Former Newton City Councilor Amy Sangiolo is now state representative-elect Amy Sangiolo.
Sangiolo, a Democrat, defeated Republican Vladislav Yanovsky in the race to fill the 11th Middlesex seat held by Kay Khan, who is retiring. By 11 p.m., with most of the district’s precincts reporting, Sangiolo had garnered 81.4 percent of the vote while Yanovsky had 18.6 percent.
“I am so eternally grateful for you, and I will repay it, honestly,” Sangiolo said to the crowd of supporters gathered at Bocca Bella Cafe in Auburndale. “I will be your partner, your champion at the state house. Just tell me what we need, and you know that I will fight for it.”
Sangiolo served on Newton’s City Council for more than 20 years and launched an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 2021 before helping launch Fig City News. After State Rep Kay Khan announced her retirement earlier this year, Sangiolo announced she was running for that seat.
The 11th Middlesex race has been a long one. Sangiolo competed against fellow Democrat Alex Jablon in the primary before facing Yanovsky, who immigrated to the United States from the Soviet Union as a youth and now works in senior administration for a private trade school.
Sangiolo and Yanovsky offered two vastly different worldviews during the campaign, with Sangiolo calling for more state action in housing and Yanovsky saying people should move elsewhere if they want cheaper housing. Sangiolo wanted higher wages for tipped service workers, while Yanovsky said he didn’t believe in any minimum wage for anyone. Yanovsky opposes abortion, while Sangiolo is pro-choice.
“I am ready to start, Jan. 1,” Sangiolo said. “So, let’s go, team Amy! I love you all.”