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FRAMINGHAM – Yesterday, November 7, the City of Framingham elected its first Latina State Representative.
After winning a hard-fought primary election in September, Framingham School Committee Chair Priscila Sousa was unopposed in the final election yesterday.
She will be the new state representative for the newly-created 6th Middlesex District seat.
She will be sworn in January 2023.
“Thank you Framingham! I am honored to serve you as our new State Representative. Thank you to all of my supporters for standing with me over the last eight months,” said Sousa to SOURCE this morning.
“This campaign was about all of us coming together to work towards Framingham’s bright future. Now we must continue that work to support our kids, our small businesses, our environment and our community. I am looking forward to January and the things we will do together,” said Sousa.
Official City of Framingham results from yesterday’s election have yet to be released as of 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Sousa defeated former Framingham District 7 City Councilor Margareth Shepard, who was endorsed by State Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis in the Democratic primary.
Sousa told SOURCE she plans to keep her School Committee District 5 seat until the end of its term on December 31, 2023.
Sousa, who attended Potter Road Elementary School and graduated from the former Marian High School, is trilingual. Born in Brazil, she speaks Portuguese, English, and Spanish. The college graduate has dual citizenship.
At Framingham High School’s graduation in 2022, she delivered her speech in multiple languages.
The 6th Middlesex District seat will represent all of South Framingham and a small portion of voters north of Route 9. The district includes Precincts -2-3-4-5-6-7-8-10-12-13-14-15-16 and a portion of Precinct 9. Framingham expanded from 18 to 27 precincts, under redistricting.
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The City of Framingham, under redistricting, went from 3 state representatives to four state representatives.
The legislative delegation is dominated by women now, with three of the four seats held by women.
Sousa won the 6th Middlesex District.
Current incumbent Lewis was unopposed for his 7th Middlesex seat, which includes the north and central portions of the City of Framingham and the Town of Ashland.
Democrat Danielle Gregoire, a life-long Marlborough resident, retained her 4th Middlesex District seat.
Rep. Gregoire, who was unchallenged for her seat, represent now the City of Marlborough and new Framingham Precincts 21B, 22, and 23, in the northern section of the City.
A lawyer, Rep. Gregoire is the chair of the joint committee on bonding, capital expenditures, and state assets. She also serves on the House Committee on operations, facilities, & security
Finally, Westborough’s Kate Donaghue easily defeated Republican challenger Jonathan Hostage of Southborough in the newly-created 19th Worcester house seat. Precinct 21A in Framingham, along with Southborough, Westborough and Northborough make up her new district.
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Petroni Media Company photo
Town of Ashland