A special election primary is being held on Nov. 2 for the 4th Essex District of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Darcyll Dale and Jamie Zahlaway Belsito are running in the Democratic primary. Lisa-Marie Cashman and Robert Snow are competing for the Republican nomination. The general election will take place on Nov. 30, and the winner will serve until January 2023.
The seat became vacant on Sept. 15 when Bradford Hill (R) resigned after being appointed to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Hill had represented the district since 1999.
Heading into the special election, Democrats have a 129-29 majority in the Massachusetts House with one independent member and one vacancy. Massachusetts has a divided government, and no political party holds a state government trifecta. A trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and majorities in both state legislative chambers.
As of October, 64 state legislative special elections have been scheduled for 2021 in 21 states. Between 2011 and 2020, an average of 75 special elections took place each year. Massachusetts held 42 state legislative special elections from 2011 to 2020.
Additional reading:
- State legislative special elections, 2021
- Massachusetts House of Representatives
- Massachusetts House of Representatives Fourth Essex District
