Patriot Ledger
By Jessica Trufant
QUINCY — U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch crushed his two challengers in Tuesday’s 8th Congressional District Democratic primary, taking more than 70 percent of the vote.
Christopher Voehl of Milton and Brianna Wu of Dedham challenged the eight-term congressman for the Democratic nomination for the seat. Based on election results available at 10 p.m., Lynch earned just shy of 19,900, followed by Wu with about 6,300 and Voehl with about 1,500.
There is no Republican primary candidate, meaning Lynch is guaranteed a win in November.
“I’m very fortunate that my district elected me overwhelmingly to go back to Congress and to fight on their behalf,” Lynch said Tuesday night from Washington D.C. “We’re in turbulent times and we’ve got challenges at home and abroad. It’s a very heavy responsibility … and I really appreciate the trust my district places in me.”
The district includes 24 communities, including Braintree, Cohasset, Hingham, Hull, Quincy, Scituate, Weymouth and parts of Milton.
A former ironworker and attorney, Lynch was elected to the 9th Congressional District seat in a 2001 special election to replace the late U.S. Rep J. Joseph Moakley who died earlier that year. He won re-election to the 8th District seat in 2010 after a restructuring of the state’s congressional districts gave him a large piece of the South Shore. He serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and Oversight and Government Reform Committee and is the ranking Democrat on the National Security Subcommittee.
If midterm elections return the House to Democratic control, Lynch would become chairman of the National Security Subcommittee. He said two of his top priorities are catching up on the work the Republicans have failed to tackle on that committee, and strengthening Social Security.
Lynch said he feels residents in his district know who he is and what he stands for because he makes an effort locally.
“Whether it’s Hull, a small town in my district, or Quincy, a larger one, residents appreciate a hands-on, local approach,” he said. “My presence in Brockton, or Dedham or Scituate – I think it counts for a lot.”
Voehl, a jumbo jet pilot for UPS and a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, said his top priorities included greater access to affordable health care and ending American involvement in wars in the Middle East. Wu, the co-founder of Giant Spacekat, an independent video game development studio, said affordable health care and income inequality were two issues she wanted to address.
According to data from the Federal Election Commission, Wu raised nearly $166,000 between Jan. 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018. Voehl raised nearly $86,000 between July 1, 2017 and June, 30, 2018. Lynch raised the most by far: nearly $604,000 between Jan. 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018.
Massachusetts’ House delegation has been made up of all Democrats since 1997.
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