South Shore News | Election 2026
When polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday, every voter between Weymouth and Plymouth will find the same statewide races (governor, U.S. Senate and four other statewide offices) and the same nine ballot questions. Everything else depends on which town and precinct you live in, and that is where the choices on the South Shore are most uneven.
In the 19 towns South Shore News covers every week, voters will find 10 state House districts on their ballots. Six are contested. Two of the four state Senate districts are contested. In Plymouth County, only one county office has a race; three others have a single name on the ballot. Norfolk County voters will choose a new district attorney.
This guide moves quickly through the statewide and federal offices, slows down for the contested legislative and county races, and closes with a short summary of each ballot question, linked to the full explainer we published on each one this fall.
A few practical notes:
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Early in-person voting ended Friday. The deadlines to register and to request a mail ballot have passed.
If you have a mail ballot at home, the Secretary of the Commonwealth recommends returning it to your town’s drop box or delivering it by hand to your local election office, rather than mailing it this close to Election Day.
To see your own ballot, use the Secretary’s lookup at sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVoteMA. District lines split several of our towns, so two neighbors can have different legislative races.
Statewide offices
Every statewide office is contested this year, and every incumbent is running again. Names, parties and towns are as they appear on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s certified candidate list.
Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Candidates run as a ticket.
Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Democratic (incumbents)
Mike Minogue and Shawn Oliver, Republican
Andrea James and Kayla Kittredge, Independent
Minogue won the Republican nomination in September. His running mate is no longer campaigning. Oliver was arrested in New Bedford on Oct. 17 and charged with operating under the influence and negligent operation after a crash, and he suspended his campaign the next day. He pleaded not guilty. His name stays on the printed ballot. Minogue has said that if elected he will ask Oliver to resign and govern without a lieutenant governor, and he urged voters not to cross out names or write anyone in. It does appear that is entirely Oliver’s decision if elected. James, a criminal justice advocate, is running as an independent.
A UNH Bay State Poll taken Sept. 17–21, before the arrest, had Healey ahead 54 percent to 38 percent among likely voters.
U.S. Senate
Sen. Edward J. Markey of Malden, Democratic (incumbent)
John Deaton of Bolton, Republican
Shiva Ayyadurai of Belmont, Independent
Joe Tache of Boston, Socialism and Liberation
Markey defeated Rep. Seth Moulton in the September Democratic primary. Deaton was the Republican nominee against Sen. Elizabeth Warren in 2024.
Attorney General
Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell of Dartmouth, Democratic (incumbent)
Michael C. Walsh of Lynnfield, Republican
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Secretary William Francis Galvin of Boston, Democratic (incumbent)
Anne R. Brensley of Wayland, Republican
Galvin, first elected in 1994, also filed Question 4 on this ballot himself.
Treasurer
Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg of Brookline, Democratic (incumbent)
Elizabeth Dionne of Belmont, Republican
Auditor
Auditor Diana DiZoglio of Methuen, Democratic (incumbent)
Al Ozonoff of Medford, Libertarian
DiZoglio led the signature drive for Question 1, the public records measure, and put $150,000 from her campaign account into it.
Congress and the Governor’s Council
The South Shore is split between two congressional districts. Both incumbents won their September primaries, and both face Republicans on Tuesday.
8th Congressional District: Abington, Avon, Braintree, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Quincy, Stoughton, West Bridgewater, Weymouth, Whitman and most of Easton.
Rep. Stephen F. Lynch of Boston, Democratic (incumbent)
Robert G. Burke of Dedham, Republican
Rasheed Nicholas Walters of Boston, Independent
Lynch defeated Patrick Roath in the Sept. 1 Democratic primary. This is Burke’s third run against Lynch; Lynch beat him in 2022 and 2024.
9th Congressional District: Bridgewater, Carver, Cohasset, Duxbury, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Marshfield, Middleborough, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Scituate, Cape Cod and the South Coast.
Rep. Bill Keating of Bourne, Democratic (incumbent)
R. Tyler MacAllister of Mattapoisett, Republican
Keating defeated Craig Swallow in the Democratic primary. Their WATD forum in August turned on stock trading and PAC money. (Our coverage)
Governor’s Council. The eight-member council confirms judges and clerk-magistrates and votes on pardons. Three of its districts reach the South Shore, and one is contested.
2nd District (East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanson, Whitman, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Easton, Randolph, Stoughton, West Bridgewater and parts of Braintree):
Councillor Tamisha L. Civil of Stoughton, Democratic (incumbent)
Francis T. Crimmins Jr. of Stoughton, Republican
4th District (Abington, Cohasset, Duxbury, Hanover, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Marshfield, Norwell, Rockland, Scituate, Weymouth and most of Braintree): Councillor Christopher A. Iannella Jr. of Boston, Democratic, is unopposed.
1st District (Carver, Kingston, Middleborough, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, the Cape and South Coast): Councillor Joseph C. Ferreira of Swansea, Democratic, is unopposed.
State Senate
Four Senate districts cover the 19 towns we report on each week. Two have a race.
