Boston – Deval Patrick, a Democrat making his first run for elective office and a bid to become the state’s first black governor, beat two opponents in Tuesday’s gubernatorial primary to win a place in November’s general election.
Patrick, 50, headed the Justice Department’s civil rights division under President Clinton.
Boston venture capitalist Chris Gabrieli, 46, who spent more than $8 million of his own fortune on the campaign, was second, and state Attorney General Tom Reilly, once the favorite, was a distant third.
Meanwhile, in Washington state, freshman Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell, considered by some to be vulnerable in November, and her GOP challenger, Mike McGavick, were expected to blow past their little-known rivals in their primaries.
If Patrick wins in November, he would be just the second black elected governor in the United States, after L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia in 1989.
However, no Democrat has been elected governor in this bluest of blue states since Michael Dukakis 20 years ago.
Reilly and Gabrieli conceded the race before 8 p.m. MDT.
With 63 percent of the precincts reporting, Patrick had 48 percent, Gabrieli had 28 percent and Reilly had 23 percent.
“Hey folks, we gave it everything we had. It just didn’t work out for us,” Reilly said.
Patrick “has my congratulations, and he has my support. It’s time to end 16 years of Republican governors, and I will help him do that.”
Patrick will face Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, the Republican nominee, as well as independent candidate Christy Mihos and Grace Ross of the Green-Rainbow Party, in November. Healey faced no opposition for the GOP nomination.
Cantwell, like Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, faced a revolt in Washington state from anti-war activists in her party.
But she tried to distance herself from her vote in favor of the Iraq war, and she neutralized an anti-war rival by hiring him to join her campaign.
She was seen as the prohibitive favorite in the field of five Democrats.
McGavick, a former insurance executive, was expected to roll over five GOP rivals.
