• Republicans will contest only 73 of 200 seats
• No other place in the Western (entire?) world is so bad

This is an election year for the 200 state legislators here in Massachusetts, and it's time to think about the primary election, which occurs on Tuesday, September 19. 

Very few of the incumbent senators and representatives face any opposition, either in the primary or in the general election. 

Nowhere else in the free world does anything like Massachusetts exist. Even Mississippi and Alabama have more diversity than does the Bay State.

On the Democratic side, it's a free ride for incumbents. One hundred and seven current Democratic legislators face no opposition in the primary or in the general election. Another seven face no primaries or Republicans but will have Libertarian opponents in November.

With 200 seats up for grabs in the general election, the Republicans are only fielding a total of 73 candidates in the primary election. They will allow 127 legislative offices to go to Democrats by default.

Of 27 Republican representatives (out of a total of 160), five will not be running again. Thirteen of the remaining 22 will have a free ride, with opposition in neither the primary nor the general election in November. No Republican incumbents have opposition in the primary election.

The same cannot be said on the Democrat side of the aisle. There, 13 incumbents face challengers on September 19. 

It's pretty well understood that Massachusetts is a Democrat state. That will not change with the election of 2000. Although all seven Republican senators (out of 40 seats in the senate) are running for reelection, four face challenges in November. Senators Michael Knapik of Westfield, Brian Lees of East Longmeadow and Bruce Tarr of Gloucester are the only Republicans sure of maintaining their seats. That is, unless some strong candidate surfaces to run a sticker campaign.

Following is a district-by-district look at those Democratic primary races.
Senate:

First Bristol District -  Democratic State Committee Chair, Joan Menard, of Somerset, who this year moved to the senate after 20 years in the House, will be challenged by John Barry McDonald of Fall River. The winner will face no Republican opposition in the general election.

Second Suffolk District - Controversial Senator Dianne Wilkerson of Boston, who has held that office since 1993, is being challenged in the primary by Hassan A. Williams, also of Boston. Once again, the winner of the primary has a free ride on November 7, since no Republican has filed for that seat.

First Worcester District - Although she is not an incumbent senator, Harriet L. Chandler has been serving in the House since 1995 and seeks to move up to the upper chamber this year. She faces a challenge, however, from Joseph D. Early. Both are from Worcester. The winner will most likely face Christopher P. LoConto of Worcester, who has no opposition in the Republican primary.

House:

Twelfth Bristol District - The incumbent, former New Bedford Mayor, George Rogers, has served in both the House and the Senate. He is being challenged by Paul Koczera, also of New Bedford. The winner faces no Republican opposition in November.

Third Essex District - Brian S. Dempsey, who has been a member of the House since 1991, will face off against Michael J. Early. They are both from Haverhill. No Republican has filed for the office.

Sixth Essex District - Michael P. Cahill, of Beverly, who has held the seat since 1993, has opposition from Stella Mae R. Stevens of the same town. The winner of the primary will likely face Kerry Murphy Healey, also of Beverly, who is unchallenged in the Republican primary.

Fifth Hampden District - This district has a three way race for the honor of facing Republican Kevin A. Jourdain. Incumbent Evelyn G. Chesky, a House member since 1993, will face Jose R. Candelerio and Michael F. Kane.

Ninth Hampden District - One term representative Jack Keough of Springfield is being opposed by hometown challenger Christopher R. Asselin. The survivor faces Republican Scott T. Therriault in the general election.

Twelfth Hampden District - Since 1994, Benjamin Swan of Springfield has held this seat. Challenging him for the right to move into the senate unimpeded by any Republican candidates are Leon Moultrie and H. Lavelle Smith also of Springfield.

Twentieth Middlesex District - James R. Miceli of Wilmington has represented this district since 1977. Now he is being challenged by fellow Democrat Salvatore P. Marino of Tewksbury. No Republican dared even enter the primary.

Twenty-Fifth Middlesex District - In the battle of Arlington, incumbent James Marzilli, a House veteran since 1991, faces a challenge from Richard Arena. Once again, the hard work is done by September 19, because there will be no Republican to run against in the general election.

Fifteenth Norfolk District - The Brookline seat is currently held by Ronny Sydney. She is competing her second term. If she wants a second term, she needs to get by Frank Israel Smizik. There appear to be no Republicans lining up for this seat.

Sixth Suffolk District - Longtime Boston Representative Shirley Owens-Hicks, who has been in this seat since 1987, is being challenged by Shirley Shillingford. There is no question that a Shirley will hold the seat come November, because neither Democrat will have a Republican to face in November.

Sixth Worcester District - Incumbent Mark Carron of Southbridge faces a challenge from Scott S. Lazo, also of Southbridge. Republican Jerzy Jachimczyk awaits the winner.

Federal Offices 
The federal offices all belong to Democrats. There are no Republican incumbents. One Senate seat and 10 Congressional seats are on the block come November. Only two congressmen face primary foes, however. Richard Neal, the current occupant of the Second Congressional District seat, will face Joseph R. Fountain of Springfield in the primary. Martin Meehan, in the Fifth Congressional District, has two challengers. Joseph F. Osbaldston of Ayer and Thomas P. Tierney of Framingham both want the Lowell Democrat's job. 

The only Republican primary will be for the Sixth Congressional District seat held by John Tierney. Frederick T. Golder and Paul McCarthy, both of Lynnfield are on the primary ballot for that district. The Republicans could field no primary candidates for the Second, Third, Fifth, Seventh or Eighth districts.

There is still the possibility of write-ins or sticker campaigns.