When the dust settled after the Democratic state primary for state Senator, just about half of voters ticked the box next to incumbent Sen. William Brownsberger’s name, and the other half chose challenger Daniel Lander.
But how exactly did the district come to those numbers? Who turned out to vote?
According to certified results from the Sept. 1 primary, Brownsberger outpolled Lander districtwide by 34 votes. After a districtwide recount requested by both candidates, Brownsberger was confirmed the victor by 35 votes.
Of the 24,551 votes cast for the two candidates, Brownsberger took 12,293 compared to Lander’s 12,258.
While Brownsberger carried Belmont by 2,200 votes, Lander inched ahead in Watertown and Cambridge 155 and 248 votes respectively, and bested Brownsberger by 1,762 votes in Boston.
In Boston, however, only about 18% of registered voters cast votes in the primary race between Brownsberger and Lander, compared to a voter turnout of 35% in Belmont, according to precinct totals from the respective municipalities.
In at least one statement to the press, Lander referred to the Sept. 1 election as a “date chosen to disenfranchise renters across the district,” referring to a time of the summer when many renters are moving between units, particularly in the Boston neighborhoods of Allston, Brighton, and Fenway.
According to historic turnout data compiled by the Secretary of State, voter turnout for state primaries in Boston (in its entirety) in the last 10 years—which includes six state primaries—has been between 8% and 23%, with an outlier of 37% in 2020, a primary that included contests on both the Republican and Democratic tickets for U.S. Senate.
Belmont, by comparison, saw a higher than usual turnout on Sept. 1 compared to the last 10 years of primaries. According to Board of Registrars Chair Robert McGaw, turnout in 2016 was 19.8%, 27.9% in 2022, and 22.8% in 2024.
“The overall turnout in the race was relatively high, but the differences in turnout levels across communities were consistent with historical patterns,” Brownsberger said.
Belmont Assistant Town Clerk Meg Piccione said turnout in Belmont was what she had expected, particularly given the number of incumbents and candidates who live in Belmont or who serve Belmont.
On the Democratic ticket, Brownsberger is a Belmont resident, as is District Attorney Marian Ryan. Nomita Ganguly, who ran against incumbent state Rep. David Rogers, is also a Belmont resident. There was also a contested race for U.S. Senator, with incumbent U.S. Sen. Ed Markey being challenged by former U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton. On the Republican ticket, there was a contested race between Mike Minogue and Brian Shortsleeve for the gubernatorial nomination, and former Select Board member Elizabeth Dionne ran uncontested for the Republican nomination for state treasurer.
“Through the years you see that when Belmont voters decide there is something on the ballot they wish to be heard on, they turn out,” Piccione said. “And I think that’s evident in this primary.”
McGaw acknowledged the higher than usual turnout, while also acknowledging the capacity for an even higher turnout.
“We were delighted that the turnout was higher than in past State Primary elections, but we were disappointed that so few people took time to vote in a town that works so hard to make it as easy and convenient as possible to vote by mail or in person,” he said. “I see voting as a sacred duty that every registered voter should cherish and exercise.”
