Incumbent Tara Jacobs pulled away with a clear margin of victory in Tuesday’s Democratic state primary in her pursuit of a third term representing District 8 on the Governor’s Council, fending off challenger Michael Fenton.
Jacobs is the presumptive councilor, as no Republican candidate is running and she faces no challengers in the Nov. 3 general election.
As of Wednesday morning, the 28 municipalities in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region that had submitted their results to the Greenfield Recorder indicated 10,238 votes for Jacobs, compared to 2,839 votes for Fenton. Results from the Associated Press have Jacobs earning 61.9% of the vote on Wednesday morning, equating to a total of 61,542 votes across District 8. Just shy of 86% of the results were in hand at the time.
In a statement on social media, Jacobs expressed gratitude to her supporters.
“This has truly been a campaign powered by the people who came together and made this win possible,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “Thank you to each and every one of you who wrote emails, letters to the editor, social media posts, who told your friends and families about what the Governor’s Council is, why it matters and why you support me continuing to serve Western Mass in this role. I am so grateful for your love, your support and your encouragement.”
Jacobs, of North Adams, has served as the District 8 councilor since 2023. Outside of her role on the council, Jacobs serves on the North Adams School Committee and the North Adams Democratic City Committee, and works as a marketing consultant. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and psychology from Tufts University and a Master of Business Administration from New York University.
Fenton, of Springfield, is a lawyer with offices in Springfield and Northampton, specializing in commercial finance, commercial real estate, business planning and estate planning. He has served on the Springfield City Council for the past 16 years and earned his law degree from Western New England University, where he also serves as an adjunct professor.
Notably, Tuesday marked a rematch for Jacobs and Fenton. The 2022 primary saw Jacobs narrowly win a four-way contest, with Fenton coming up 2,300 votes shy. Jacobs was then reelected after running unopposed in 2024.
Fenton wrote in a Facebook post that he congratulated Jacobs on her victory.
“While this isn’t the result we hoped for, I am incredibly proud of the campaign we ran and the people who made it possible,” he wrote. “Over the past several months, I had the privilege of traveling across Western Massachusetts, meeting voters, listening to their concerns, and making the case for a Governor’s Council that is engaged, independent, fair and focused on ensuring that our courts have the judges they need and that they reflect the communities they serve. I am deeply grateful to everyone who believed in this campaign — our incredible volunteers, donors, endorsers, friends, family, and, most importantly, the voters who put their trust in me. I am especially thankful to my husband and family for standing beside me through every long day and late night.
“We may not have won tonight,” Fenton continued, “but I will never regret standing up for what I believe is right or fighting for Western Massachusetts. I am proud of the campaign we ran, proud of the people who stood with us and proud to call Western Massachusetts home.”
The Governor’s Council, also known as the Executive Council, is made up of eight elected individuals, with each district representing about 12.5% of the state’s population. The council meets weekly to issue its consent on state treasury warrants; confirm the governor’s judicial appointments and appointments to statewide boards, including the Parole Board, Appellate Tax Board and Industrial Accident Board; and review proposed pardons and commutations.
Terms are for two years, and District 8 covers 102 cities and towns in western Massachusetts, including all of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties, as well as a handful of municipalities in Worcester County.