Quinn Stays Bristol County DA, Heroux Goes Up Against Hodgson

UPDATE: This article has been updated to include a statement from Paul Heroux on his win.

Democratic primary election voters have spoken: Thomas Quinn will stay Bristol County's top prosecutor, and Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux will face off against longtime Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson in November.

Quinn was up against first-time challenger and former Assistant District Attorney Shannon McMahon in a hotly contested primary race for the District Attorney position that saw occasional heated exchanges between the two candidates.

With no Republican candidate vying for the seat, Quinn will hold onto his spot as county D.A., a seat he has held since his appointment to the position in 2015.

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Meanwhile Heroux, who announced his candidacy in January, beat out attorney Nicholas Bernier and former Somerset Police Chief George McNeil in the primary, with most precincts reporting.

Heroux will be taking on the Republican Hodgson in the general election.

He thanked voters and his team for the victory in a statement.

"I look forward to the next two months of making my case to the voters of Bristol County that not only is it time for change in the Bristol county jail system, but that my vision is a forward thinking, modern approach to corrections," Heroux wrote, noting that his focus as sheriff would be on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.

"We need to focus on discharge planning and its three pillars – housing, healthcare and workforce development, so that inmates going back into society have a chance at being successful and are law abiding citizens," he stated.

Heroux went on to thank his opponents for "running a clean campaign."

Also on the Democrat ballot, incumbent State Rep. Chris Markey of Dartmouth's 9th Bristol District held onto his seat in a landslide against young challenger Cameron Costa.

Markey earned 2,059 votes to Costa's 793, winning with a whopping 72% of the vote in Dartmouth.

In a call to WBSM's SouthCoast Tonight, Markey thanked his family and all those who voted for him, adding that he appreciated the opportunity to run for his seat.

And incumbent State Rep. Bill Straus of the 10th Bristol District beat out Democrat challenger Rick Trapilo of Fairhaven in the primary.

Straus defeated Trapilo by 72% of the vote in Fairhaven and an overwhelming 87% of the vote in Rochester.

"I'm so glad I ran," said Trapilo calling into WBSM's SouthCoast Tonight, going on to describe the race as a "wonderful experience" and congratulating Straus on his win.

He added that he had no regrets.

"It was a wonderful thing to see, everybody out voting and participating in this election," he said.

Meanwhile Straus told WBSM's Chris McCarthy and Marcus Ferro, "These are bigger numbers, frankly, than I've ever pulled in any race I've ever run in," going on to call the result "beyond gratifying."