Gaskey wins out over Gifford, Pacheco leads Sanders on primary night

With a majority of towns having recorded their numbers, the unofficial results for the state primary election show clear signs of who will next represent Wareham in the state government. 

In the Republican primary for the 2nd Plymouth seat in the House of Representatives, unofficial results have challenger John Gaskey winning out over long time incumbent Susan Williams Gifford. Meanwhile, Joe Pacheco took a solid lead in the Democratic primary for the 3rd Bristol and Plymouth seat against Barry Sanders. 

As of 12:30 a.m. on election night, all three towns in the 2nd Plymouth District of the House of Representatives had returned their results. 

Gaskey beat Gifford by 48 votes in Wareham, with 785 and 737 votes cast for each candidate respectively. He took a larger lead in Middleboro and Carver, the other two towns in the district, taking 58.97 percent of the 3061 votes cast in all three towns put together. 

Gaskey is a 23-year veteran of the Coast Guard who has voiced his support for second amendment rights and pro-life policies, among other items. 

A cadre of Gaskey supporters stood outside the Onset polling place in the mid afternoon with a truck emblazoned with Gaskey and Trump insignia. 

Carrie Snidaich said she supported Gaskey “because I believe in our country, and I believe we need righteous leaders.”

Ginny Marshall said she had children, grand children and great grand children and she wanted to preserve a country where they felt free to speak and to grow. 

There is currently no general election challenger for the 2nd Plymouth seat. 

On the Democratic side of the aisle, Raynham Select Board member Joe Pacheco maintained a healthy lead over Taunton City Councilor Barry Sanders in the race for the 3rd Bristol and Plymouth nomination. 

Since 1992, the seat has been held by long-time senator Marc Pacheco, who announced this year that he would not be seeking reelection. 

With 7 out of 10 towns having recorded their results as of 12:30 a.m., Pacheco took 68.89 percent of the overall vote and 70.18 percent of the vote in Wareham. Pacheco took 1344 of the 1915 votes cast in Wareham, while Sanders took 571. 

Pacheco supporters holding signs outside the Wareham Town Hall in the mid-afternoon said they had been out there since the morning. 

“We’re representing Joe, he’s a great guy,” said Wareham resident Karla Gagnon. She added that Pacheco will be great for all of the communities in his district.

The eventual Democratic nominee will face Republican Kelly Dooner and independent Jim DuPont in the general election. Click here for more on all three candidates. 

These results are preliminary as of yet.