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Westford resident and Lowell native Lori Trahan was declared the winner on Sept. 17 of the Democratic primary race for the Third Congressional District. She beat Dan Koh of Andover by only 145 votes.
The two had raced in a field of 10 candidates, all vying for the seat Niki Tsongas held since 2007 and is vacating at the end of her current term.
The state primary took place on Sept. 4.
Secretary of State William F. Galvin ordered a district-wide hand recount on Sept. 10, after Koh filed a sufficient number of signatures to request it.
Trahan will now face Rick Green, a Pepperell Republican in the Nov. 6 election.
Contenders Unify
At a Democratic unity event held Sept. 18, eight out of the 10 Democratic candidates and U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas endorsed Trahan.
Organized by the state Democratic Party and emceed by former state Rep. Barbara L’Italien, other speakers included Leonard Golder, Bopha Malone, Jeffrey Ballinger, Beej Das, Alexandra Chandler, Rufus Gifford and Dan Koh. Juana Matias was unable to attend.
“The party stands united in sending Lori to Washington in November,” said Gus Bickford, chairman of the state Democratic Party.
Trahan said she will fight for Democratic priorities, including universal health care, affordable prescription drugs, good paying jobs with benefits, quality public education, and common sense gun laws.
“We need more voices in Washington who are going to stand up to Donald Trump, hold this Administration accountable and restore the values of our country,” Trahan said. “We need a Congress that puts working and middle class families first; and not corporations and special interests.”
UPDATE – The section, “Contenders Unify” was added almost immediately after publication.
