MORE ON MASS. ELECTIONS: From the Boston Globe

In his bid to unseat state Senator Marian Walsh of West Roxbury, independent challenger Robert W. Joyce figured his opposition to gay marriage would play well in her heavily Catholic district. In the waning hours of the campaign, he left voice mail messages stressing his stance.

It didn't work; Walsh won yesterday with nearly 65 percent of the vote. Savoring her victory last night, Walsh said she believes voters were put off by Joyce's emphasis on same-sex marriage. ...

Walsh's commanding victory was just one of several election results yesterday that gay-marriage supporters were celebrating. They said they had picked up two votes supporting gay marriage in the Legislature. ...

But gay-marriage opponents also claimed victory last night.

"The incumbents that were on our side on the marriage issue were victorious, even though they were significantly challenged," said Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute. "There was a tremendous onslaught against them from the opponents to traditional marriage, and they held their ground."

Representative Philip Travis, Democrat of Rehoboth, who has opposed both gay marriage and civil unions, defeated Steven S. Howitt, a Republican challenger who supported gay marriage, to keep his seat. Republican state Representative Shirley Gomes of South Harwich, who supports civil unions but not gay marriage, defeated Sarah Peake, who was backed by gay-rights groups.

And in a rematch of their special-election battle last March, Wrentham Republican Scott P. Brown, a gay-marriage opponent, narrowly defeated Democrat Angus McQuilken of Millis, a supporter.

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posted by Eve at 6:24 PM | link

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