Melrose 2020 Election Results: Voters Double Up For Ed Markey

MELROSE, MA — Twice as many voters here cast their ballot for Sen. Ed Markey than Rep. Joe Kennedy in a Democratic primary for Markey's U.S. Senate seat.

More than 10,400 voters made their voices heard either via early, mail-in or in-person Election Day voting, according to unofficial city numbers.

Markey got 6,097 Melrose votes to Kennedy's 2,985, aiding Markey in holding on to his seat.

"The time to be timid is past," the victor told supporters down the road in Malden Tuesday night. "The age of incrementalism is over."

On the Republican side, attorney Kevin O'Connor got 804 votes to Shiva Ayyadurai's 509.

Markey and O'Connor will face off in November's general election.

In the only other contested race on the ballot, incumbent Terrence Kennedy (4,714 votes) topped Helina Fontes (3,130.)

Rep. Katherine Clark got 8,030 votes in her hometown, while Stoneham Selectwoman Caroline Colarusso got 1,179 as the only Republican in her primary.

In uncontested Democratic primaries that essentially served as the general election due to no Republican presence:

• State Sen. Jason Lewis got 7,525 votes.
• State Rep. and Melrose resident Kate Lipper-Garabedian got 7,829 votes.
• Middlesex County Register of Probate Tara DeCristofaro got 7,075 votes.

City Clerk Amy Kamosa told Patch the turnout as of midday was stronger than expected considering how many people voted early and by mail. Other poll workers said they noticed a very healthy turnout.

It was a new-look election for the primary. Voters from all 14 precincts cast ballots at the middle school gym rather than their usual polling locations, which were eliminated for this election and the November general due to poll worker shortages amid the COVID-19 pandemic.