2019 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election

The 2019 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 5, 2019. It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Joseph Petty. Petty became the first-ever mayor in the history of Worcester to receive a fifth two-year term as mayor.[2]

Worcester mayoral election, 2019

November 5, 2019[1]
Turnout	16.56%
Nominee Joseph Petty Donna M. Colorio Bill Coleman Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 10,194 3,840 1,439 Percentage 60.55% 22.81% 8.55%   Nominee Owurakwaku Poku Sarkodieh Party Nonpartisan Popular vote 1,363 Percentage 8.10%
Mayor before election Joseph Petty Democratic Elected Mayor Joseph Petty Democratic

Election system

In order to be elected mayor in Worcester, a person must place first in the mayor's race and also finish among the top six in the at-large city council election, being also elected a councilor at large. An individual cannot be elected mayor without additionally winning an at-large city council seat.[3][4]

In addition, the candidate elected to the office of councilor at large who receives the second-highest number of votes for the office of mayor will become vice-chair of the city council.[4]

Campaign

The election was a four person race.[5]

Petty's prime challenger was Colorio, the former chair of the Worcester Republican City Committee and two-term member of the Worcester School Committee.[5][6] Colorio was supported by the Republican Super PAC Massachusetts Majority Independent Expenditure PAC (MMIE PAC).[5]

Results

General election results[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Joseph M. Petty (incumbent)	10,194	60.55%
	Nonpartisan	Donna M. Colorio	3,840	22.81%
	Nonpartisan	Bill Coleman	1,439	8.55%
	Nonpartisan	Owurakwaku Poku Sarkodieh	1,363	8.10%
Turnout			16,836	16.56

Petty also finished first in the at-large city council election.[1] Toomey placed second, Colorio paced sixth, Coleman placed ninth, and Sarkodieh placed tenth.[1] Colorio, by the rules of the city charter, became the vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.

References

1. "SUMMARY REPORT CITY OF WORCESTER, MA MUNICIPAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 5, 2019" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
2. Kotsopoulos, Nick (November 5, 2019). "Petty wins historic fifth term as Worcester mayor". telegram.com. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
3. Kotsopoulos, Nick (September 21, 2019). "Politics and the City: And they're off and running for Worcester mayor". telegram.com. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
4. "Ordinances & Regulations | City of Worcester, MA". www.worcesterma.gov. Worcester. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
5. McNamara, Neal (November 4, 2019). "Super PAC Drops $38K On Worcester Mayoral Race". Patch. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
6. "Councilor Colorio | City of Worcester, MA". www.worcesterma.gov. Worcester. Retrieved April 25, 2020.