Who Has the Edge in Race to Replace Walz?

Needless to say, there have been events locally of late that have taken attention away from an upcoming election that would otherwise be grabbing more headlines.

No, we're not talking about Markey-Gomez. We're talking about the special election for the 8th Suffolk state House of Representatives district seat vacated by Democrat Marty Walz when she left earlier this year to become president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.

After some early wrangling, the combatants in the upcoming May 28 Democratic primary are Joshua Dawson and Jay Livingstone for the district that covers Beacon Hill, Back Bay and a part of Cambridge.

So who has the edge?

David S. Bernstein of Boston Magazine wrote this week the election may "come down to who personally shook hands with more of the few diehard voters who will actually show up" May 28.

Bernstein noted that while Dawson, a Back Bay resident, has gained the endorsement of establishment entities like the Massachusetts Nurses Association and the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Livingstone, of Beacon Hill, has netted support from more progressive sources like Mass Alliance and Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts.

Bernstein surmised that the winner of the Democratic primary will likely go on to win the seat in a tough district for any other party.