Plymouth & Barnstable: Fernandes vs. MacRae
Towns: Kingston, Pembroke, Plymouth and Plympton, plus Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee and Sandwich.
Sen. Dylan A. Fernandes of Falmouth, Democratic (incumbent)
Kari Della MacRae of Bourne, Republican
Fernandes is in his first Senate term. He spent most of the past decade in the House. MacRae opened their forum by asking voters whether they were satisfied with the state’s direction during his time on Beacon Hill.
At a WATD forum on Sept. 28, they agreed on several points. Both said Pilgrim’s wastewater should stay out of Cape Cod Bay. Both said the local aid formula shortchanges the district; Fernandes called the formulas “profoundly unfair.” Both said they support the state auditor’s review of the Legislature.
They split on taxes, spending and immigration. MacRae framed the race around “affordability, accountability and safety,” read a list of charges on electric bills she said the Legislature drives, and said there is “so much fraud” in Medicaid. Fernandes cited the tax relief package he supported, including raising the estate tax threshold from $1 million to $2 million, which he called “a huge deal for middle class families who are home rich, but cash poor,” and said savings could come from administrative efficiencies in health and human services. (Our forum coverage)
Norfolk & Plymouth: Keenan vs. Mendez
Towns: Abington, Hanover and Rockland, plus Holbrook, Quincy and three Braintree precincts.
Sen. John F. Keenan of Quincy, Democratic (incumbent)
Alexander Mendez of Quincy, Independent
South Shore News has not covered a forum in this race.
Uncontested
First Plymouth & Norfolk (Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield, Norwell, Scituate, Weymouth): Sen. Patrick M. O’Connor of Weymouth, Republican
Second Plymouth & Norfolk (East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanson, Whitman, Avon, Brockton and part of Randolph): Sen. Michael D. Brady of Brockton, Democratic
Norfolk, Plymouth & Bristol (Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Easton, Stoughton, Milton, most of Braintree and part of Randolph): Sen. William J. Driscoll Jr. of Milton, Democratic
Third Bristol & Plymouth (Carver, Middleborough, Taunton, Wareham and others): Sen. Kelly A. Dooner of Taunton, Republican
State House of Representatives
Six of the 10 House districts in our weekly coverage area have a race. WATD 95.9 FM hosted forums in five of them, hosted by Christine James with questions from WATD reporter Tom Gorman and Monday Night Talk host Kevin Tocci. South Shore News covered each one, and the summaries below draw on that coverage. Each links to the full story.
Several themes came up in nearly every forum. Candidates of both parties said the state’s local aid and Chapter 70 school aid formulas shortchange South Shore towns. Candidates in at least two districts named water supply as a constraint on growth. Every candidate was asked about the MBTA Communities law, which requires covered towns to zone for multifamily housing by right.
First Plymouth: Badger vs. Golden
Towns: Most of Plymouth (precincts 4 and 6–18, except 13).
Rep. Michelle L. Badger of Plymouth, Democratic (incumbent, first term)
David Michael Golden Jr. of Plymouth, Republican, a Plymouth Select Board member
Energy costs dominated their Oct. 12 forum. Golden called utilities “the number one issue” and said his top priority would be “to undo the DPU and have the legislature be directly responsible for approving rates.” He also called for dismantling Mass Save. Badger said the energy crisis “happened over the course of 15 years” and pointed to studies in an energy bill she said is in conference committee, which she said would show lawmakers how to fix it.
On property taxes, Golden called Proposition 2½ “the greatest protection that we have in this state for taxpayers” and said it “needs to be built upon”; Badger said, “I wouldn’t touch it as of now.” Golden said he would vote to rescind the MBTA Communities law, calling it unfair to towns without an active MBTA station. Badger said the state should use “less stick and more carrot.” Both said they were concerned about evaporating Pilgrim’s wastewater, and both rejected a mileage-based road fee. (Our forum coverage)
Fifth Plymouth: DeCoste vs. Childs
Towns: Hanover, Rockland, Norwell precincts 1 and 2, and Hanson precinct 1.
Rep. David F. DeCoste of Norwell, Republican (incumbent)
Lori Childs of Rockland, Democratic, a Rockland Select Board member
Childs built her case on the incumbent’s record. She said DeCoste secured “about $686,000 in earmarks” over 10 years, none for a road, water system or school building, and that “he’s passed 11 laws in 12 years, and none of them are concerning affordability.” “Not true,” DeCoste replied, citing civil service reform he said protected veterans’ preference and a housing bill he said encouraged local housing authorities.
DeCoste called the MBTA Communities law “blackmail plain and simple” and said development is “best left to our local communities.” Childs said she disagreed with how the state handled the law “because it’s punishing towns that don’t sign up for it,” and said participating towns should get infrastructure help instead. Both named water as the district’s biggest unmet need. They split on immigration: DeCoste put the cost of sheltering noncitizens at “somewhere over $5 billion,” and Childs countered with estimates of taxes immigrants pay. (Our forum coverage)
Sixth Plymouth: Sweezey vs. Rushing
Towns: Duxbury, most of Pembroke, Hanson precincts 2 and 3, Halifax precinct 2, and Marshfield precincts 2A and 4.
