2026 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

The 2026 United States Senate election in Massachusetts will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Democratic incumbent Ed Markey is seeking a third full term. He is being challenged by Republican attorney John Deaton.

Primary elections were held on September 1. Markey won the Democratic nomination over congressman Seth Moulton with 64.9% of the vote. Deaton, the Republican nominee in 2024, was nominated a second time after running unopposed in the primary.

Republicans have not won a Senate election in Massachusetts since 2010.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Ed Markey, incumbent U.S. senator (2013–present)

Eliminated in primary Seth Moulton, U.S. representative from (2015–present) and candidate for president in 2020

Eliminated in convention William F. Gates Jr., professor and architect

Withdrawn Alex Rikleen, history teacher (endorsed Markey)

Declined Jake Auchincloss, U.S. representative for (2021–present) (running for re-election) Ayanna Pressley, U.S. representative for (2019–present) (running for re-election; endorsed Markey)

Endorsements

Fundraising Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate Campaign finance reports as of August 12, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handEd Markey (D)$8,051,970$8,355,270$1,348,676Seth Moulton (D)$6,213,103$6,228,105$1,835,336Source: Federal Election Commission

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated EdMarkey SethMoulton UndecidedMargin270toWinAugust 5–16, 2026August 19, 202656.0%35.0%9.0%Markey +21.0%Race to the WHthrough August 16, 2026August 18, 202653.6%35.4%11.0%Markey +18.2%Average54.8%35.2%10.0%Markey +19.6%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error EdMarkey SethMoulton AlexRikleen Other UndecidedEmerson CollegeAugust 28–29, 2026550 (LV)±4.1%65%35%60%33%7%University of New HampshireAugust 20–24, 2026550 (LV)±4.2%63%28%2%7%Public Policy Polling (D)August 17–18, 2026645 (LV)±3.9%59%26%15%53%22%25%Suffolk UniversityAugust 13–16, 2026500 (RV)±4.4%52%38%1%9%UMass Amherst/YouGovAugust 5–12, 2026445 (LV)±5.8%60%32%2%7%54%28%1%17%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026370 (LV)±5.1%41%35%1%23% May 27, 2026Rikleen withdraws from the race, endorses MarkeyEmerson CollegeMay 3–4, 2026451 (LV)±4.5%37%32%1%1%29%University of New HampshireApril 16–20, 2026353 (LV)±5.2%46%33%6%15%Suffolk UniversityApril 9–13, 2026500 (RV)±4.4%47%30%20%University of New HampshireFebruary 12–16, 2026352 (LV)±5.2%35%23%7%5%30%Suffolk UniversityNovember 19–23, 2025226 (LV)±6.5%45%22%33%University of New HampshireNovember 13–17, 2025343 (LV)±5.3%34%25%2%3%35%Data for Progress (D)October 23–26, 2025652 (LV)±4.0%53%34%13%UMass Amherst/YouGovOctober 21–29, 2025416 (LV)±6.1%51%28%6%1%14%44%25%5%1%25%

Ed Markey vs. Seth Moulton vs. Ayanna Pressley Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error EdMarkey SethMoulton AyannaPressley Other UndecidedSuffolk UniversityNovember 19–23, 2025226 (LV)±6.5%34%16%35%15%

Ed Markey vs. Seth Moulton vs. Ayanna Pressley vs. Alex Rikleen Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error EdMarkey SethMoulton AyannaPressley AlexRikleen Other UndecidedUMass Amherst/YouGovOctober 21–29, 2025416 (LV)±6.1%35%25%21%5%1%19%31%24%20%4%1%24%

Seth Moulton vs. Ayanna Pressley vs. Michelle Wu vs. Joseph P. Kennedy III vs. Jake Auchincloss vs. Alex Rikleen Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error SethMoulton AyannaPressley MichelleWu Joseph P.Kennedy III JakeAuchincloss AlexRikleen Other UndecidedUMass Amherst/YouGovOctober 21–29, 2025416 (LV)±6.1%29%24%19%11%6%6%1%4%26%23%17%9%5%3%1%16%

Debates Three debates were held between Markey and Moulton. + Democratic primary debates Date Hosts Moderators Link Democratic DemocraticKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Ed Markey Seth Moulton1 July 8, 2026 WWLP Patrick Berry YouTube 2 August 3, 2026 Boston 25 NewsWGBH-FM Kerry KavanaughAdam Reilly YouTube 3 August 20, 2026 WCVB-TVWBUR-FMThe Boston Globe Ed Harding YouTube

Convention Candidates must win at least 15% at the party convention in order to make it onto the primary ballot. The convention decides which candidate gets the party's endorsement for the primary election while the primary decides the party nominee for the general election.

