MA State Primary 2026: Polls Closed, Returns Coming In Across Pivotal Races

The polls are now closed and results are coming in after voters cast their ballots in several contested Massachusetts state party primaries ahead of the November general election.

The most high-profile matchup came in the Democratic race for U.S. Senate, where U.S. Representative Seth Moulton challenged longtime sitting junior Bay State Senator Ed Markey.

The winner will face Republican candidate John Deaton on Nov. 3.

Boston lawyer and activist Patrick Roath was challenging U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch for the Democratic Party nod in the 8th Congressional District.

The race to replace Moulton in the 6th Congressional District on the North Shore and Merrimack Valley also drew a crowded field of Democrats with former Biden official and Andover Select Board member Dan Koh, State Rep. Tram Nguyen of Andover, Lynnfield businessman John Beccia, Salem veterinarian and activist Mariah Lancaster, Middleton software engineer and Democratic Socialist Bethany Anders-Beck and former State Rep. and Topsfield town moderator Jamie Belsito also running for the Democratic nomination.

The winner of that race will face Republican attorney and U.S. Army veteran Micah Q. Jones, of Essex, in November.

The ticket of Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll will learn their challengers on Tuesday night as North Shore businessman and combat veteran Mike Minogue is facing former MBTA chief and veteran Brian Shortsleeve for the gubernatorial nomination, while Peabody City Councilor Anne Manning-Martin has mounted a write-in campaign to challenge New Bedford City Councilor Shawn Oliver for the lieutenant governor nomination.

Patch will also have coverage of several other state representative primaries across the Commonwealth on Tuesday night.

Check back with your Patch throughout Election Night for updates, results and reactions.