Belmont's Brownsberger Wins Primary

Before a joyous crowd of campaign workers, friends and Belmont residents, Belmont State Rep. Will Brownsberger declared victory in the Special State Senate Primary in an emotional speech 35 minutes after the polls closed on Tuesday, Dec. 13. 

"I will be working for you," said Brownsberger who seconds before entered the crowded Trapelo Road headquarters to the cheers of supports to the proclaimation, "We won!"

Jonathan Hecht

Watertown State Rep. , who gardenered the second most votes, thanked his supporters and congratulated Brownsberger.

"We achieved what we hoped to achieve, but in this race it was not enough," Hecht said. "The most surprising thing was the turnout in Belmont — huge turnout in Belmont."

Robert McCarthy

"I'm humbled by the vote that I received in this election," former state firefighters union president Bob McCarthy of Watertown said in a statement.

"I thank my family, friends, volunteers and the new friends I made in the district, for their support these past few weeks. I'd like to congratulate Senator-elect Will Brownsberger and wish him the best of luck in his new role."

Tim Schofield

Although Brighton attorney pulled up the rear, he said he ran a fun, important campaign "with no regrets."

"We drove the discussion in this race," he said. "There's no doubt about that in my mind."

His campaign focused on having an "honest conversation" about revenue, long-term spending and the state budget, and piggybacked on the political and economic climate demonstrated by the Occupy movement.

"There was something in the national mood that I think wasn't being represented in this race," and that's what Schofield brought to the table, said his partner Stephen Chan - who the candidate profusely thanked during his speech at the Green Briar Pub in Brighton. He entered to a loud round of applause and spoke from the center of the private room. Boston City Councilors John Connolly and Felix Arroyo were in the mix as he addressed the crowd.

"For me anyway, you don't want to disappoint people who put so much out there for you," he said. "Thank you, and I'm sorry we weren't able to bring it home today."

Although disappointment by the loss, there was still an air of festivity, with hugs and smiles all around as many people stayed to socialize. While Schofield came in last in the district, the Brighton attorney swept the Boston wards with nearly 64 percent of the vote.

"I was confident we would do well in Boston," he said. "This is my community."

He applauded Brownsberger on his victory.

"At the end of the day, Rep. Brownsberger won his base," Schofield said.

The final vote total from Watertown, Belmont, Cambridge and Boston: