Seth Moulton
In what will long be considered one of the biggest upsets in North Shore political history, Marblehead businessman and former Marine Captain Seth Moulton defeated incumbent Congressman John Tierney in Tuesday’s Democratic primary in the 6th Congressional District.
Tierney, a 9-term Congressman, officially conceded the race a little after 9:15 p.m.
Moulton, 35, will face Republican Richard Tisei in November’s final election.
This was Moulton’s first run for office, and in the end, his message of change resonated with Democrats and independents across the 6th District. Moulton was also boosted by a fear among Democrats over recent polling data showing that Tierney would lose to Tisei by as many as 8 percentage points.
Meanwhile, those same polls showed Moulton beating Tisei by as many as 8 points.
Not only was this a bad night for a fallen Congressman, it also wasn’t a very good night for Tisei, who is now a very big underdog against Moulton.
Tierney is the first incumbent Democratic congressman from Massachusetts to lose a primary since Chester Atkins in 1992.
I’ll have more analysis in the coming days.
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OG says….ok, I was wrong…I underestimated the voters woefully in this contest…it amazes and even encourages me that the voters exhibited and actually carried out a change mandate in this contest…I honestly can’t believe it…pinch me…is this really happening ??? so many times before we have heard the clamor for ‘change’ and getting rid of entrenched candidates and lo and behold you have finally done it….this is a good night and one in which OG will remember as one that keeps blogs like this alive with political interest and passion that can sometimes sense results and political destiny….it is time for Tierney to head to the exit and let some new blood come in and take a turn at the helm. Don’t know much about ex-Marine Seth Moulton but the voters have spoken both here in Getting Brighter City and beyond….and it feels good to be wrong…and that’s how OG sees it.
How many terms is enough? I am so happy that Tierney lost. 18 years is too much. After how many years does one look like a leach? Happy for Mr. Moulton, well deserved!
I am loving Peabody Patch’s headline!! Tierney ousted by political newcomer! Time to work for a living!
http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/tierney-concedes-and-boosts-his-party-s-prospects-in-massachusetts-20140909
Congrats to Mr. Moulton on his hard fought and well deserved victory. Did you notice who was sitting near Mr. Moulton during his victory speech? None other than Mr. Barry Sinewitz, the Ward 6 Councilor of Peabody. Nice to see a local politician go with their heart, rather than their wallet or pollsters or entrenched incumbent…
Wasn’t it Tierney who promised the voters when he first ran THAT HE WOULD ONLY SERVE TWO TERMS? What happened???? Apparently he wasn’t truthful or was it that he lacked integrity?
I don’t know, Anon, but don’t you think it’s time to move on now?
What’s the point of kicking a man when he’s down? People who thought John Tierney wasn’t a good Congressman have what they want now.
I’m actually hoping that, between now and Nov. 3, the talk on this race exclusively shifts to which of the two men left standing you prefer: Moulton or Tisei.
OG says…who is Seth Moulton? what do we really know about him? it has finally sunk in that not only did he beat a well entrenched, but admittedly tarnished, Democrat but he did so quite comfortably but what do we really know about him? as far as I know he has never run for office before..is that correct? why do we feel that he is ‘qualified’ to fill this role? often times a man in uniform will garner deserved respect but not necessarily votes so what is the key to the Moulton Magic??? was he a candidate who just happened to be in the right place at the right time to pick up the Tierney shredded mantle? or is there more to this victory that OG is just not getting??? when I see Tierney lose the vote in places like Danvers and Salem it truly amazes me……