The Boldyga family is all smiles Sept. 1 when state Rep. Nicholas Boldyga, a Southwick Republican, won the primary election and will face Democrat Kerri O’Connor in November. (NICHOLAS BOLDYGA PHOTO)
SOUTHWICK – Voters overwhelmingly supported incumbent state Rep. Nicholas Boldyga in the primary election Sept. 1.
Boldyga won the 3rd Hampden Republican contest across the district, which includes Agawam, Granville and Southwick, receiving about 70 percent of the votes.
Boldyga received 852 votes in Southwick to challenger Dino Mercadante’s 222 votes. Mercadante is an Agawam City Councilor.
Boldyga said Tuesday night that he was happy and tired. He spent the night at home with his family and he was thrilled with the results and the number of voters who cast a ballot.
“I think people were really motivated to vote,” he said. “We have a positive message and have been working hard to represent the community in Boston.”
Boldyga thanked his supporters.
“I appreciate every vote,” he said.
Boldyga said he will continue doing his job representing the district and expects to have formal sessions in the coming weeks. He will also continue to campaign and prepare to face Democratic challenger Kerri O’Connor, an Agawam School Committee member, in November. O’Connor received 1,172 votes in Southwick Tuesday.
Incumbent state Sen. John C. Velis, a Westfield Democrat, received 1,243 Southwick votes for the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire seat. Southwick Republican John F. Cain received 890 votes for the same seat.
In the U.S. Rep. race, Democrat incumbent Richard E. Neal earned 833 Southwick votes while challenger Alex Morse, Holyoke’s mayor, received 543 votes.
Republican U.S. senate candidate Shiva Ayyadural received 449 votes to opponent Kevin J. O’Connor’s 575, and Democrat Edward J. Markey received 579 votes while Jospeh P. Kennedy II received 797.
In the Democratic Register of Probate race, Rosemary A. Saccomani swept the town’s votes with 1,049 to Bob Collamore’s 222 votes.
