2026 Massachusetts Senate election

Not to be confused with 2026 United States Senate election in Massachusetts.
2026 Massachusetts Senate election
November 3, 2026
All 40 seats in the Massachusetts Senate
21 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Karen Spilka Bruce Tarr
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since February 28, 2018 January 3, 2011
Leader's seat Middlesex and Norfolk 1st Essex and Middlesex
Last election 35 seats 5 seats
Seats before 35 5
President before election

Karen Spilka
Democratic

Elected President

TBD

The 2026 Massachusetts Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026, alongside the other 2026 United States elections.[1] Primary elections will be held on September 1, 2026.[2] Voters will elect members of the Massachusetts Senate in all 40 of the U.S. state of Massachusetts's legislative districts to serve a two-year term.[3] The election will coincide with United States national elections and Massachusetts state elections, including U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Governor, and Massachusetts House.[4]

Democrats won 35 seats in 2024. This fell to 34 after state senator Ed Kennedy died in October 2025. He was replaced in a general election by fellow Democrat Vanna Howard, bringing Democrats back to 35 seats.[5] Republicans would need to net 16 seats to flip control of the chamber.[6][7]

2026 special election: 1st Middlesex

A special election in the 1st Middlesex district was called after Democratic senator Ed Kennedy died in October 2025. The election was won by Democratic state representative Vanna Howard.[5]

Primary election results[6][7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Party primary results
Democratic Vanna Howard 3,339 58.14%
Democratic Rodney Elliot 2,375 41.35%
Write-in 29 0.50%
Total votes 5,743 100.00%
Republican Party primary results
Republican Sam Meas (write-in) 372 59.42%
Write-in 254 40.58%
Total votes 626 100.00%
General election results[6][8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Vanna Howard 4,306 58.19%
Republican Sam Meas 1,699 22.96%
Independent Joe Espinola 1,379 18.64%
Write-in 16 0.22%
Total votes 7,400 100.00%
Democratic hold

Retirements

  1. 2nd Middlesex: Patricia D. Jehlen is retiring.[9]
  2. 5th Middlesex: Jason Lewis is retiring.[10]

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[11] Safe D January 22, 2026

Summary of results by Senate district

Senate district Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire Paul Mark Dem
Bristol and Norfolk Paul Feeney Dem
1st Bristol and Plymouth Michael Rodrigues Dem
2nd Bristol and Plymouth Mark Montigny Dem
3rd Bristol and Plymouth Kelly Dooner Rep
Cape and Islands Julian Cyr Dem
1st Essex Pavel Payano Dem
2nd Essex Joan Lovely Dem
3rd Essex Brendan Crighton Dem
1st Essex and Middlesex Bruce Tarr Rep
2nd Essex and Middlesex Barry Finegold Dem
Hampden Adam Gomez Dem
Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester Jacob Oliveira Dem
Hampden and Hampshire John Velis Dem
Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester Jo Comerford Dem
1st Middlesex Vanna Howard Dem
2nd Middlesex Patricia Jehlen Dem
3rd Middlesex Michael Barrett Dem
4th Middlesex Cindy Friedman Dem
5th Middlesex Jason Lewis Dem
Norfolk and Middlesex Cynthia Creem Dem
Middlesex and Norfolk Karen Spilka Dem
Middlesex and Suffolk Sal DiDomenico Dem
Middlesex and Worcester James Eldridge Dem
Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol William Driscoll Dem
Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex Rebecca Rausch Dem
Norfolk and Plymouth John Keenan Dem
Norfolk and Suffolk Michael Rush Dem
Plymouth and Barnstable Dylan Fernandes Dem
1st Plymouth and Norfolk Patrick O'Connor Rep
2nd Plymouth and Norfolk Michael Brady Dem
1st Suffolk Nicholas Collins Dem
2nd Suffolk Liz Miranda Dem
3rd Suffolk Lydia Edwards Dem
Suffolk and Middlesex William Brownsberger Dem
1st Worcester Robyn Kennedy Dem
2nd Worcester Michael Moore Dem
Worcester and Hampshire Peter Durant Rep
Worcester and Middlesex John Cronin Dem
Worcester and Hampden Ryan Fattman Rep

Detailed results

Sources for election results: [12]

General election results are as reported by the Associated Press.

Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire • Bristol and Norfolk • 1st Bristol and Plymouth • 2nd Bristol and Plymouth • 3rd Bristol and Plymouth • Cape and Islands • 1st Essex • 2nd Essex • 3rd Essex • 1st Essex and Middlesex • 2nd Essex and Middlesex • Hampden • Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester • Hampden and Hampshire • Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester • 1st Middlesex • 2nd Middlesex • 3rd Middlesex • 4th Middlesex • 5th Middlesex • Norfolk and Middlesex • Middlesex and Norfolk • Middlesex and Suffolk • Middlesex and Worcester • Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol • Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex • Norfolk and Plymouth • Norfolk and Suffolk • Plymouth and Barnstable • 1st Plymouth and Norfolk • 2nd Plymouth and Norfolk • 1st Suffolk • 2nd Suffolk • 3rd Suffolk • Suffolk and Middlesex • 1st Worcester • 2nd Worcester • Worcester and Hampshire • Worcester and Middlesex • Worcester and Hampden

Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire

Bristol and Norfolk

1st Bristol and Plymouth

2nd Bristol and Plymouth

3rd Bristol and Plymouth

Cape and Islands

1st Essex

2nd Essex

3rd Essex

1st Essex and Middlesex

2nd Essex and Middlesex

Hampden

Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester

Hampden and Hampshire

Hampden, Franklin and Worcester

1st Middlesex

2nd Middlesex

Incumbent Patricia D. Jehlen is retiring.[9] The district covers Medford, Somerville, Winchester, and parts of northwest Cambridge.

Democratic primary

Candidates
Declared
Potential
  • Zac Bears, president of the Medford city council[9]
  • Willie Burnley Jr., former Somerville city councilor and candidate for mayor in 2025[9]
Declined

3rd Middlesex

4th Middlesex

5th Middlesex

Incumbent Jason Lewis is retiring.[16] The district covers Melrose, Malden, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, and Winchester.

Democratic primary

Candidates
Declared
Potential
Declined

Norfolk and Middlesex

Middlesex and Norfolk

Middlesex and Suffolk

Middlesex and Worcester

Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol

Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex

Norfolk and Plymouth

Norfolk and Suffolk

Plymouth and Barnstable

1st Plymouth and Norfolk

2nd Plymouth and Norfolk

1st Suffolk

Incumbent Democrat Nick Collins is running for reelection. He faces a primary challenge in part due to his conflicts with Boston mayor Michelle Wu over property taxes.[17] The district covers South Boston.

Democratic primary

Candidates
Declared

2nd Suffolk

3rd Suffolk

Suffolk and Middlesex

Incumbent Democrat William Brownsberger is running for reelection. He faces a primary challenge in part due to his conflicts with Boston mayor Michelle Wu over property taxes.[19]

Democratic primary

Candidates
Declared
Endorsements
Daniel Lander
Labor unions

1st Worcester

2nd Worcester

Worcester and Hampshire

Worcester and Middlesex

Worcester and Hampden

See also

Notes


References

  1. ^ Booker, Brakkton (2025-07-29). "The 2026 midterms are officially underway". POLITICO. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  2. ^ Shook, Ashley (September 22, 2025). "Massachusetts legislature approves 2026 primary election date". WWLP. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  3. ^ "Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2026". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  4. ^ "Upcoming Elections". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  5. ^ a b Kuznitz, Alison (March 4, 2026). "State Rep. Vanna Howard wins special election for Lowell state Senate seat". MassLive. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  6. ^ a b c "Special General Election: 2026 - State Senate -1st Middlesex". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  7. ^ a b "Election Results Archive". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  8. ^ "2026 State Senate Special General Election". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Gross, Samantha J. (December 10, 2025). "'It's time to move on': Longtime Somerville state senator says she won't run for reelection". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  10. ^ a b c "State senator who helped pass millionaire's tax, school funding reform won't run for reelection". WGBH-TV. 2026-02-24. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  11. ^ Jacobson, Louis (January 22, 2026). "Handicapping The 2026 State Legislative Map: A First Look". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  12. ^ "Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2026". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
  13. ^ "State Representative Christine Barber, Somerville Democrat, to seek state Senate seat - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  14. ^ Wise, Sydney (2026-01-08). "Second candidate seeks Jehlen's seat". Cambridge Day. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  15. ^ Glickman, Julian (March 5, 2026). "State Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven announces state Senate campaign at Medford/Tufts station". The Tufts Daily. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  16. ^ a b c Putnam, Ellen (February 25, 2026). "State Senate: Lewis Will Retire, Lipper-Garabedian Will Run". The Melrose Messenger. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  17. ^ a b Dumcius, Gintautas (March 10, 2026). "Liberal versus super-liberal". MASSterList. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  18. ^ Dumcius, Gintautas (November 12, 2025). "Payback time?". MASSterList. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  19. ^ a b Platoff, Emma. "Daniel Lander, senior aide to Mayor Michelle Wu, will challenge state Senator William Brownsberger". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  20. ^ "Brownsberger Leans on Decades-Long Track Record in Eighth Bid for State Senate". Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  21. ^ Dumcius, Gintautas (March 12, 2026). "Taking a pass on gas". MASSterList. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
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