Susan Moran, a democrat from Falmouth, and Jay McMahon III, a republican from Bourne, will compete in a general election later this month to fill the Plymouth and Barnstable District seat after winning their respective primaries on Tuesday.
Moran, a Falmouth selectman and the town’s representative on the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, won 8,871 votes, pushing her over the top to defeat Plymouth Selectman John Mahoney Jr. by just 265 votes. She ran in a crowded field of five Democrats, including Thomas Moakley of West Falmouth, who won 6,767 votes, Becky Coletta of Pembroke, with 6,683, and Stephen Michael Palmer, of Plymouth, with 1,931.
Moran says she'll focus on supporting schools and businesses, and strengthening infrastructure.
“Through collaboration and thoughtfulness about our common needs,” she said, “we can build new bridges that serve and unite us behind common solutions.”
In the Republican primary, McMahon won the Republican ticket in the district with 56.1% of vote, totaling 8,281 votes. His opponent, Jesse Brown, of Plymouth, won 6,474 votes, or 43.9%.
McMahon says he will campaign on tax-related issues and keeping government small.
“The issues are going to be taxation,” he said. “It's going to be government accountability. I'm looking to make clean and lean government.”
In the Republican primary, McMahon won the Republican ticket in the district with 56.1% of vote, totaling 8,281 votes. His opponent, Jesse Brown, of Plymouth, won 6,474 votes, or 43.9%.
The Plymouth and Barnstable District includes Bourne, Falmouth and Sandwich in Barnstable County and Kingston, Pembroke and Plymouth in Plymouth County.
The winner will fill the Plymouth and Barnstable district seat left vacant by former state Senator Viriato (Vinny) deMacedo (R-Plymouth). The senator resigned in November to take a position at Bridgewater State University.
The general election will be held March 31.
