Sean Dougherty topped state Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-172nd dist.) in last week’s primary, piling up almost 73 percent of the vote.
Dougherty had only 53 percent of the mail-in vote, but dominated the in-person vote following news that police were seeking Boyle for allegedly violating a protection from abuse order. A day before the election, it was announced that the PFA was inactive.
Dougherty was very well funded, in part, by Democrats who thought Boyle would lose the general election after a video surfaced of him cursing at bartenders and patrons at a Rockledge bar, threatening to shut down the bar and asking, “Do you know who the f— I am.”
Dougherty credited the campaign’s ground game. He knocked on a lot of doors, including houses where people had requested a mail-in ballot, and visited most of the polling places. He even saw Boyle walk into American Legion Loudenslager Post 366 to cast his vote.
On primary night, Dougherty celebrated his victory at the Red Rooster Inn.
“Tonight is only the first step,” he told the crowd.
Dougherty, a lawyer, will face Republican Aizaz Gill, and promised to work hard on the campaign trail.
“Let’s go win it all,” Dougherty told supporters.
Among those celebrating his win were ward leader Brian Eddis, state Reps. Ed Neilson and Tarik Khan, City Controller Christy Brady and state Sen. Jimmy Dillon.
Dougherty was joined by his mom, Lisa, and sister, Kaitlin, on stage. He thanked family, friends, elected officials, ward leaders, fellow lawyers, unions, his campaign team, the House Democratic Campaign Committee, 58th Ward committeeman Bob Stewart (who challenged Boyle in the 2022 primary), party chairman Bob Brady and supporters who knocked on doors with him and worked the polls in the sun.
Dougherty talked about labels, as he is best known as the son of state Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty and for having an uncle who once headed the powerful IBEW Local 98.
“I am Johnny Doc’s nephew,” he said.
At the same time, he pointed to maternal relatives, such as a great-grandfather who was a judge, a grandfather who was a U.S. Army colonel and others who served in the military.
“I’m damn proud of it,” he said.
As he looks ahead to the general election, when there will be a much bigger turnout, Dougherty said his focus will remain on issues such as public safety, good union jobs, school funding and abortion.
The candidate is looking forward to continuing to hear from residents about the issues they care about.
“I want to be that voice for them,” he said. ••
