Charles-Peterson withdraws from ballot in Fifth Suffolk

Karen Charles-Peterson: Made ballot, but will not challenge Carvalho in 5th SuffolkThough she qualified for the ballot, Karen Charles-Peterson will not be challenging state Rep. Evandro Carvalho in September’s Democratic primary for the 5th Suffolk seat.

Charles-Peterson withdrew from the 5th Suffolk ballot on Friday afternoon, the last possible day to do so, said Brian McNiff, spokesman for the Secretary of State’s office.

Carvalho will now face perennial candidate Althea Garrison in September’s Democratic primary. The winner will run against the race’s sole GOP candidate Claudette N. Joseph in the Tuesday, Nov. 4 general election.

Initially, it appeared that Charles-Peterson was back to challenge Carvalho for the 5th Suffolk seat a mere months after coming in second place in the April 1 Democratic primary.

Carvalho was sworn into office on May 14—less than a month ago.

Carvalho won the April 1 five-way Democratic Primary with 49 percent of the vote while Charles-Peterson captured 26.2 percent. He was unchallenged in the April 29 general election.

McNiff released the names of the candidates running for office following the deadline for certification of nomination paper signatures on Tuesday, May 27.

Roy Owens, another perennial Democratic candidate, also pulled papers to challenge Carvalho, as well as state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, but will only appear on the 2nd Suffolk ballot against Chang-Diaz.

It is possible for candidates to run in multiple races at once. However, if the candidate wins multiple races, he or she can only fill one office, McNiff said. City Councilor Charles Yancey was on both the Boston mayoral and city council ballots in 2013 before pulling out of the mayor’s race.

David James Wyatt, a Republican, is also vying for Chang-Diaz’s 2nd Suffolk seat, and will face September’s primary winner come November.

Come September, 12th Suffolk district Rep. Dan Cullinane also has three challengers: all Democratic, in Corey J. Allen, Carlotta M. Williams, and Ruthella J. Logan-Cruz.

The other state representative seated by the April 29 special election appears to face an easier road back to the Statehouse. Daniel J. Hunt, the Democrat representing the House’s 13th Suffolk District, will return to office unopposed. Hunt replaced the House seat vacated by Mayor Martin J. Walsh.

Like Hunt, 4th Suffolk District Rep. Nick Collins and 6th Suffolk District Rep. Russell E. Holmes, both Democrats, will not face any opposition this election cycle.

On the state senate side, Independent Robert E. Powers Jr. will challenge Linda Dorcena Forry, incumbent Democrat for the 1st Suffolk District in November.

For more information about election dates and procedures, visit the Secretary of State’s website at www.sec.state.ma.us.

Lauren Dezenski contributed to this report.