2026 Massachusetts Senate election

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

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

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

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

Summarize Timeline Top Qs Fact Check

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

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

• Christine Barber, state representative from the 34th Middlesex district (2015–present)^[13]
• Tom Hopcroft, Winchester school committee member and climate entrepreneur^[14]
• Matt McLaughlin, Somerville city councilor from Ward 1^[9]
• Erika Uyterhoeven, state representative from the 27th Middlesex district (2021–present)^[15]

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

• Patricia D. Jehlen, incumbent state senator (2005–present)^[9]

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

• Kate Lipper-Garabedian, state representative from the 32nd Middlesex district (2020–present)^[16]

• Steve Ultrino, state representative from the 33rd Middlesex district (2015–present)^[10]
• Michael Day, state representative from the 31st Middlesex district (2015–present)^[10]

• Jason Lewis, incumbent state senator (2014–present)^[16]

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.

• Nick Collins, incumbent state senator^[18]
• Latoya Gayle, community activist^[17]

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]

• William Brownsberger, incumbent state senator^[20]
• Daniel Lander, senior aide to Boston mayor Michelle Wu^[19]

• 2027-28 Massachusetts legislature
• 2026 United States elections
• 2026 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
• 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts
• 2026 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
• 2026 Massachusetts Attorney General election
• 2026 Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General election
• 2026 Massachusetts State Auditor election
• 2026 Massachusetts House of Representatives election
• 2023-24 Massachusetts legislature
• 2025-26 Massachusetts legislature