We Get What We Vote For
There is less than a week until primary elections in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We know that many of our readers live outside the Commonwealth and we urge you to seek information relevant to your home states. For the majority of our readers, however, we present the following guidelines to help you participate in these very important upcoming elections.
Depending on the party of your choice, the number of offices on your ballot will vary in the September primaries. Many candidates have no opponents in their own parties; others have many and the outcomes will be important. For example, despite the fact that Governor Maura Healey faces no challengers in the Democratic primary, there are at least two other significant races, one with Rep. Seth Moulton challenging incumbent Sen. Ed Markey, and another with six candidates, including State Rep. Tram Nguyen and former White House senior aide Dan Koh, seeking to fill Moulton’s seat.
The deadline for voter registration and vote by mail applications has passed, but note the following information from Boston.com and Sec.state.ma.us:
August 28: Early Voting Period ends. Find your early voting location here.
September 1: Election Day Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Find your polling place here.
Sign up to get a voting reminder here.
Some other important info:
In Massachusetts, every registered voter can vote in a primary. You don’t need to be a member of a particular party to vote in a primary, but only Democratic and Republican candidates appear on primary ballots. Therefore, an unaffiliated or independent voter must vote for a Democrat or Republican in a primary. If you are registered as a Democrat or Republican, you must vote for a Democrat or Republican in a primary. You can change your party affiliation up to ten days before the primary.
Patch.com
September 1, 2026 – State Primaries
Offices on Ballot
U.S. Senator: Incumbent Sen. Ed Markey is being challenged by Rep. Seth Moulton who currently represents the 6th District. Republican John Deaton has no primary opponent. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s seat is not up for election this year.
U.S. Representative: Most of the state’s incumbents are on the ballot again, though several face primary challengers:
1st District: Rep. Richard Neal (incumbent) faces Jeromie Whalen in the Democratic primary; no Republican candidate is running.
2nd District: Rep. Jim McGovern (incumbent) is unopposed in both primaries.
3rd District: Rep. Lori Trahan (incumbent) faces no Democratic primary opponent; Republican Gary Grossi is unopposed on his side.
4th District: Rep. Jake Auchincloss (incumbent) faces Jason Poulos in the Democratic primary; Republican Thomas Stalcup is unopposed.
5th District: Rep. Katherine Clark (incumbent) faces two Democratic challengers, Jonathan Paz and Tarik Samman; no Republican is running.
6th District: There is an open seat, since Moulton is running for Senate. Six Democrats — Bethany Andres-Beck, John Beccia, Jamie Belsito, Dan Koh, Mariah Lancaster, and Tram Nguyen — are competing, along with Republican Micah Quinney Jones.
7th District: Rep. Ayanna Pressley (incumbent) is unopposed in the Democratic primary; no Republican is running.
8th District: Rep. Stephen Lynch (incumbent) faces Patrick Roath in the Democratic primary; Republican Robert Gerald Burke is unopposed.
9th District: Rep. Bill Keating (incumbent) faces Craig Swallow in the Democratic primary; Republican R. Tyler MacAllister is unopposed.
Statewide constitutional offices:
Every Democratic incumbent — Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, and Auditor Diana DiZoglio — is running for reelection without a primary challenger from within the party, with the exception of Governor’s Council Districts 3, 4, 6, and 8.
On the Republican side, Michael Minogue and Brian Shortsleeve are competing for the gubernatorial nomination; Shawn Oliver is the Republican lieutenant governor candidate, and Anne Manning Martin has launched a write-in bid for the same office; Michael Walsh is the unopposed Republican nominee for attorney general.
District attorneys: Several incumbents are running unopposed, including Timothy Shugrue (Berkshires), Christopher Matthew Markey (Bristol), Paul Tucker (Essex), Anthony Gulluni (Hampden), Joseph Early (Middle/Worcester), and Dave Sullivan (Northwestern). Contested races include:
Cape & Islands: Democratic incumbent Robert J. Galibois vs. challenger Michael Giardino.
Norfolk: A crowded seven-candidate strong Democratic field — Jim Barakat, Greg Connor, Adam W. Deitch, Robert Louis Jubinville, Macy Lee, Craig MacLellan, and Djuna Elizabeth Perkins — after incumbent Michael Morrissey chose not to run again.
Northern/Middlesex: Incumbent Marian Ryan faces Democratic challenger David Marc Sole.
Plymouth: Republican incumbent Timothy Cruz is unopposed.
Suffolk: Incumbent Kevin Hayden faces Democratic challengers Linda Champion and Rachael Rollins.
Beside the races for senator, representative, governor and lieutenant governor, there are contests for secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, Governor’s Council, state senator, state representative, registrar of probate, county commissioner, county treasurer, and Franklin County sheriff. All of these positions matter. And our votes matter. We get what we vote for.
Therese (she/her/hers)
Judy (she/her/hers)
Didi (she/her/hers)
Leading Ladies Executive Team
Leadingladiesvote.org