The Progressive Democrats of Somerville voted to endorse State Rep. Patricia D. Jehlen, D-Somerville, shunning an appeal by former state legislator Joseph K. Mackey, at the organization’s candidates endorsement forum forthe special election to fill the 2nd Middlesex state Senate seat held by the late Charles E. Shannon Jr., held in the Community Room of the VNA facility at 259 Lowell St.

Jehlen and Mackey were the only two candidates to appear before the PDS, to which all annouced candidates were invited, save for Alderman-at-Large William A. White Jr., who is running for the Republican nomination, said Todd Kaplan, the PDS endorsement chairman.

Jehlen received 96 percent of the votes, said Katie Wallace, the PDS chairwoman, who presided over the forum.

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