MA-05: Primary Returns Open Thread

Five Democrats squared off today in a primary to succeed retiring Rep. Marty Meehan. As the polls close and the returns start to flow in, treat this as an open thread to offer up your predictions on how the race will turn out.

Also, check out the coverage at Blue Mass. Group for a local perspective.

Update: The AP has called the race for Niki Tsongas.

Niki Tsongas, widow of senator and presidential contender Paul Tsongas, won her first election Tuesday, besting four others in the Democratic primary in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Martin Meehan.

Tsongas battled vigorously with Lowell City Councilor Eileen Donoghue, who developed a robust election machine over 12 years in their home city of Lowell — the largest community in the 5th congressional district — but could not overcome the Tsongas name recognition.

Tsongas will face Republican Jim Ogonowski, a retired Air Force colonel, in the Oct. 16 general election. Ogonowski's brother, John, was captain of American Airlines Flight 11, one of two planes hijacked by terrorists and flown into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Tsongas had 35 percent or 19,296 votes compared to Donoghue's 32 percent or 17,175 votes.