Party insiders failed to do well at both the state and local level.
First term state Senator Kathleen A. O’Connor-Ives, of Newburyport, defeated challenger Jessica Finocchiaro of Methuen with 68 percent of the vote. Likewise incumbent state Representative Diana DiZoglio beat challengers Phil DeCologero and Oscar Camargo. Both Finocchiaro and DeCologero have long records of working within the Democratic Party.
Steve Grossman, current state treasurer and long-time Democratic activist, was defeated by Attorney General Martha Coakley for the Democratic nomination for governor. Coakley will face off against Republican Charles Baker in November. Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini–himself a party insider as a Democratic state committeeman–sided with Grossman in the gubernatorial race.
Former Assistant Attorney General Maura Healey also defeated party insider Warren Tolman for the Democratic nomination for attorney general. Healey will face Republican John Miller in the final election.
Incumbent Congressman John Tierney was defeated in his bid for re-election by Seth W. Moulton. It was the first time in nearly two decades a Democratic incumbent was knocked out by another of his own party. Tierney had been dogged for several years by his wife’s conviction on federal tax evasion charges.