MA Senate Special Election: Results In Worcester, Hampshire District

WORCESTER, MA — Results in a special primary election for a vacant state Senate seat that covers a portion of Worcester are in with state representatives from Gardner and Spencer the two winners.

A primary in the Worcester and Hampshire District held Tuesday included state Reps Jonathan Zlotnik, D-Gardner, Peter Durant, R-Spencer, and Republican Bruce Chester. Zlotnik and Durant earned the most votes in their primaries, which means they'll face off in the Nov. 7 General Election.

The Worcester and Hampshire District previously held by Democrat Anne Gobi — who stepped down in June to become Gov. Maura Healey's new rural affairs director — covers southeastern Worcester in the Stafford Street area.

About 318 voters turned out in Worcester. Zlotnik earned 216, Durant 53 and Chester 32. The district covers most of central Massachusetts, from Phillipston to Ware through the Brookfields and to Sterling.

Since Zlotnik faced no challenger, he was guaranteed to move to the general election. Durant declared the GOP race over around 10 p.m., according to the Boston Herald.

Zlotnik won his 2nd Worcester District state House seat in 2012 while he was still in college. He is the vice chair of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses. He also sits on the House Committee on Climate Change, and the joint committees on Labor and Workforce Development and Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Durant has held his 6th Worcester District seat since narrowly winning a special election in 2011. He previously served as a member of the Spencer select board, and as a member of the town's finance committee. He's the ranking minority member on the joint Judiciary Committee