Tsongas and Ogonowski win in Mass. special primary

Democrat Niki Tsongas and Republican Jim Ogonowski won their respective primaries Tuesday in the special election to replace Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Mass.) and will meet head-to-head on Oct. 16 for the right to replace him.
 
Ogonowski, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, ran the GOP primary going away. He defeated Thomas Tierney, a perennial candidate for the seat.
 
Tsongas held off a late charge in the race from Lowell City Councilor Eileen Donoghue, beating her 36-32 with 98 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press, which declared Tsongas the winner. State Reps James Eldridge, Barry Finegold and James Miceli had 14, 13 and 6 percent, respectively.
 
Tsongas is the widow of former Sen. Paul Tsongas (D-Mass.). She was making her first bid for public office in the House district he once represented.
 
Ogonowski is the brother of one of the pilots who perished in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
 
“Tonight is just a small victory on our way to October,” Ogonowski said. “My opponent will be well funded, but we will have the best organization. I know this because of all the work [my supporters] have done so far. We are going to win on Oct. 16, and we are going to do it the old fashion way – knocking on doors and meeting voters.”