State Primary Election

Essex County Clerk of Courts Driscoll clinches a fifth term; Republicans pick challenger for U.S. Sen. Warren

By Mark E. Vogler

Without a Republican challenger on the ballot for the Nov. 5 general election, incumbent Essex County Clerk of Courts Thomas H. Driscoll Jr. will get a free ride to his fifth six-year term. Driscoll, of Swampscott, made that possible on Tuesday by beating Democratic challenger James FX Doherty, of Salem, a former Beverly city councilor-at-large. That was the most decisive outcome from the state primary for Democratic voters.

For Republicans, the primary reason for voting was to pick one of three candidates to face U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren in the November election. Republican voters across Massachusetts picked Attorney John Deaton over Candidates Robert J. Antonellis, of Medford, and Ian Cain, of Quincy.

In the race for Registry of Deeds for the Essex Southern District, Eileen R. Duff, a Gloucester resident and current Governor’s Councillor, won the Democratic primary over Joseph Michael Gentleman III, of Peabody. Duff now faces Jonathan Edward Ring of Rockport, who has no opposition in the Republican Primary.

Other than that, there was nothing else to be decided. Five other incumbent politicians on the ballot had no opposition in the primary and will wind up getting re-elected without opposition in November.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Salem) has no ballot opposition from Republican candidates in the general election. He has served the Sixth Congressional District since 2015.

Terrence W. Kennedy, of Lynnfield, who has served as the District Six representative on the Governor’s Council since 2011, faces no opposition in the general election.

State Rep. Donald H. Wong (R-Saugus) faced no competition for another two-year term in the Ninth Essex District in the state primary. And nobody is seeking to challenge him in the general election. Wong, who has represented Saugus since 2011, also has faced no opposition during the last two (2020 and 2022) elections.

State Rep. Jessica Ann Giannino (D-Revere) – whose 16th Suffolk District includes Precincts 3 and 10 in Saugus – also faces no opposition in the general election this year. She was uncontested in winning reelection two years ago. She has been a state representative since 2020.

State Sen. Brendan P. Crighton (D-Lynn) also has no opposition. He’s been a state senator since 2018.

Barring the emergence of write-in candidates in all three races, Saugus voters can expect to see the three legislators represent them on Beacon Hill for two more years.

The Libertarian Party has no candidates listed for the U.S. Senate, U.S. Representative, Governor’s Councillor, state Senate, state House of Representatives, Essex County Clerk of Courts or Registry of Deeds of the Essex Southern District.

There weren’t any surprises in the outcome of Saugus voting in the state primary. The 3,299 of the 22,205 registered voters who turned out – close to 15 percent – mirrored the overall results.

In the Republican race for the U.S. Senate, Deaton (807) easily beat out challengers Antonellis (501) and Cain (82). Saugus voters favored Driscoll over Doherty for the Clerk of Courts seat by a 1,222 to 396 margin. Eileen R. Duff received 1,184 votes while her Democratic challenger Joseph Gentleman received 456 votes. Duff will face Republican Jonathan Edward Ring in November.

As of Aug. 7, there were 22,154 total registered voters in Saugus. That included 4,928 Democrats, 2,110 Republicans, 14,852 unenrolled and 59 Libertarians.