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Massachusetts: Joe Kennedy III Wins Primary

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Attorney Joe Kennedy III tonight won the Democratic primary in Massachusetts’ 4th district. He easily dispatched his two opponents and is very likely to become the next Congressman representing the comfortably Democratic seat now held by retiring Rep. Barney Frank (D).

With 44 percent of precincts reporting, Kennedy had 92 percent. His closest primary opponent got 5 percent, according to the Associated Press.

Kennedy is the son of former Rep. Joseph Kennedy (D-Mass.) and the grandson of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy (D-N.Y.). Kennedy easily pulled together a solid operation and raised an extraordinary amount of money. On Aug. 17, he had about $2 million in the bank.

He appears likely to face Republican Sean Bielat in November, though the GOP primary race had not been called by the AP at 9 p.m. Kennedy is expected to cruise to victory in November.

Roll Call rates the race as Safe Democratic.

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