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee John Deaton, attorney and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024

Eliminated at convention or did not file Christopher Thrasher, Westport School Committee Chair and nominee for Massachusetts House of Representatives' 8th Bristol district in 2024

Withdrawn Nathan Bech, former West Springfield City Councilman and nominee for in 2008 (running as an independent)

Declined Charlie Baker, president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (2023–present) and former Governor of Massachusetts (2015–2023) Michael Soter, state representative from the 8th Worcester district (2019–present)

Endorsements

Fundraising Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate. Campaign finance reports as of August 12, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJohn Deaton (R)$1,561,360$848,943$712,417Source: Federal Election Commission

Results

Third parties and independents

Party for Socialism and Liberation Candidates Declared Joe Tache, organizer

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of September 3, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJoe Tache (PSL)$269,878$176,871$93,007Source: Federal Election Commission

Independents Candidates Declared Shiva Ayyadurai, perennial candidate

Did not qualify Nathan Bech, former West Springfield City Councilman and Republican nominee for Massachusetts's 1st congressional district in 2008 Morgan Dawicki Philip Devincentis

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of August 12, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handShiva Ayyadurai (I)$269,035$150,776$117,116Nathan Bech (I)$80,010$56,107$28,677Morgan Dawicki (I)$16,498$7,743$3,564Source: Federal Election Commission

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportSeptember 23, 2026Decision Desk HQOctober 2, 2026The EconomistOctober 3, 2026FiftyPlusOneOctober 3, 2026Fox NewsSeptember 22, 2026Inside ElectionsOctober 1, 2026RealClearPoliticsSeptember 24, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallSeptember 22, 2026Silver BulletinOctober 3, 2026Split TicketOctober 2, 2026

Post-primary endorsements

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of August 12, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handEd Markey (D)$8,051,970$8,355,270$1,348,676John Deaton (R)$1,561,360$848,943$712,417Joe Tache (PSL)$269,878$176,871$93,007Shiva Ayyadurai (I)$285,486$153,114$131,229Source: Federal Election Commission

Debates In May 2026, months before the primary, Republican presumptive nominee John Deaton challenged the two main Democratic candidates, incumbent senator Ed Markey and representative Seth Moulton, to a three-way debate. Moulton agreed to the debate, which was scheduled for June. Markey did not attend the debate. + Interparty pre-primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Democratic RepublicanKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Ed Markey Seth Moulton John Deaton1 June 16, 2026 WBZ-TV Jon Keller C-SPAN

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregation Datesadministered Datesupdated EdMarkey (D) JohnDeaton (R)Other/Undecided MarginRace to the WHthrough September 22, 2026September 29, 202653.1%29.1%17.8%Markey +24.0%Silver Bulletinthrough September 22, 2026September 29, 202654.4%29.4%16.2%Markey +25.0%Average53.8%29.3%16.9%Markey +24.5%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error EdMarkey (D) JohnDeaton (R) JoeTache (PSL) Other UndecidedMassINC Polling GroupSeptember 14–22, 2026800 (LV)± 4.0%52%26%2%6%14%54%28%2%8%9%University of New HampshireSeptember 17–21, 2026564 (LV)±4.1%53%30%9%8% September 1, 2026 Primary electionsUniversity of New HampshireAugust 20–24, 2026881 (LV)±2.2%49%30%7%1%12%UMass Amherst/YouGovAugust 5–12, 2026800 (RV)±4.4%51%30%3%15%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026623 (LV)±3.8%50%34%16%Suffolk UniversityJune 8–12, 2026500 (LV)±4.4%55%30%1%14%University of New HampshireApril 16–20, 2026603 (LV)±4.0%55%32%1%12%University of New HampshireFebruary 12–16, 2026620 (LV)±3.9%56%27%2%15%Cygnal (R)January 22–25, 2026800 (LV)±3.5%54%30%16%Suffolk UniversityNovember 19–23, 2025500 (RV)±4.4%54%31%15%SurveyUSAFebruary 28 – March 4, 2025775 (RV)45%26%30%

Ed Markey vs. Charlie Baker Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error EdMarkey (D) CharlieBaker (R)OtherUndecidedUMass Amherst/YouGovFebruary 14–20, 2025700 (A)±4.8%35%33%33%MassINC Polling GroupOctober 29 – November 1, 2024582 (LV)±4.9%34%40%7%19%

Seth Moulton vs. John Deaton Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error SethMoulton (D) JohnDeaton (R) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireAugust 20–24, 2026881 (LV)±2.2%38%25%18%19%UMass Amherst/YouGovAugust 5–12, 2026800 (RV)±4.4%49%25%3%22%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026623 (LV)±3.8%50%30%1%19%Suffolk UniversityJune 8–12, 2026500 (LV)±4.4%54%26%2%18%University of New HampshireApril 16–20, 2026600 (LV)±4.0%56%25%1%18%University of New HampshireFebruary 12–16, 2026620 (LV)±3.9%59%23%2%16%Suffolk UniversityNovember 19–23, 2025500 (RV)±4.4%52%29%19%

Results

Notes

Partisan clients

References

External links Official campaign websites Shiva Ayyadurai (I) John Deaton (R) Ed Markey (D) Joe Tache (PSL)