(JTA) — The son of a legendary Jewish civil rights figure won the majority of votes at the Massachusetts state convention in his bid to be nominated secretary of state.
Boston City Councillor Josh Zakim, 34, garnered 55 percent of the vote over the weekend, the Boston Globe reported, besting the incumbent, William Galvin, in what was seen as a popular shift toward younger non-establishment Democrats. Both Galvin, who has served six terms, and Zakim will be on the Sept. 4 primary ballot.
Zakim touted his candidacy as a “bridge to progress” — a play on the bridge over the Charles River named for his father, Leonard. One of his issues was facilitating voter registration.
Leonard Zakim, who helmed the New England Anti-Defamation League office from 1984 until his death in 1999 at age 46, was a leader in advancing local civil rights and in black-Jewish cooperation.
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