Legal professional Allison Cartwright, a political newcomer backed by Boston’s progressive contingent, declared victory in Tuesday’s tight Democratic main for Suffolk clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court docket over Boston Metropolis Councilor Erin Murphy.
Murphy had but to concede the race to Cartwright by shortly after 10:30 p.m., at which level unofficial outcomes had been made public by Chelsea and Winthrop, however not by Revere and Boston — though Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who endorsed Cartwright, was current when the general public defender was declaring victory.
“This is not a victory for me,” Cartwright instructed supporters at her Jamaica Plain election night time celebration. “This is a victory for us. This is a victory for democracy, a victory for the independence of our courts, and especially our state’s highest court.”
Cartwright stated she couldn’t have received with out “people like Mayor Michelle Wu” and in addition thanked the outgoing longtime Suffolk SJC Clerk Maura Doyle, who was additionally current whereas she was declaring victory, for her roughly 30 years of service.
Doyle introduced her retirement final February, setting off what shortly turned a battle of Boston’s progressive and reasonable sectors, with politicians in these respective camps throwing their help behind Cartwright and Murphy of their bid for the roughly $190,000 gig.
Battle strains had been additionally evident all through the concerned cities and cities in a Democratic main that went all the way down to the wire on Tuesday night time. In line with unofficial outcomes made accessible by 11 p.m., Cartwright received Chelsea by way of a 718-501 vote margin, whereas Murphy received Winthrop, by way of an 827-719 margin.
By that point, election webpages in Boston and Revere had been devoid of outcomes, though a supply stated Cartwright was on monitor for a Revere win, and a Dorchester Reporter editor posted on X, previously Twitter, that Wu and different Cartwright allies had described the legal professional’s margin in Boston as “insurmountable.”
Cartwright, 62, has 32 years of authorized expertise and at present works as a managing director for the Committee for Public Counsel Providers. She and her allies typically touted her authorized expertise as making her extra certified for the SJC clerk position than Murphy, a former Boston schoolteacher and present at-large metropolis councilor.
Murphy, 54, who cruised to a second time period on the Council final fall, spoke all through the marketing campaign about how she was greater than certified for the clerk place, on condition that it was administrative and managerial in nature.
The town councilor didn’t reply to a request for remark, however had no plans to concede till she noticed the Boston election outcomes, per a supply, who stated they had been shared with Cartwright by the mayor however not Murphy.
The gig would signify a pay bump for each. Murphy makes $115,000 on the Metropolis Council and Cartwright places her present wage at about $150,000.
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