4 Democratic US House members faced challengers in Massachusetts

BOSTON (AP) — Four incumbent Democrats faced challengers in U.S. House districts in Massachusetts. Five other Democrats were unopposed in Tuesday’s election.

Republicans and independents have had a tough time winning seats in Congress in the heavily Democratic state. No Republican has been elected to the U.S. House in Massachusetts in nearly three decades.

The five Democrats who ran unopposed for another two-year term: Lori Trahan, Jake Auchincloss, Katherine Clark, Seth Moulton and Ayanna Pressley.

Democrat James McGovern reelected in 2nd Congressional District

Democrat James McGovern won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Massachusetts, fending off a challenge from independent Cornelius Shea.

McGovern, who was first elected to Congress in 1996, represents the state’s 2nd Congressional District including Worcester, the state’s second largest city.

Throughout his tenure in Congress, McGovern has cast himself as an advocate for human rights, including in China’s Tibet, campaign finance reform and social justice.

McGovern has also been a vigorous critic of the Republican Party under former President Donald Trump.

Shea, a 20-year Marine veteran, worked for AT&T before becoming a public school teacher in Worcester. In a campaign statement, he listed illegal immigration, drug overdoses, terrorism and health care costs as his top concerns.

Democrat Stephen Lynch reelected in 8th Congressional District

Democrat Stephen Lynch was reelected to the U.S. House seat he’s held for more than two decades, brushing back an effort by Republican Robert Burke to unseat him.

Lynch has held the state’s 8th Congressional District, which includes parts of Boston, since he was elected following the death of Rep. Joseph Moakley in 2001.

The former ironworker is a member of the Financial Services Committee and serves as the top Democrat on the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion.

Burke, who describes himself as an amateur journalist and videographer, had said he was reaching out to independent, Democratic and Republican voters tired of what he called the “Kamala-Lynch open border.” In a campaign statement, he said state money spent on migrants should have gone “to help our kids, our roads, our schools, and our veterans.”

1st Congressional District

Longtime U.S. Rep. Richard Neal faces a challenge from independent Nadia Milleron.

The Democrat was first elected to Congress in 1988 to represent the 1st Congressional District, the state’s largest in the western and central regions. He’s the top Democrat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

Neal has said that his priorities include “fairer taxes, affordable and accessible health care, taking on climate change, preserving Social Security, and more.”

Milleron, the niece of consumer advocate Ralph Nader, said she was driven to run for Congress after her daughter’s 2019 death in Ethiopia in the second Boeing 737 Max crash.

Milleron pushed for passage of a 2020 law requiring the Federal Aviation Administration to change how it certifies new planes.

“We heard that the government was going to put the plane that killed our daughter back in service. We went to Washington and worked on passing aviation safety legislation,” Milleron said in a political ad.

9th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Bill Keating faces Republican Dan Sullivan in his bid for another term.

Keating, who was first elected to the House in 2010, represents the state’s 9th Congressional District, including Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The Democrat serves on the House committees on Foreign Affairs and Armed Services.

Keating has pressed for federal funding to help replace the two bridges spanning the Cape Cod Canal. He’s also pushed legislation that would fund care for stranded turtles that wash up on Cape Cod and elsewhere.

Sullivan, a nurse, has said he could bring a fresh perspective to Washington. Sullivan said he supports prosecuting drug dealers while providing addicts with treatment programs. He also backs securing borders, enforcing immigration laws and prioritizing legal immigration for those with science, technology, engineering and math skills.

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