Barney won 54% of the vote, I wouldn’t call that “won handily” for a longtime incombinent. His district was re-drawn, losing New Bedford and Fall River that doesn’t help him.
Good points; Bos. Globe article Drudge linked to mentions that the re-districting was a big part and yes maybe 54 per cent wasn’t “handily”. I think he may have won 70-30 the
election before.
Globe piece also says he may go into teaching (or academia
as WHDH-TV put it). Hmm...Barney’s morals guiding those
young minds...