By Joseph Domelowicz Jr.
Incumbent Republican State Representative Donald Wong, who represents two precincts in Lynn, as well as Saugus and Wakefield in the 9th Essex District, won a decisive re-election campaign Tuesday night, despite losing just over 53-percent of the votes cast in Lynn.
“It feels good to win,” Representative Wong said after declaring victory Tuesday night. “But now it is time to heal and bring our parties together, for the good of the community. I am glad the election is over so I can now put all of my effort back into working for the district.”
Wong’s re-election victory was sewn in the larger parts of the district- Saugus and Wakefield, where he received 11,204 votes to Migliore’s 8,446. With that kind of edge outside of Lynn, he was easily able to overcome the 260-vote deficit he saw in Lynn’s two precincts.
Wong was first elected as State Representative in 2011 and he has now survived several Democratic efforts to unseat him.
Migliore, for her part called Wong to concede the race at just around 9 p.m. and said afterwards that she was proud of her campaign and wished Wong well.
Aside from the presidential race and the race for Essex County Sheriff, there were no other contested races in Lynn on Tuesday.
In total 33,303 votes were cast in Lynn, with the city’s voters reflecting the state in the Presidential race and with the ballots questions.
Hillary Clinton received 21,841 votes in Lynn, while President-Elect Donald Trump received just 9,174 locally. Also receiving Presidential votes here were Libertarian Gary Johnson, who got 911 votes and Green Party candidate Jill Stein who received 426 votes.
Down ballots decisions largely included the confirming of several uncontested candidates here in Lynn.
Congressman Seth Moulton garnered 26,487 votes, Governor’s Council candidate Terrence Kennedy received 25,292. In legislative races, Senator Thomas McGee received 26,812, Representative Lori Ehrlich received 2,019, Daniel Cahill received 11,287 and Brendan Crighton received 9,309. All were running unopposed.