Five Competitive Races Highlight Tuesday's Primary Election

Just five of a possible 24 races are contested in Tuesday's primary election in both towns.

Arguably the highest profile contest is on the Republican ticket, where Bill Hudak of Boxford and Rob McCarthy of Saugus are seeking the party nomination to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. John Tierney in the Sixth Congressional District.

The Democrats' ballot holds three of the five contested races on Tuesday.

The only seat being contested for both parties is for auditor, where Democrats Suzanne Bump of Great Barrington, Guy Glodis of Auburn and Mike Lake of Boston all seek the seat being vacated by A. Joseph DeNucci, who is not seeking reelection.

For Republicans, it's Mary Connaughton of Framingham against Kamal Jain of Lowell.

Hamilton and Wenham's local representatives on Beacon Hill, state Rep. Brad Hill and state Sen. Bruce Tarr, both Republican, face no party challengers on Tuesday and won't face any opponents either in November's general election.

Incumbent Democrats Gov. Deval Patrick and Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Secretary of State Bill Galvin, District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett and U.S. Rep. John Tierney do not have any challenges from within their party in Tuesday's primary.

Coakley and Blodgett also won't have a Republican challenger in November.

None of the primary races have attracted the attention of those in neighboring New Hampshire, where television advertisements for hotly contested seats in the Granite State have dominated local airtime in recent weeks.

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in both towns. Hamilton residents vote at the Winthrop School on Bay Road and Wenham voters vote at the Buker School on School Street.

Check back with Hamilton-Wenham Patch on Tuesday night after 8 p.m. for local results and statewide results when they become available.