Cambridge, Allston Voters Send Uncontested State Representatives Back to Beacon Hill

Cambridge and Allston voters sent nine uncontested Democratic incumbents back to Beacon Hill, according to the Associated Press — including State Rep. Marjorie C. Decker, who narrowly won re-election in the 25th Democratic Party against her progressive challenger Evan C. MacKay ’19.

The results in the uncontested race come even as Massachusetts voters are viewing the notoriously opaque State House with increased scrutiny. The razor-thin margin in Decker’s primary was among the clearest signals that voters in Cambridge have an appetite to shake up the status quo.

State Senator Patricia D. Jehlen was re-elected by the Second Middlesex district along with State Senator Sal N. DiDomenico for the Middlesex & Suffolk District and State Senator William N. Brownsberger ’78 as representative from Suffolk & Middlesex District.

All six incumbents representing Cambridge and Allston — David M. Rogers for the 24th Middlesex District, Marjorie C. Decker for the 25th Middlesex District, Mike Connolly for the 26th Middlesex District, Steven C. Owens for 29th Middlesex District, Daniel J. Ryan for the 2nd Suffolk District, and Michael J. Moran for the 18th Suffolk District — were re-elected.

Among the incumbents are several figures who wield particular influence on Beacon Hill: Moran serves as the House majority leader, while Brownsberger was a former president of the Senate and Decker chairs the powerful Joint Committee on Public Health.

In an interview before casting her vote, Cambridge Resident Tracie Konopinski said that she considered not voting in certain uncontested elections because she believes the representative could do more for the district.

“I love Massachusetts, I love my city,” Tracie Konopinski said, “And if someone is going to run uncontested for election after election after election, I think that there’s a question to ask about, ‘Is that actually democracy?’”

—Staff writer Grace E. Yoon contributed reporting.

—Staff writer Asher J. Montgomery can be reached at asher.montgomery@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @asherjmont or on Threads @asher_montgomery.

—Staff writer Laurel M. Shugart can be reached at laurel.shugart@thecrimson.com. Follow them on X @laurelmshugart or on Threads @laurel.shugart.