Hewins Leads Gaskey by 89 Votes in Plymouth
Unofficial counts show Democrat Sarah Hewins ahead of Republican Rep. John Gaskey in the Second Plymouth House District, with a possible recount ahead.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Legislative Policy
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Sarah Hewins leads Republican Rep. John Gaskey by 89 votes in the Second Plymouth House District, with unofficial totals of 9,264 to 9,175. Gaskey has not conceded and may request a recount under state election deadlines.
Why it matters
The margin falls within the half-percent threshold for a district-wide recount, and the outcome could reduce House Republican numbers from 25 to 21 in January. The result is one of several House seats that changed hands in Tuesday's elections.
Unofficial totals show Hewins at 9,264 votes and Gaskey at 9,175, an 89-vote gap that falls within the half-percent recount threshold. Hand-counted ballots are not reflected in the posted figures, so the margin may still change.
The players
Sarah Hewins
Democratic candidate who holds the unofficial lead in the Second Plymouth House District race.
John Gaskey
Republican state representative from Carver who has not conceded the race.
The details
Hewins took Wareham 5,274 to 4,548, while Gaskey carried his hometown of Carver and all three Middleborough precincts. Recount petitions must be filed by registrars by Nov. 13 at 5 p.m., with district-wide petitions due Nov. 18 at 5 p.m.
Timeline
Nov. 13, 2026, 5 p.m.: Deadline to submit recount petitions to registrars
Nov. 15, 2026: Deadline for clerks to count eligible provisional ballots
Nov. 18, 2026, 5 p.m.: Deadline to file statewide and district-wide recount petitions
Nov. 23, 2026: Last day for registrars to complete precinct-level recounts
Legislative Policy
The 89-vote margin sits within the half-percent threshold that triggers a district-wide recount under Massachusetts election law. The outcome also follows Democratic gains in several House seats, which would shift the balance of the House Republican caucus.
Voters in the Second Plymouth House District may see a recount that determines their representative in January. The outcome will also shape how the House Republican caucus functions if its size drops to 21.
The takeaway
Close races can take weeks to settle, and provisional ballots and recounts can change the result. Readers should watch official updates from registrars before drawing conclusions about the outcome.
What happens next
Recount petitions are due Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. for registrars and Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. for district-wide filings, with precinct recounts to finish by Nov. 23.
Further reading
Follow state lawmaking developments in the Legislative Policy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Masslive.
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