Velis sweeps nine-town district to win reelection to state SenateDate: 11/15/2022 WESTFIELD – State Sen. John Velis cruised to victory on Nov. 8, winning 68 percent of the vote in a district ranging from Russell to Chicopee, receiving a majority in every community, including Agawam. His Republican opponent, Cecilia Calabrese, is the vice president of the Agawam City Council.
“I applaud Councilor Calabrese,” Velis said on Election Night. “Everybody who runs today has nothing to be ashamed of. It’s vicious out there – nasty out there.”
Calabrese released a statement on Nov. 9 thanking her supporters and congratulating Velis on his victory, with a challenge.
“First, I want to thank my volunteers and supporters that dedicated thousands of hours for the sake of this campaign. I have always said the best thing about being active in politics is the people that you meet along the way. It has been my honor to work with many incredible people. Long-lasting friendships have emerged that I will always cherish,” Calabrese wrote.
“Congratulations to Sen. Velis on his victory. I wish him well. He promised the people of our district that my challenge to his reelection will make him a ‘better’ state Senator. I look forward to him keeping that promise,” she added.
Velis said he is proud of the campaign he ran: “We ran a positive campaign. I made my case, and let the voters decide.”
He said from day one, his campaign was always about knocking on doors and listening to people. He said most appreciated his bipartisan approach.
“I love to bring people together,” Velis said. “We worked hard. I left it all in the field.”
Velis celebrated his victory with supporters at the Tavern Restaurant in Westfield. He said he was looking forward to taking a bit of a break from “the field,” though – and spending more time with his son Carson, who was born in January.
“I’m going to wake up tomorrow and hang out with my son,” the senator said on Nov. 8. “I’m not going to knock on a door tomorrow.”
Velis’ district includes Agawam, Easthampton, Holyoke, Montgomery, Russell, Southampton, West Springfield, his hometown of Westfield and two precincts of Chicopee.
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