Voters flock to the polls

Voters were out in force on Tuesday in the Fitchburg-Leominster area in part because it was beautiful weather for an election, or just about anything else you could think to do on a sunny fall day, but also due to the many contested local and federal races as well as nine ballot questions to be decided in the election.

Fitchburg Ward 4 Election Warden Election Warden Linda Gallant confirmed that it did seem more busy than usual, saying, “It’s a big election.”

A big cheer went up at Ward 4, when a young woman voter placed her placards in the ballot counting machine, with her family members explaining that it was her first time voting. It was big smiles all around.

Josh Bowdridge was outside campaigning with supporters on Tuesday at the Leominster Veterans Center on West Street in Leominster.

He shared a picture on his phone that showed that U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton had joined him there earlier in the day, both supporting the other and the Republican issues of wanting lower taxes and commonsense reforms in Massachusetts and the nation.

“I think it’s all positive thoughts today,” said Bowdridge, as stood in the sun and sought votes from the people of Leominster.

He held his own signs, but also signs for Deaton for U.S. Senate, Mike Minogue for governor and a “No on 9” sign, which refers to the statewide ballot question to keep or get rid of a recent state law that tightened gun ownership restrictions. If the “vote no on 9” side wins, it would repeal the recently passed, more-stringent restrictions.

Noting the many people filling the parking lot and filing up the stairs the Veterans Center, he said he’d like to think many of them were turning out to cast a vote in his race for state representative in the Fourth Worcester District, which includes just the city of Leominster, where he was hoping to unseat incumbent state Rep. Natalie Higgins, but he acknowledged that the governor’s race and the U.S. Senate race were also ones that people would want to vote in.

“We’re happy to vote for Mike Minogue and John Deaton,” Bowdridge said.

Bowdridge supporter Donna Fiduccia said, “A lot of people supported the audit and didn’t get the audit,” of the state Legislature that was passed by a ballot question in 2024, but has been delayed over and over, saying she felt that probably prompted a lot of people statewide to get out and vote.

Outside of the Leominster Post Office polling place in downtown Leominster a group of people with the Massachusetts Nurses Association held blue signs signaling their support for incumbent Leominster state Rep. Natalie Higgins.

“Natalie is one of the strongest advocates for healthcare workers in the Legislature,” said Adam Rice.

“She was a strong supporter for the workplace violence bill, that helps protect healthcare workers from assault,” said Rice. He explained that slightly different versions of the same bill passed in both the House and Senate, and it is now in a joint committee tasked with working out the differences.

“She was a strong advocate for the hospitals through the closures,” (of the Leominster Hospital maternity ward and Nashoba Valley Medical Center) said Miko Nakagawa, who was one of the group holding Higgins’ signs and waving to drivers going by in downtown Leominster. “And her big thing is access to care.”

Also holding up a sign, saying “Mr. Trump – Stop” in Downtown Leominster on Tuesday was Al Nutting of Leominster, who said, “I’ll support whoever votes Democratic if it gives us any possibility of impeaching (President Donald) Trump. He doesn’t follow the laws.”

His sign asked Trump to stop “War of aggression and foreign government; government overreach, corruption and lies,” ending with “We have earned the title of world bad guys, this must stop now.”

He said Trump shouldn’t have had the U.S. invade Iran without a vote of Congress, saying, “We have a constitution.”

“And the thing that gets me, is the bombing speedboats in what I call the Gulf of Mexico. As far as blowing up speedboats  with people on them without any verification if they have drugs … I guess the law is now, kill first, then ask questions,” Nutting said.

“And starting trade wars with our allies, and our enemies,” he said with a sigh. “Starting a trade war with Canada? C’mon, they can shut off our oil tomorrow.”