Election 2022: Nguyen Declares Victory, Moulton Projected Winner

MASSACHUSETTS — Tram Nguyen, a Democrat, has won a third term as the state Representative in the 18th Essex District, according to unofficial results reported by her campaign.

Nguyen has declared victory over Republican Jeff Dufour after unofficially receiving 11,126 votes to Dufour's 7,520.

"We just got exciting news that you have re-elected me for a third term," Nguyen said in a message on her Facebook page. "So much was on the ballot this election cycle, democracy, inclusion, human rights were on the ballot, and most importantly decency and kindness were on the ballot — and it prevailed."

Nguyen continued: "You have made your voices heard that you value building and welcoming and inclusive community for all. I'm so excited to have this opportunity to continue to work with you and to serve you for the next two years."

Nguyen also defeated Dufour in the 2020 election in the 18th Essex District, which includes Andover, Boxford, North Andover and Tewksbury.

Nguyen had received endorsements from Massachusetts District Attorney/Governor Elect Maura Healey, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-06), Rep. Lori Trahan (D-03), Planned Parenthood, MA AFL-CIO, Mass Voters for Animals, Iron Workers 7 and Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen Local No. 3 Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, among others.

"My goal has always been to support working families, protect vulnerable populations and build a more welcoming and thriving Commonwealth for all," Nguyen said during the campaign. "These endorsements reflect those values. I consider these organizations partners in fighting for good jobs with fair wages, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ rights, climate justice and equality and inclusion."

Dufour, a longtime information system and project management professional, offered his thoughts on the campaign.

"Although I am disappointed that I did not win, I am extremely proud of how we ran our campaign and incredibly grateful for everyone who supported me during the past few months," Dufour told Patch.

U.S. House 6th Congressional District

Moulton (D-Salem) will return to what could be a different Capitol Hill landscape to represent the state's 6th Congressional District after a victory against Republican Peabody businessman Bob May and Libertarian Georgetown businessman Mark Tashjian.

NBC News projected Moulton as the winner Tuesday night. As of 11 p.m., Moulton had 60 percent of the vote, to 38.1 percent for May and 1.9 percent for Tashjian with 30 percent of precincts reporting.

Moulton, who has served in Congress since 2015, spoke with Patch on Tuesday about what he hopes to deliver for the district and the state in what was expected to be an altered landscape than the past two years when Democrats controlled the presidency and both houses of Congress.

"It's been the most productive Congress in a half-century but many American people don't appreciate that," he told Patch. "We passed the first major gun safety legislation in 30 years, passed a historic infrastructure bill, passed COVID relief, the Inflation Reduction Act, the Chips and Science bills, the PACT Act to take of our veterans.

"We've had many times the legislative accomplishments that Republicans had when they controlled the House."

Still, Moulton allows that "there is no getting around the fact that people are frustrated about inflation" and that people blaming President Joe Biden for the inflation "when there is little a president can do about inflation" contributed to forecasted Republican gains in the House of Representative in the mid-terms.

"I would like to see Congress come together on immigration reform, address inflation, advance the Chips and Science Act and further lower prescription drug prices," he said. "But if the House is led by (Republican U.S. Rep.) Kevin McCarthy, I fear they will be more interested in meaningless investigations than doing the work for the American people."

State Senate 2nd Essex Middlesex District

In the race for state Senate in the newly redrawn 2nd Essex Middlesex District, incumbent Democrat Barry Finegold faced Republican Sal DeFranco.

The district now includes Andover, Tewksbury, Wilmington, Merrimac, Amesbury and parts of Haverhill and North Andover.

As of 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Associated Press reported that Finegold had 30,532 votes and DeFranco had 25,689 votes, with 81.03 percent of precincts reporting.

Finegold, an attorney and partner at Dalton and Finegold, held the state Senate seat from 2011 to 2015, and then was elected in 2018 and again in 2020.

DeFranco is a former Navy SEAL and the founder of Battle Grounds Coffee Company, with locations in Haverhill and Newburyport.

In addition to disagreements on policy, Finegold and DeFranco couldn't even agree on when to hold a debate.

DeFranco's team touted endorsements from Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, Andover Selectman Alex Vispoli, North Andover Selectwoman Rosemary Smedile, the North Andover Police Union, Tewksbury Police Union and Tewksbury Firefighter Union.

Representatives from Finegold's campaign highlighted his endorsements from organizations like: Reproductive Equity Now, SEIU 1199, Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts (PFFM), Sen. Ed Markey and Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Other Races

Voters in Wilmington and some voters in Tewksbury, cast their votes in the race for state Representative in the 19th Middlesex District, where incumbent Democrat David Robertson faced Republican Paul Sarnowski.

According to AP, with 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Robertson had won the election with 9,542 votes. Sarnowski had 7,630 votes.

Meanwhile, Democrat Eileen Duff, the incumbent, and Republican Michael Walsh ran for the Governor's Council 5th District.

As of 1:45 a.m. Wednesday, AP reported that Duff had 137,468 votes and Walsh had 97,813 votes, with 70.50 percent of precincts reporting.

Several candidates ran unopposed in local elections: Democrat Vanna Howard, an incumbent, ran unopposed for state Representative in the 17th Middlesex District, Democrat Marian Ryan, an incumbent, ran unopposed for Middlesex district attorney and Peter Koutoujian ran unopposed for re-election as the Middlesex County sheriff.