyoke’s ballot will be incumbent Hampden County Clerk of Courts Laura Gentile.

Incumbent Register of Deeds Mary Olberding will be on the Hampshire County ballots, incumbent Register of Deeds Scott Cote will be on the Franklin County ballots and incumbent Hampden County Register of Deeds Cheryl Coakley-Rivera will be on the Holyoke ballots.

Only Hampshire County voters will vote on Register of Probate, where Mark Smith Ames is seeking the vacancy.

Incumbent state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, is on the ballots in the Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District, which includes Erving, Orange, Royalston,  Amherst, Hadley, South Hadley, Deerfield, Leverett, Shutesbury, Sunderland and Whately.

Incumbent state Sen. Jacob Oliveira, D-Ludlow, is on the ballots in the Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester District, which includes Athol, Belchertown, Granby, Phillipston, Petersham and South Hadley.

Incumbent state Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, is on the ballots in the Hampden and Hampshire District, which includes Holyoke, Easthampton and Southampton.

Incumbent state Sen. Paul Mark, D-Pittsfield, is on the ballots in the Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire District, which includes Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Worthington and Whately.

The lone Hampshire County town without a Democratic state Senate candidate is Ware, which is part of the Worcester and Hampshire District

For state representatives, incumbent state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, is on the ballots in the First Hampshire District, which includes Northampton, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Hatfield, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington.

Incumbent State Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, is on the ballots in the Third Hampshire District, which includes Amherst and half of Granby.

Incumbent State Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, is on the ballots in the First Franklin District, which includes Deerfield, Leverett, Sunderland and Whately.

Incumbent State Rep. Aaron Saunders, D-Ludlow, is on the ballots for the Seventh Hampden District, which includes Belchertown, Pelham and Shutesbury,

Incumbent State Rep. Patricia Duffy, D-Holyoke, is on the ballots for the Fifth Hampden District, which includes the city of Holyoke,

Aside from Matthews-Kane, the only other newcomer to the Democratic ballots is Homar Gomez of Easthampton, who is seeking to succeed Carey in the Second Hampshire District position representing Easthampton, South Hadley, Hadley and half of Granby.

The Republican ballot has no U.S. House candidates attempting to take on either Neal or McGovern in the November election, or any Governors Council candidate to go up against Jacobs.

There are also no Republican candidates for Clerk of Courts, Register of Deeds and, in Hampshire County, for Register of Probate.

Aside from Pease, the only Republican on the ballot for state Senate is David Rosa, in the Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire District, which includes Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Worthington and Whately. He would challenge Mark.

In Hampshire County, southern Franklin County and Holyoke, the only Republican on the ballot is State Sen. Peter Durant, R-Spencer, for the Worcester and Hampshire District, which includes Ware.

In-person voting schedule

Here is the schedule for early in-person voting in Worcester County, Hampshire County, southern Franklin County and Holyoke:

■Athol Town Hall, Saturday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m.- 3p.m., Monday, Aug. 26, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 27, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 28 and Thursday, Aug. 29, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 30, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

■Royalston Town Clerk’s office, Whitney Hall, Saturday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Wednesday, Aug. 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

■Orange Town Hall, Saturday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, Aug. 26 and Tuesday, Aug. 27, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 8: a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 29, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

■Northampton, City Hall, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Aug. 26 to Aug. 30, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

■Amherst, Town Hall, Aug. 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Aug. 26 to Aug. 30, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

■Easthampton, Municipal Building, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aug. 26 to Aug. 29, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Aug. 30, 9 a.m. to noon.

■South Hadley, Town Hall, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Aug. 26 to Aug. 30, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

■Holyoke, City Hall, Aug. 24, 1 to 5 p.m., Aug. 25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Aug. 26 to Aug. 30, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

■Belchertown, Town Hall, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Aug. 26 to Aug. 30, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

■Chesterfield, Town Offices, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Aug. 26, 5 to 7:30 p.m.

■Cummington, Community House, Aug. 24, 9 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m., and Aug. 29, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

■Deerfield, Town Hall, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Aug. 26 to Aug. 30, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

■Goshen, Memorial Hall, Aug. 24 and Aug. 26, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

■Granby, Carnegie Building, Aug. 24 and Aug. 26 to Aug. 29, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Aug. 30, 9 a.m. to noon.

■Hadley, Town Hall, Aug. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Aug. 26 to Aug. 30, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

■Hatfield, Town Hall, Aug. 24, Aug. 26, Aug. 27 and Aug. 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

■Huntington, Town Hall,. Aug. 24, 9 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m., Aug. 26, 6 to 8 p.m., Aug. 27, 9 a.m. to noon, and Aug. 28, 4 to 8 p.m.

■Leverett, Town Hall, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Aug. 26 to Aug. 29, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

■Middlefield, Town Hall, Aug. 24, 9 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m., and Aug. 26, 1 to 6 p.m.

■Pelham, Rhodes Building, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aug. 26 to Aug. 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

■Plainfield, Town Offices, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Aug. 27, 5 to 8 p.m., Aug. 28, 9 a.m. to noon, Aug. 29, 4 to 8 p.m., and Aug. 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

■Shutesbury, Town Hall, Aug. 24, noon to 5 p.m., Aug. 26, Aug. 27, Aug. 29 and Aug. 30, noon to 2 p.m., and Aug. 28, 4 to 6 p.m.

■Southampton, Town Hall, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Aug. 26 to Aug. 30, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

■Sunderland, Town Hall, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aug. 26, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Aug. 28,. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Aug. 29, 9 a.m. to noon.

■Westhampton, Town Hall, Aug. 24, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Aug. 28, 9 to 11 a.m.

■Whately, Town Offices, Aug. 24 and Aug. 30, noon to 5 p.m., and Aug. 26 to Aug. 29, 10 a.m. to noon.

■Williamsburg, Town Offices, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aug. 26, 9 to 11 a.m., Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Aug. 29, 5 to 8 p.m.

■Worthington, Town hall, Aug. 24, 10 a.m. to noon, Aug. 26, Aug. 27, Aug. 29 and Aug. 30, 10 to 11 a.m.

■Ware, Town Hall, Aug. 24 and Aug. 26 to Aug. 30, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.