Democrat Brian Ashe has won a 10th term representing the 2nd Hampden District, cruising past Republican challenger Peter Warren with preliminary results showing a lopsided 61.7% to 38.3% split. The district runs from Longmeadow to Monson along the state line, taking in Hampden, part of East Longmeadow and a slice of Springfield.
Ashe, a Longmeadow resident, said he knew he had the race won after his hometown shared its preliminary results Tuesday night, according to MassLive. Longmeadow is home to the lion's share of voters in the district, and the Associated Press officially called the race for Ashe five minutes after noon Wednesday. With about 78% of the vote counted, Ashe had tallied 9,769 votes to Warren's 6,064, per the same report.
Warren, a Republican and former Monson select board member, put up his strongest showing in Hampden, where he captured 46.8% of the 2,387 votes cast there, the AP tally shows. Ashe still dominated the Springfield portion of the district, winning about 72.4% of roughly 1,471 votes cast there. Warren acknowledged the results were not what he expected, telling MassLive that residents who complain about the state of things nonetheless voted for more of the same.
A Challenger Who Wanted a Fresh Voice
Warren entered the race arguing that voters were ready for change. Ahead of the Nov. 3 election, he told The Reminder that, based on feedback from residents, there definitely is an appetite for change. His campaign centered on affordability and Massachusetts's high tax rates, according to NEPM.
Warren also called for a legislative audit and said he wanted to see the funding formula changed for rural towns. In comments reported by wamc.org, he said: “The pushback is concerning and that's why I'm going to push hard for that. As far as affordability goes - I really want to drill down and see if we can get the formula changed for the rural towns.” After the loss, Warren told MassLive he had given little thought to calling Ashe and planned instead to stay involved in politics and help the Republican Party as requested. He described the weather as perfect for relaxing in his yard, which is how he plans to spend his time.
Ashe's Focus Returns to Crumbling Foundations
Ashe's priorities going into his 10th term center on an issue that has plagued homeowners across the region: foundations damaged by pyrrhotite-contaminated concrete. He plans to address the problem when he returns to Beacon Hill, per MassLive's report. Earlier in the campaign, he told The Reminder he intended to continue working on a relief bill and assistance fund for residents with homes suffering from “crumbling concrete.”
Speaking with wamc.org, Ashe described the scope of the effort he's pushing for in the Legislature: “I'm really working hard to get legislation that not only covers everything, but also has the money.” The issue has become a defining one for homeowners in the district, where crumbling foundations have forced some families into costly repairs or relocations.
A Long Tenure With Some Disputed History
Accounts of exactly when Ashe's tenure began differ. A 2018 MassLive report states that Ashe was first elected to the seat in 2008, while a more recent account from NEPM says he has served as the district's state representative since 2009. What's not in dispute is his staying power: wamc.org reported that Ashe has largely run unopposed since 2018, when he defeated Republican Allison Werder by more than 2,000 votes. MassLive's coverage of that 2018 race confirmed Ashe won a sixth term that year by beating Werder.
