From left: Eunice Zeigler (D-Methuen), Tamisha Civil (D-Stoughton). The first two women of color — both daughters of Haitian immigrants — appear poised to join the Governor's Council, the elected panel that vets and confirms new judges in Massachusetts. And the council, which will feature new faces representing three of its eight districts, seems likely to remain entirely in Democrat hands heading into 2025. Probation officer Tamisha Civil (D-Stoughton) declared victory Wednesday morning in District 2 over retired judge and town administrator Francis Crimmins (R-Stoughton). The AP called the race for Civil in the early hours of the morning, and as of 10:30 a.m. she held a sizeable 58,000-vote lead with 85 percent of precincts reporting. "I am thankful to every voter and proud to serve the people from day one. Despite the results of our Presidential Election, Massachusetts voters have made it clear that they support a judicial system centered on democratic values, protecting reproductive rights, and criminal justice reform. I promise to stand up to injustice and fight every day to protect the freedoms of everyone in our Commonwealth," Civil said on Facebook. The district spans from Framingham to Attleboro and Bridgewater, and Civil will be the first councilor from there since Robert Jubinville departed at the beginning of 2023 for a courthouse post. Former city councilor Eunice Zeigler (D-Methuen) was leading her opponent, Anne Manning-Martin (R-Peabody), by close to 18,000 votes on Wednesday morning with 72 percent of precincts reporting. The AP had not yet called the race, but Manning-Martin took to Facebook to say she believed she had lost the District 5 race in the Merrimack Valley and parts of the North Shore. "Although I do not have the final results, it does appear that we were NOT victorious," wrote Manning-Martin, a Peabody city councilor. "It was a very good showing and we gave it our best. I hope your other candidates were successful and you came away a winner even if just a little bit. I appreciate everyone's support and friendship along the way. God Bless you and God Bless America!" Zeigler told the News Service that she was waiting for a few more numbers to come in from towns in the large district before drawing a conclusion. "With the numbers we have, we do have a sizeable margin," Zeigler said, adding, "I always like to cross my t's and dot my i's." Zeigler is a first-generation Haitian American woman, and Civil on her website called herself a "proud daughter of Haitian immigrants who came to Massachusetts for better opportunities." Civil has said she was motivated to seek a seat on the council -- which also has the power to confirm pardons, commutations, and new Parole Board members -- after her cousin was wrongfully imprisoned for murder and later exonerated. The two newest councilors also chip away at the typical Governor's Council mold. Councilors are often practicing or former attorneys, but neither Civil nor Zeigler has a law degree: Civil holds a master's in criminal justice and leadership from Northeastern University, and Zeigler holds a master's in economic and social development of regions from UMass Lowell. The council will feature four men and four women when members take office in January. Public defense attorney Mara Dolan (D-Concord), who unseated Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney in the primary, was uncontested Tuesday. Five incumbent Democrats were reelected to new two-year terms: Councilors Joseph Ferreira of Swansea, Christopher Iannella Jr. of Boston, Terrence Kennedy of Lynnfield, Paul DePalo of Worcester, and Tara Jacobs of North Adams.