Neal, McGovern to represent WMass in Congress

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - Two veteran Democratic lawmakers will represent western Massachusetts in Congress for the next two years, as they were re-elected without opposition to two redrawn Congressional Districts.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield) has been elected to serve the new 1st Congressional District, which includes all of Hampden and Berkshire Counties, as well as western portions of Hampshire and Franklin County, and southwestern Worcester County. In September, Neal won a three-way primary to represent the new district, defeating former State Sen. Andrea Nuciforo of Pittsfield and writer/political activist Bill Shein of Alford. In the general election, however, Neal faced no challenger.

New on the western Massachusetts political scene, Rep. James McGovern (D-Worcester) will represent the new 2nd Congressional District. McGovern, who has been in Congress since 1997, will represent eastern portions of Hampshire and Franklin Counties, as well as most of Worcester County. In September, he defeated Worcester Democrat William Feegbeh in the primary, but like Neal, had no general election opponent.