Djuna Perkins, a Dedham resident, won the Norfolk County district attorney's race on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating independent candidate Joseph Pagliarulo by a wide margin.

Perkins celebrated her victory at a watch party at Oscar's in Dedham, according to the Milford Daily News, which published photos of the hometown gathering.

The Democrat beat Pagliarulo 73 percent to 27 percent, WATD 95.9 FM reported. Those results are unofficial.

Perkins will succeed Michael Morrissey, who was first elected Norfolk County DA in 2010 and announced in January 2026 that he would not seek reelection. The Needham Observer reported in October that Morrissey's decision came after high-profile cases including the Karen Read murder trials and the death of Sandra Birchmore.

The Norfolk County district attorney's office covers 28 communities, including both Needham and Dedham, along with Quincy, Brookline, Braintree, Weymouth and others.

A seven-candidate primary

Perkins was the first candidate to enter the race, announcing her campaign in September 2024 after publicly criticizing Morrissey and calling for his resignation, the Needham Observer reported. She won a seven-candidate Democratic primary, earning 30.5 percent of voter support across the district and nearly 50 percent in Needham, according to the same report.

In coverage published in October, Perkins told the Needham Observer: "If we can't protect or speak for the most vulnerable among us, we have no government at all … And that, to me, was just unacceptable. So that's why I [ran]."

Plans for the office

Perkins, who has worked in private practice for 23 years and conducted Title IX investigations for 14 years, said during the campaign that she would prioritize rebuilding the DA's office. That work would begin with an audit of the office and interviews with existing staff, she told the Needham Observer.

She also committed to reviewing the Birchmore case and publishing a report of findings, the Needham Observer reported.

The race drew two newcomers. Much of Perkins' legal career has centered on domestic violence and sexual assault cases. The Needham Observer reported her background includes experience as a prosecutor, assistant attorney general, assistant district attorney and external consultant. She lives in Dedham with her husband, a Milton Public Schools teacher.

Perkins described the DA seat as a "law and order job" in the October Needham Observer interview, calling it a professional office rather than a political one.

Correction, Nov. 4, 2026: An earlier version described Michael Morrissey as holding office since 2010. He was elected in 2010 and took office in 2011.