Westport helped re-elect resident Paul Schmid to the state legislature, backed (but not emphatically) Joe Biden for President,  and supported Question 1 ‘Right to Repair,’ in Tuesday’s elections.

Incumbent Schmid won the Eighth Bristol District over challenger Evan Gendreau, also a Westport resident, by a tally of 11,542 (56.9 percent) to 8,743 (43.1 percent).

“I am honored by the confidence placed in me by the voters of the Eighth Bristol District,” Rep. Schmid said. “It's been a contentious campaign, here and nationally. But make no mistake, I will continue to represent everyone, and that means everyone no matter their party or their address. Consituent services is my number one focus.”

Rep. Schmid was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2010 and now serves on committees including Ways and Means, Public Health, Revenue, and Redistricting. He had previously served on the Westport France Committee and as its chairman.

In the Presidential contest, Westport backed Biden over Donald Trump by a count of 5,155 (50.2 percent to 4,947 (48.2 percent).

On state election maps that put Westport in the ‘light blue’ category — a Biden win but barely.

The 208-vote margin was far less convincing than the statewide result of Biden 65.3 percent, Trump 32.4 percent. Westport is located alongside a small cluster of Southeastern Massachusetts towns that Trump carried (Swansea, Rehoboth, Dighton etc.

Also on election night, Westport supported Question 1 — the hotly contested and much advertised Amend Right to Repair issue — by a score of 6,639 (67 percent) to 3,275 (33 percent). Statewide, the question prevailed with nearly 75 percent of the vote.

Question 2, the ‘Ranked-Choice’ voting proposal, was rejected in Westport by

Westport voters gave their support to Democrat Ed Markey for US Senate over Republican Kevin O’Connor by a margin of 53.9 percent to 46.1 percent. Statewide, Sen. Markey carried 66.5 percent of the vote.

Westport also backed Bill Keating for the 9th US Congressional District.

Town Clerk Bernadette Oliver said that 79 percent of Westport’s eligible voters turned out, the highest percentage she has seen in her 11 years working in that office.

“Given the number of people voting, I think it went reasonably well,” she said. There were “not too many issues” with the machines or with the ability to keep the flow of voters moving and safely spaced.

She said the new polling place at Our Lady of Grace Church (replacing the American Legion Hall) was an improvement. “It was just a better space — better parking, much roomier.”

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Matt Hayes, Westport Shorelines Publisher</p