1st Franklin District

Amid statewide contests, like Sen. Ed Markey besting Congressman Seth Moulton in the Democratic Senate primary, western Mass. was home to a number of primaries over seats on Beacon Hill.WAMC kept track of those races Tuesday night, as did Western Mass Politics and Insight Editor-in-Chief Matt Szafranski. He spoke with WAMC about some of those races, as well as the Congressional 1st district primary that featured Rep. Richie Neal fending off a challenge from newcomer Jeromie Whalen.

One way or another, one of the most rural districts in western Massachusetts will have a new state representative. It could end up being one of the two Democrats on Tuesday’s primary ballot.

After years of representing one of the most rural stretches of western Massachusetts, state lawmaker Natalie Blais is departing her role.Earlier this month, the 1st Franklin State Representative announced she would be leaving office for a new position at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.Speaking with WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief James Paleologopoulos ahead of her last day, she says her district -- one of the state’s largest in geographic mass -- is like no other.