Attorney Allison Cartwright declares victory in race for clerk of the SJC for Suffolk County

Attorney Allison Cartwright declared victory over Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy in the Democratic primary for clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County, and is on a glide path to victory in November with no Republican challenger on the ballot.

The two ran a highly competitive race for a relatively obscure position, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars and securing dozens of high-profile endorsements. Many viewed the campaign as the latest round in the battle between new and old Boston politics.

The clerk of the SJC for Suffolk County handles the admission of lawyers to the bar and oversees matters of attorney discipline. The clerk also manages the high court’s single-justice cases, where people appeal for emergency relief.

Cartwright was backed by leading progressives like Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who all knocked on doors for her in the days leading up to the election.

“This is not a victory for me, this is a victory for us,” said Cartwright at a reception in Jamaica Plain. “This is a victory for democracy, a victory for the independence of our court, and especially our state’s highest court.”

No official results were available by 5:30 a.m., but unofficial results from Boston, Suffolk County's biggest city, showed Cartwright with 59.56% of the vote with more than 99% of the precincts reporting. Revere, Winthrop and Chelsea are also within Suffolk County.

Murphy cast herself as more of an old-school moderate focused on constituent services, drawing the backing of Boston politicians like Congressman Stephen Lynch, City Councilor Ed Flynn, and former mayor and ambassador Ray Flynn.

Murphy has previously said she intends to stay on the council and run for reelection.