SAUGUS – There were signs of momentum for Republicans in several Massachusetts communities with a victory for Donald Trump. Saugus is one of eleven cities and towns that chose the Republican presidential candidate four years ago.
One of the voters was 21-year-old Hooper Ward, who voted for Trump in his first election and is now rooting for him for one thing. “I’m at a stage in my life where I really just need to make money so I can move on to the next thing in my life,” Ward said. When asked if he thought Donald Trump would be the president to help, he said, “I do.”
Saugus turns to Trump
In the city of about 22,000 registered voters, Trump won 55% of the vote, compared to Kamala Harris’ nearly 45%. That compares to the 2020 election, when Trump lost to Joe Biden 51% to 48%.
“It’s a working-class community. I think they realized that the Republican Party is much more on their side than the new Democratic Party,” said Chris Luongo, chairman of the Saugus Republican Town Committee. He says he knows he lives in the bluest states, but he’ll take what he can get.
“We’re going to jump all over it. We’re going to try as hard as we can to energize all the people and get them going,” Luongo said. “Hopefully we can pit Republicans against some of these Democrats who have no opponents.”
Republicans take Massachusetts
In fact, Republicans have made some progress in the Massachusetts legislature as the party sought to hold back electoral races to capitalize on some energy in the state for Trump. “In this two-year cycle, we will have won two seats in the Senate,” said MassGOP Chairwoman Amy Carnevale. “We did that in a presidential election year that is often very difficult for the Republican Party.”
But some Democrats in Saugus weren’t happy with the 10% spread among candidates in the city.
“It just says Democrats have an awful lot of work to do, and I think we need to start with education,” said Harris supporter Steve Hurley.
Independent voter Bill Pezzulo says he pulled a Republican ballot because the stakes are high. “Our country, in terms of our economy, the wars and all the foolishness that has taken place,” Pezzulo said.
With 63%, Kamala Harris won a significant victory in Massachusetts, securing the 11 electoral votes. But Republicans are already looking ahead. “I expect many more Republicans will consider running for political office in the Cycle Head,” Carnevale said.
