Uncontested: State legislators representing Saugus will have no ballot opposition in the fall elections

By Mark E. Vogler

The three members of the state legislative delegation that represents Saugus have more than $160,000 in their campaign war chests available to spend on the fall state elections. But it appears they won’t need to spend anything because they lack opposition on the ballot for the Sept. 3 state primary and the Nov. 5 general election.

State Rep. Donald H. Wong (R-Saugus) will not face 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, 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 primary or 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.

During a political campaign season that features a presidential election in November, registered voters in Saugus have limited choices this year. There are only two contests to be decided by residents voting in the Democratic Primary on Sept. 3. Incumbent Essex County Clerk of Courts Thomas H. Driscoll Jr. of Swampscott faces James F.X. Doherty, of Salem, a former Beverly city councillor-at-large. Driscoll seeks his fifth six-year term. The Republican ballot for next month’s primary has no candidate listed for the Clerk of Courts office.

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

John O’Brien retired last December after 47 years at the Southern Essex Registry of Deeds, citing health reasons. Dorothy Hersey, who has worked for 19 years in the Southern Essex Registry Office, was appointed to complete O’Brien’s six-year term. She did not seek the office.

The race for Republican voters to decide in next month’s primary election is the one for the U.S. Senate. Three candidates are running: Robert J. Antonellis of Medford, Ian Cain of Quincy and John Deaton of Swansea. The winner will face U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has been serving since 2013.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Salem) faces no competition in next month’s primary and has no ballot opposition 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 Democratic Primary. There are no Republican candidates on the primary election ballot.

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.

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.

Here is the In-Person Early Voting schedule for the Sept. 3 State Primary Election, which will be held in the Saugus Public Library Community Room. Registered voters should enter the Taylor Street entrance at 295 Central St.

• Saturday, August 24, 2024 – 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (also last day to register to vote for Election)
• No Sunday
• Monday, August 26, 2024 – 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 27, 2024 – 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 28, 2024 – 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Thursday, August 29, 2024 – 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Friday, August 30, 2024 – 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.