Winner Declares Victory In Race To Represent Beverly, Wenham On Beacon Hill

Updated 8:55 p.m.

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly City Councilor Hannah Bowen has won the special election to represent the 6th Essex District at the State House, according to unofficial results.

The Democrat, who defeated fellow City Councilor Todd Rotondo in a primary last month, bested Republican and former Greater Beverly Commerce President Medley Long in Tuesday's election with 3,949 votes to Long's 1,406 among Beverly voters.

The seat represents the city of Beverly and the first precinct of Wenham.

“"I am so thankful to the residents of Beverly and Wenham for entrusting me to represent them on Beacon Hill. I do not take this responsibility lightly,” Bowen said in a statement at about 9 p.m. "I also want to thank the more than 100 volunteers who always showed up even in the rain, snow, and extreme wind to make this possible.

"At a time when things seem heavy, this campaign reminded me of what is possible when we bring people together."

Bowen will replace former State Rep. Jerry Parisella, who resigned from the seat late last year after being nominated and confirmed as Associate Judge of the State Judicial Court.

Bowen was an At-Large City Councilor in Beverly. She has also served as the executive director of the North Shore non-profit, The Resolution Center, for the past four years.

She said her team knocked more than 12,000 doors in all the neighborhoods of Beverly and Wenham Precinct 1 since February, when the special election was called — totaling more than 3,500 face-to-face conversations with neighbors.

"Since the beginning, this campaign was always about meeting residents where they’re at and listening to their questions and concerns," she said. "I feel a deep responsibility to take that energy and translate it into effective advocacy for Beverly and Wenham."

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