Lori Trahan Wins Dem Nod in Third Congressional District, Takes Shot At Rick Green

Printed from: https://newbostonpost.com/2018/09/17/lori-trahan-wins-dem-nod-in-third-congressional-district-takes-shot-at-rick-green/

Lori Trahan is the winner of the Democratic primary for the Third Congressional District in the Merrimack Valley.

The Elections Division of the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s office made the announcement Monday afternoon, after a recount showed that she picked up some votes to add to her tiny election-night margin 13 days ago over Dan Koh.

Trahan, a former chief of staff to former congressman Marty Meehan, will take on Rick Green of Pepperell, the Republican nominee, in the November general election.

Koh, a former chief of staff for Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, conceded the election to Trahan on Monday.

“It’s time for us to unite behind Lori Trahan to be sure this seat stays Democratic,” Koh said in a tweet.

The current member of Congress for the district, U.S. Representative Nikki Tsongas (D-Lowell), is retiring.

Trahan made a speech Monday night taking a shot at Green right out of the gate, trying to link him to President Donald Trump.

“We have a well-financed, Republican opponent who looks forward to being another voice, another vote for this President and his divisive agenda,” Trahan said, according to her campaign.

But while Trahan has conventional liberal Democratic positions on issues, she sent signals during her campaign that she isn’t associating with the hard left of the party – refusing, for instance, to call for abolishing the federal Immigration and Customs Naturalization agency.

She sent another centrist signal during her remarks Monday.

“I am pragmatic knowing we have immediate, urgent needs to address and it’s going to mean busting the political gridlock in Washington, finding coalitions, solving problems and compromising if that’s what it takes,” Trahan said.

Green, co-owner of 1A Auto, a multimillion-dollar auto parts business, issued a statement congratulating Trahan.

“As we finally turn to November, I look forward to discussing the issues that matter most to the residents of this district. For the last year, I’ve seen firsthand the infrastructure issues our district faces. I have heard the heart breaking stories of those suffering from opiate addiction, and I’ve spoken to families who are tired of Washington squabbling at the expense of their communities,” Green said in the written statement.

“I’m a citizen who wants to serve his neighbors,” said Green. “We can make Massachusetts and Washington better, if we send someone to D.C. who is committed to fixing things instead of fighting.”