Barrett Holds off Fitch in State House Race
Candidate Andrew Fitch thanks his supporters for their work on the campaign and promised 'we're going to get him next time.'
In an election night cliffhanger that had supporters of each candidate anxiously checking their cell phone screens two hours after the polls closed, Barrett defeated challenger Andrew Fitch in the First Berkshire Democratic primary for the State House of Representatives.
With one town, Peru, missing from the vote total, Fitch called Barrett to concede the race at about 10 p.m. with Barrett holding a 3,597-3,476 lead, a margin of 121 votes.
With no Republican on the ballot, Tuesday's winner will be unopposed in the November general election.
After receiving well wishes from his supporters at the GOAT Sports Bar and Grill, Barrett talked about his win and shared part of his motivation for seeking another two years in the post he has held since 2017.
"When [Fitch] called me up and said that he was going to be running against me and said, 'I want to announce I'm going to run in two weeks,' and then he says, 'This is my time and your time to retire,'" Barrett said. "Well, that's when I decided I was going to run."
On Tuesday, Barrett congratulated Fitch, a North Adams city councilor, on a well-run campaign after accepting his concession.
But it was clear that the 79-year-old former North Adams mayor had concerns about the way some supporters of Fitch, 41, tried to make age an issue in the primary.
"There were a lot of things going on in this campaign that were underneath, and some things were basically said about me," Barrett said. "And, of course, they made age a big factor in all of this.
"I never spoke ill of my opponent at any time about anything, and I wished that they had left the real issues on the table and discuss those rather than talking about my age. This stuff about just, 'passing the baton,' you know, it doesn't work in the real world that way. You have to earn it. And that's what I think I did in this campaign."
Over at Main & Mill on Main Street, the Fitch campaign had set up a war room crunching numbers and projecting possible wins. But as the night went on, the math didn't hold.
"We are going to build a bright and affordable future for the Berkshires, for all of us ... and we're going to get him next time."
That last sentence had the crowd cheering as the candidate promised he wasn't going anywhere — well, except for a concert at Tanglewood on Wednesday night.
"I'm gonna go see a show, and then otherwise, really, I'm back at it tomorrow and Thursday and Friday and Saturday ... ," he said, adding he's got more work to do in the city.
"This wasn't an actual victory, sure, but this was a really clear sign that we're heading in a new direction," he said. "We all want to have a new direction, and it's just a matter of timing. It was so, and it was so close, and that's fine."
Fitch was the leading candidate in just two towns: Williamstown and Savoy. The latter, with just 70 votes, gave the challenger a 36-34 advantage. Williamstown, with the second-highest vote total in the 13-municipality district, gave Fitch a 920-611 margin of victory.
But that was balanced, in part, in the early returns, by the district's largest community, North Adams, which went for Barrett, 1,161-1,117. Adams and Cheshire also gave Barrett a lift, breaking for the incumbent by a combined 1,041-781.
But the next "big" town, Lanesborough, split down the middle, with 225 votes for each candidate, leading poll watchers to eye the district's smaller communities, wondering if Fitch could make up any ground.
Instead, Barrett won in Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, Hinsdale, New Ashford and Windsor, building up a majority that could not be overcome with the likely turnout in Peru.
Barrett said the numbers in North Adams went as he thought they would.
"That was what I was expecting," he said. "A lot of others weren't expecting it."
He pointed to an endorsement from the Berkshire Eagle as helping to sway some votes.
"I think the Eagle was the one that wrote a very strong editorial, not only in my ability and what I had done, but it also pointed out the fact that there were a lot of issues discussed on my opponent's part, but he never had a solution for any of them.
"And he didn't disagree with me on any issues, it seems, and that was shocking to me."
Tara Jacobs of North Adams easily fended off attorney Michael Fenton to retain her seat as 8th District representative on the Governor's Council. Fenton, who was backed by Berkshires' district attorney, sheriff and clerk of courts, had won only his hometown of Springfield by late Tuesday night.
With a few small towns missing, Jacobs garnered 13,785 votes to Fenton's 2,818 in the Berkshires and was leading him by more than 16,000. Jacobs is the first Berkshire County representative on the council, which reviews the governor's choices for judgeships and other related court positions.
With no opponents in the general election, Barrett and Jacobs have effectively won their elections.
Richard Neal also was holding off challenger Jeromie Whelan by about 7,000 votes late Tuesday night. The congressman for the First Massachusetts is seeking a 20th term; should the Democrats take U.S. House, Neal is in line for chairmanship of the powerful Ways & Means Committee. He will face independent Nadia Milleron in the general election.
In statewide races, Seth Moulton conceded to Edward Markey within 90 minutes of the polls closing. Moulton, a congressman, had sought to oust Markey from his perch in the U.S. Senate that he's held since 2013.
Markey, who is 80 years old, was leading Moulton 67-33. He will face off against Republican John Deaton in the general election.
Michael Minogue was declared the winner in the Republican gubernatorial primary over Brian Shortsleeve. He will challenge Maura Healey in the general election.
Tags: election 2026, primary,
