Coakley Seals Deal, Wins Democratic Bid for Senate

Attorney General, Medford Resident Makes Run for US Senate

– Allison Goldsberry

Attorney General Martha Coakley has secured the Democratic nomination for US Senate.

Coakley beat three other Democratic candidates seeking the nomination- City Year founder Alan Khazei, Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca, and Congressman Michael Capuano.

In Medford, Coakley earned 4,817 votes, while Capuano got 2,801 votes; Khazei 795; and Pagliuca 792.

According to results compiled by Boston.com, Coakley had 47% of the vote statewide, with 63% of communities reporting results.  Capuano had 28% of the vote, while both Khazei and Pagliuca had 13%.

Coakley, the state’s first female Attorney General and the former Middlesex County District Attorney, is running for Senator Ted Kennedy’s former seat. If elected in January, she would also be the state’s first female US Senator.

Coakley will square off against Republican challenger and state senator Scott Brown. The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, 2010.

Turnout for Tuesday’s special primary was low statewide. Low voter turnout is not unusual for a primary, especially a special election, although it is the first time in over twenty-five years the state has had an open US Senate seat.

Despite the generally low turnout statewide, 30% of Medford voters cast ballots on Tuesday, according to City Clerk Ed Finn.  That’s better than the recent city election in November, in which 26.5% of voters participated.

Coakley, a Medford resident, voted at the Brooks Elementary School early Tuesday morning and was greeted by several supporters outside holding signs.

Governor Deval Patrick made a surprise visit to the Brooks School around 5:30PM, where he greeted election workers and voters and also met with Mayor Michael McGlynn.