Connor Murray, a 23-year-old Democrat from Andover, won the 18th Essex District state representative race on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Republican Chris Shepley.

The Associated Press projected Murray the winner. He led 11,049 to 6,721 with about three-quarters of the vote counted, Andover News reported.

Official certified results were not yet available. Unofficial tallies in both Andover and North Andover showed Murray receiving the majority of votes, according to the Andover Townsman.

Murray carried all three towns where Andover News reported breakdowns. In Andover, he won 6,933 to 3,773. In North Andover, he led 2,073 to 1,324. In Tewksbury, the margin was tighter: 2,043 to 1,624. Nearly three-quarters of his lead came from Andover, according to Andover News.

Murray will succeed state Rep. Tram Nguyen, who did not seek reelection. Nguyen instead ran for Congress earlier in 2026. The 18th Essex District covers most of Andover and parts of North Andover, Boxford and Tewksbury.

Both Murray and Shepley live in Andover. Shepley, 20, serves on the Andover School Committee. Either candidate could have become the Legislature's youngest member when sworn in, according to Andover News.

The two candidates had staked out different positions during an Oct. 20 forum at Memorial Hall Library, co-sponsored by Andover News and the Andover Chamber of Commerce. About 35 people attended what was the candidates' only scheduled meeting before the election.

Murray pushed renewable energy and more state investment. He said at the forum he would work to double the Massachusetts School Building Authority's (MSBA) budget so communities like Andover would not get shut out of the funding process, according to Andover News coverage of the forum.

Shepley called for expanding natural gas use and exempting businesses near New Hampshire from the state sales tax. He positioned himself as an independent voice, arguing his membership in the smaller Republican caucus would give him a better chance of securing a committee assignment as a freshman lawmaker.

Both candidates had supported temporarily suspending the state's 24-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax and overhauling Chapter 70, the formula used to distribute state aid to public school districts.

Boxford vote totals were not available in the sources reviewed at publication.