Tarr wins Cape Ann seat, leading in all four towns

Andrew "Dru" Tarr, a Democrat from Gloucester, won a full two year term as state representative for the Fifth Essex District on Tuesday, Nov. 3, unofficial results show. He led in all four Cape Ann towns.

The district covers Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea.

How the four towns voted

• Gloucester: Tarr 8,693 votes, Christina Delisio 4,357, Gilbert Frieden 435.
• Rockport: Tarr 2,908, Delisio 1,154, Frieden 140.
• Essex: Tarr 1,008, Delisio 652, Frieden 245. Frieden lives in Essex.
• Manchester-by-the-Sea: Tarr 1,738, Delisio 908, Frieden 97. Delisio lives in Manchester.

Across the four towns, Tarr had 14,347 votes, or about 64% of the votes cast for candidates. Delisio, a Republican, had 7,071, or about 32%. Frieden, who ran as unenrolled, had 917, or about 4%. Blank ballots are not counted in those percentages.

The four towns make up the whole district. Totals can still change: Gloucester counts late arriving mail ballots on Nov. 9, and Manchester's sheet counts electronic ballots only.

Delisio concedes

Delisio conceded in a Facebook post on her campaign page early Wednesday. "While tonight's results were not what we had hoped for, I respect the decision of the voters and congratulate Dru Tarr on his victory," she wrote. She thanked voters and said her "commitment to affordability, accountability, and local control does not end with this election."

Tarr thanks voters

Tarr posted a thank you on his campaign Facebook page. "Thank you to the residents of Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, and Manchester-by-the-Sea for placing your trust in me to be your representative on Beacon Hill," he wrote. He said he looks forward "to continuing our work to make Cape Ann an even better place to live, work, and raise a family," and thanked Delisio and Frieden "for being part of the democratic process." The statement is his, and the Current does not endorse it.

Who else led in the four towns

• U.S. House, Sixth District: Democrat Dan Koh led Republican Micah Q. Jones in all three towns. Gloucester: Koh 8,848, Jones 4,808. Rockport: Koh 3,071, Jones 1,180. Manchester: Koh 1,865, Jones 897. Essex: Koh 1,144, Jones 792. Jones conceded in a Facebook post, writing that he called Koh "to congratulate him on his victory."
• State Senate, First Essex and Middlesex: Republican Bruce E. Tarr ran unopposed. He received 10,893 votes in Gloucester, 3,249 in Rockport, 2,101 in Manchester and 1,588 in Essex.

How we got here

Tarr first won the seat in the March 31 special election, with about 64% of the vote. He was sworn in April 15. On Sept. 1 he won the Democratic primary over Sarah Wilkinson of Rockport.

What happens next

The new term starts in January 2027. Results are unofficial until the clerks and the Secretary of the Commonwealth certify them. Manchester's sheet counts electronic ballots only, and official results are expected by Nov. 18. Gloucester counts late arriving mail ballots on Nov. 9, so its numbers can change.

More on this race

• Election results for every race and question, by town
• Tarr's answers to the Current's questionnaire
• Candidate forum
• Election guide

Update, Nov. 4, 2026: Added the Essex results from the town clerk, so all four towns are now in, and updated the district totals.