Incumbent Democratic Congressman Bill Keating triumphed over Republican challenger Dan Sullivan in the race for Massachusetts’ 9th Congressional District seat Tuesday night.
With 92% of votes counted as of 7 a.m. on Wednesday, voters in the 9th District — which encompasses much of the South Shore and the entirety of the Cape and Islands — went with Keating by a margin of 56.5% to 43.5%.
The race was called by the Associated Press at 1:15 a.m. on Wednesday.
Keating, who was formerly the Norfolk County District Attorney, has held the 9th District seat since 2011 when Democratic Rep. William “Bill” Delahunt chose to retire. At the time, it was Massachusetts’ 10th District.
A Bourne resident originally from Sharon, Keating has focused much of his career on maritime policy, environmentalism, and other areas relevant to his coastal district. He is known for being pro-union, pro-LGBTQ+ rights, and, despite his Catholic faith, pro-choice.
Keating’s website boasts of endorsements from many unions, including heavy-hitters such as the Massachusetts Nurses Association and the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, as well as interest groups such as the Humane Society and Sierra Club.
“Bill has been hard at work to pass bills that will help working families in the 9th Congressional District and bring critical federal funding to the towns and cities he represents,” his website reads.
Dan Sullivan, a Plymouth resident and nurse at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, has focused his campaign on economic issues. He’s concerned about affordability and the cost of living in Massachusetts in the face of inflation, high housing costs and state taxes, according to his website.
“Like so many of you, I’m disturbed about the current state of affairs and the policies and priorities of our leaders. I’m perturbed by the career politicians who care more about themselves than us. I’m tired of the elitists and entitled class who game the system at the expense of us. I’m troubled by the existential threat of our state’s accelerated unaffordability and expansive political monopoly,” he wrote on his website.
Sullivan is also critical of Democrats’ “one-party rule” in Massachusetts. He believes other perspectives are being ignored to the detriment of Bay Staters, according to his website.
“As extreme special interests exert greater control over our leaders, our lives, and lifestyles, I choose to step out of the Silent Majority and step up to help restore the balance of power to our government, common sense in our governance, and greater opportunity and justice for our people,” his website reads.
