MA State Primary 2026 Voter Guide: Races, Poll Times, How To Vote

A generational clash for the Democratic nomination for the Bay State's junior U.S. Senate seat headlines a list of party clashes as voters head to the polls for the Massachusetts 2026 state primary election on Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton is challenging longtime sitting U.S. Sen. Ed Markey for a spot on the November ballot.

• Markey, Moulton Deliver Parting Shots In Final MA Senate Primary Debate

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Moulton has made Markey's age — 80 — a focal point of the campaign as Markey runs for another six-year term after serving in Washington for a half-century.

Markey has leaned heavily into his progressive record, while framing Moulton as more of a moderate who bucks some party ideals, as well as his long list of establishment endorsements, including U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

• Markey, Moulton Trade Punches In Contentious U.S. Senate Democratic Primary Debate

The winner will face Republican John Deaton in the November general election.

Moulton's decision to run for Senate opened up his Essex County seat in the House of Representatives to a crowded field of Democrats, including former Biden Administration official Dan Koh, of Andover, State Rep. Tram Nguyen, of Andover, attorney and business leader John Beccia, of Lynnfield, former State Rep. Jamie Belsito, of Topsfield, software engineer and Democratic Socialist Bethany Andres-Beck, of Middleton, and veterinarian and former Washington aide Mariah Lancaster, of Salem.

• 6th District U.S. Representative Primary Race Heats Up In Final Weeks

Boston lawyer Patrick Roath is challenging U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch in the 8th Congressional Democratic primary, with Roath also framing some of that race along generational lines and the need for a new voice in Washington.

Republicans will have some choices on Tuesday as well, as they prepare to challenge Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll on Nov. 3.

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.

How To Vote

Polling locations are open statewide from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Residents can find their polling location here.

Massachusetts voters must vote in the party primary for which they are registered in the Bay State. Unenrolled voters may choose which primary in which they want to vote.

Massachusetts offers no-excuse, vote-by-mail for all state and federal elections. Those who have received and filled out a ballot may mail it back to the city or town clerk's office, hand-deliver the ballot to the local election office, or use a ballot drop box in their city or town.

Ballots cannot be returned to polling locations the day of the election.

Ballots must reach your local election office or drop box by close of polls on Election Day in order to be counted. The only exception is for ballots returned by mail in the biennial state election in November, when three extra days are allowed for ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive in the mail.

Use our Track My Ballot tool to check the status of your ballot. The tracker will show you the date your ballot was mailed, the date it was returned, and whether your ballot was accepted or rejected.

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