Jamie Zahlaway Belsito is an American politician who serves as Town Moderator in Topsfield, Massachusetts. She previously represented the 4th Essex district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, elected on November 30, 2021, in a special election following former Representative Brad Hill's appointment to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.[1] Belsito was the first Democrat to represent the 4th Essex district since 1858, and was sworn in on December 8, 2021.[2] The district was eliminated in statewide redistricting at the end of the term.[3] Belsito is the first Arab American woman to be elected to office in Massachusetts.
Jamie Belsito | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 4th Essex district | |
| In office December 8, 2021 – January 4, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Bradford Hill |
| Succeeded by | Estela Reyes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jamie Zahlaway |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Topsfield, Massachusetts |
| Alma mater | Salem State University |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Website | https://www.mmhla.org/ |
Prior to running for the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Belsito ran for the United States House of Representatives, challenging Democratic Representative Seth Moulton in the primary for 6th District of Massachusetts. She had previously supported Moulton's Republican opponent, Richard Tisei, in the 2014 election before switching her party affiliation from Unenrolled to Democrat following the election of Donald Trump.[4] Moulton went on to win the primary, but endorsed Belsito in her campaign for the Massachusetts House of Representatives the next year.[5]
In the final days of her term as a state representative, she accused Israel of genocide. She tweeted that the US should acknowledge the Israeli administration was "an apartheid run thuggery terrorist regime" and that "killing and land taking has nothing to do with anti-semitism. It is genocide."[6]
Belsito is the founder of a national nonprofit, the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, based in Washington D.C. Prior to running for office, she served on the Bord of Trustees for Salem State University.[7]
She is of Syrian and Italian heritage and is the great-niece of USAF Technical Sergeant Richard B. Fitzgibbon, Jr., the first American to die in the Vietnam War.[8]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Seth Moulton (incumbent) | 124,928 | 78.0 | |
| Democratic | Jamie Belsito | 19,492 | 12.2 | |
| Democratic | Angus McQuilken | 15,478 | 9.7 | |
| Total votes | 159,898 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jamie Belsito | 1,728 | 73.5 | |
| Democratic | Darcyll Dale | 608 | 25.9 | |
| Total votes | 2,336 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jamie Belsito | 2,504 | 55.4 | |
| Republican | Bob Snow | 2,017 | 44.6 | |
| Total votes | 4,521 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Jamie Belsito (unopposed) | 1,093 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 1.093 | 100 | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Democrat Jamie Belsito wins North Shore seat long held by Republicans". December 2021.
- ^ "Jamie Belsito of Topsfield sworn in to fill Fourth Essex House seat vacated by Brad Hill".
- ^ "What redistricting means for voters in Topsfield and Wenham".
- ^ "Belsito prepares to take on Moulton as a Dem". 23 April 2019.
- ^ "Update From Rep. Seth Moulton: Virtual Town Hall, GI Restoration Bill, Endorsements". 11 December 2021.
- ^ McDonald, Tom Joyce, Matt (January 2, 2023). "Massachusetts Democratic State Rep Says Israel Is Committing Genocide".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Jamie Zahlaway Belsito Named to Salem State Board of Trustees".
- ^ Algemeiner, The (2023-01-03). "'Apartheid Run Thuggery Terrorist Regime': Massachusetts State Rep. Shares Israel Thoughts - Algemeiner.com". www.algemeiner.com. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ "PD43+ » 2020 U.S. House Democratic Primary 6th Congressional District".
- ^ "PD43+ » Search Elections".
- ^ "PD43+ » Search Elections".
- ^ https://www.topsfield-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif5086/f/uploads/official_election_results_local_2023.pdf.
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