Unofficial results had Thomas Moakley winning the Democratic state representative primary over Arielle Faria by a vote of 3,498 to 2,720.
Thomas Moakley won the Democratic primary for the Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket state representative seat Tuesday, riding a wave of support in his hometown of Falmouth.
Mr. Moakley, a former assistant district attorney on the Vineyard, beat out West Tisbury resident Arielle Faria in the two-way race, and is the presumptive winner with no official Republican candidates in the primary.
Unofficial results had Mr. Moakley winning by a vote of 3,498 to 2,720.
The state representative seat includes the Vineyard, Gosnold, Nantucket and parts of Falmouth. Though Ms. Faria counted all six Vineyard towns in her favor in the state primary, it wasn’t enough to overcome losses in Falmouth and on the sister island.
Arielle Faria, center, with her nephew Alexander Ellis and mother Angela Reid Ellis.
Arielle Faria, center, with her nephew Alexander Ellis and mother Angela Reid Ellis.
Mr. Moakley won Falmouth 1,746 to 453. Ms Faria took Edgartown 340-285, Oak Bluffs 424-289, Tisbury 422-274, West Tisbury 454-244, Chilmark 220-138 and Aquinnah 81-38. Nantucket went to Mr. Moakley by a vote of 476 to 315, his campaign said.
Mr. Moakley, who handled criminal prosecutions in Edgartown District Court, centered his campaign on affordability, women’s reproductive rights and climate change.
He celebrated his win at The Captain Kidd restaurant in Woods Hole Tuesday, and said he was excited to get to a point in the campaign where it was less about him and more about meaningful legislation and advocacy.
During his time in the district attorney’s office, Mr. Moakley said the job was never a 9-5 gig, and he planned to continue to carry that ethos.
Arielle Faria thanks supporters at ArtCliff Diner Tuesday.
Arielle Faria thanks supporters at ArtCliff Diner Tuesday.
“That’s how I’m going to be as a state representative,” he said.
Ms. Faria, a project manager at Island Housing Trust and the co-chair of the coalition for an Island housing bank, focused her campaign on housing, the environment and mental health.
She campaigned across the Vineyard Tuesday with her family, and held a “thank you” event for supporters at ArtCliff Diner in the evening.
“While we didn't win this election, what we accomplished together is nothing short of historic,” Ms. Faria said in a statement Wednesday morning. “I am proud of the work we did and humbled by the overwhelming support from this community. We fought for housing, justice, equitable leadership, and representation, and I believe that our efforts have left a lasting mark.”
Throughout the primary, Ms. Faria has said that she will remain dedicated to housing and will continue to push for a transfer fee option for the Vineyard. She offered Mr. Moakley congratulations and looked forward to working with him.
"Together, we will continue to fight for the issues that matter most to all of us," she said.
A passerby gives Thomas Moakley a wave.
A passerby gives Thomas Moakley a wave.
Mr. Moakley and Ms. Faria are both political newcomers. Neither have held elected office and this was Ms. Faria's first race. Mr. Moakley only ran once before, losing to Susan Moran in a state senate primary in 2020.
Mr. Moakley said he would continue to work with Ms. Faria, especially on the issue of housing, to help better the district.
“I know how difficult, how straining and how much work is required to be a candidate and putting yourself forward,” he said. “I really admire Arielle for the hard work that she’s put in.”
Addison Antonoff, Katrina Liu, Louisa Hufstader and Gwyn Skiles contributed to this report.
Comments
Congratulations to Tom. I
Richard Knabel West TisburyCongratulations to Tom. I wish him the best of luck. His background will serve the District and the Vineyard well in Boston.The range of issues a state representative faces is very broad, and he’ll hit the ground running when he’s sworn in. Arielle is a strong voice for housing, and she should continue to advocate in the House and Senate. Representing this District is difficult and requires a lot of traveling over water. The legislature didn’t do the two Islands, nor the District’s representative, any favors by drawing the district lines as they have.
Congratulations to Mr.
Islander EdgartownCongratulations to Mr. Moakley and to our very own Arielle, who I voted for—while it’s hard to see the “historic” nature of her campaign (maybe this was the issue), my hope would be that she runs again, perhaps locally, perhaps statewide because she is already a good community leader who can win, if she runs harder. It’s not easy for an Islander to win Falmouth, I’m not sure it’s possible politically, which leaves both islands in a bind for our special political characteristics.
Most candidates lose the
George Stein OBMost candidates lose the first try. Very troubling no other candidates stepped up under any label. Too many Island wide opportunities for office remain vacant. I implore Arielle to not be discouraged. She will emerge soon enough XO
Congratulations
Michael Eldredge Harwich MaCongratulations
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