MA-7: Capuano Defeated

​In another surprising primary finish, ten-term Rep. Mike Capuano (D-Somerville) was soundly upended in last night’s Massachusetts Democratic primary.  At-large Boston City Councilwoman Ayanna Pressley, uniting
the minority coalition in what is the state’s only majority minority district, defeated the long-term incumbent, 59-41%, far beyond what any published poll was suggesting.
 
Though data had not been available for most of August, the latest surveys found Rep. Capuano leading but never with majority support.  This signaled weakness within the incumbent’s base, but nothing like the margin that materialized in what proved to be a usual primary turnout election.  Ms. Pressley will now be an easy winner in the general election in what is a safely Democratic seat.
 
Rep. Capuano outspent Councilor Pressley by a 2:1 margin, raising well over $2 million for his re-election effort.  He took the race seriously and campaigned hard, thus the result, and particularly the margin between the two candidates, is all the more surprising.