Rep. Peter Durant to be sworn-in as state senator on Nov. 29, officials confirm
State Rep. Peter Durant will be sworn-in as a senator the afternoon of Nov. 29 after winning a special election for a Central Massachusetts seat last week, Senate President Karen Spilka’s office confirmed Wednesday.
Durant, a Spencer Republican, claimed victory over Rep. Jon Zlotnik, a Gardner Democrat who plans to run for reelection to his House seat next year. Durant succeeds Anne Gobi, a Democrat who left the Legislature to serve as rural affairs director for the Healey administration.
“I’m looking forward to our new role and we’re currently working on transition from the old district to make sure that no constituent issues fall through the cracks,” Durant said in a statement to the Herald Wednesday.
A spokesperson for Spilka said the ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. in a yet-to-be-determined location.
Durant will bring the total number of Republicans in the Senate to four, well below the number necessary to break Democrats’ veto-proof majority in the chamber.
But the Massachusetts Republican Party took a victory lap after the election, with MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale saying last week that Durant’s win “signals a comeback for the MassGOP.”
More Stories
Duluth Federal Prison Camp workers seek allies in push to save jobs, facility
Employees of the Duluth Federal Prison Camp are hoping to reverse what many view as a death sentence for the...
Timothée Chalamet on what it took to play Bob Dylan (including visits to Minnesota)
The new Bob Dylan biopic, “A Complete Unknown,” hits movie theaters on Christmas Day. It’s already considered a leading contender...
Dear Abby: Spouse prefers in-laws in a hotel
Dear Abby: My spouse and I (both women) have been together for 25 years. For half of them, we lived...
Vikings edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel continues to make his presence felt
As many of his players have flown under the radar this season, defensive coordinator Brian Flores has used his weekly...
Minnesota health officials warn of rising number of norovirus outbreaks
The Minnesota Department of Health has received more than 40 reports of norovirus outbreaks so far this December, almost twice the usual...
Twins acquire utility man Mickey Gasper from Boston for Jovani Moran
It’s been a slow-moving offseason for the Twins, who have done little in the way of adding to their major...