Rep. Kenneth P. Sweezey of Duxbury, Republican (incumbent)
Jessica Bradley Rushing of Pembroke, Democratic, who describes herself as an Army veteran and former Pembroke Select Board member
The sharpest exchange was over the state budget. Rushing said the district lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in earmarks because Sweezey voted against the budget both years. Sweezey called that untrue, cited earmarks for Powder Point Bridge repairs and a Duxbury school feasibility study, and said, “What I’m not gonna do is vote to approve the very system that is underfunding Chapter 70, allowing our roads to go into disrepair, completely underfunding unrestricted government aid.”
Sweezey called the MBTA Communities law horrendous and said the state constitution protects local control. Rushing called it “a good idea, in theory” that “was communicated so poorly that a lot of towns felt like they had to push back.” On utility bills, Sweezey said public benefit charges make up 15 to 20 percent of gas and electric bills and could be stripped away, and he wants the 2050 net-zero mandates turned into goals. Rushing said she would review every charge but that the state must move off fossil fuels. Both said they oppose data centers and large battery storage facilities in the district. (Our forum coverage)
Seventh Plymouth: Sullivan-Almeida vs. Aahanna-Hill
Towns: Abington, Whitman, and East Bridgewater precincts 1–3.
Rep. Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida of Abington, Republican (incumbent)
Rosemary Aahanna-Hill of Whitman, Democratic, a Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee member
The incumbent’s attendance was the first fight. Aahanna-Hill said her posts questioning it drew on published records: “This is not my dispute. These are documented.” Sullivan-Almeida said her attendance over her tenure is almost 99 percent. She said she was on maternity leave when Beacon Hill Roll Call asked about her absences, that she missed session days to sit for the bar exam in February 2025, and that the criticism rested on an August 2025 article rather than the full session.
The candidates gave conflicting accounts of earmarks. Sullivan-Almeida listed several she secured, including $30,000 for a fire station study in Abington and $50,000 for a well and irrigation system at a Whitman park. Aahanna-Hill said the district has had “zero earmarks two years in a row.” South Shore News has not yet checked either claim against the budgets. Both said the local aid formulas need another look. Sullivan-Almeida said the state has “a spending problem” and pointed to the cost of the right-to-shelter law. Aahanna-Hill said losing Fair Share Amendment revenue “would be devastating.” (Our forum coverage)
Ninth Plymouth: Plouffe vs. Novak
Towns: East Bridgewater precinct 4, West Bridgewater, parts of Brockton and part of Easton.
Rep. Bridget Marie Plouffe of Brockton, Democratic (incumbent)
Lawrence Peter Novak of Brockton, Republican
South Shore News did not cover a forum in this race.
Twelfth Plymouth: LaNatra vs. Meschino
Towns: Kingston, Plympton, Halifax precincts 1 and 2A, Pembroke precinct 3, Plymouth precincts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 13, and Middleborough precincts 1 and 5A.
Rep. Kathleen LaNatra of Kingston, Democratic (incumbent)
Eric J. Meschino of Plymouth, Republican, a commercial lobster fisherman
The Oct. 19 forum turned on taxes. Asked whether the state could cut taxes and keep services, LaNatra said, “The quick answer on that is no,” and pointed to the tax relief package she said delivers “roughly $1 billion a year.” Meschino said, “Of course, we can cut taxes.” He called for ending property taxes for seniors whose homes are paid off, eliminating the millionaire’s tax and energy-bill charges, and pursuing the legislative audit. LaNatra said the Chapter 70 formula is unfair and that the per-pupil amount it provides has risen from $36 when she took office to $160 in the last budget. Meschino suggested school choice. (Our forum coverage)
Contested nearby
These districts are just outside our weekly coverage area. South Shore News did not cover forums in these races.
Second Plymouth (Carver, Wareham and three Middleborough precincts): Rep. John Robert Gaskey of Carver, Republican (incumbent), vs. Sarah G. Hewins of Carver, Democratic
Eighth Plymouth (Bridgewater, Raynham): Rep. Dennis C. Gallagher of Bridgewater, Democratic (incumbent), vs. John Edward Norris of Bridgewater, Republican
Uncontested
Third Plymouth (Cohasset, Hingham, Hull): Rep. Joan Meschino of Hull, Democratic
Fourth Plymouth (Scituate, most of Marshfield, Norwell precinct 3): Rep. Patrick J. Kearney of Scituate, Democratic
Third Norfolk (Weymouth precincts 5, 6, 9, 12 and 16, Holbrook precincts 3 and 4, part of Quincy): House Speaker Ronald Mariano of Quincy, Democratic
Fourth Norfolk (the rest of Weymouth): Rep. James M. Murphy of Weymouth, Democratic
Tenth and Eleventh Plymouth (Brockton): Reps. Michelle M. DuBois and Rita A. Mendes, both Democrats of Brockton
Twelfth Bristol (most of Middleborough, Lakeville and others): Rep. Norman J. Orrall of Lakeville, Republican
County races
Plymouth County Commissioner: Nyman vs. O’Brien
This is the only contested county office in Plymouth County this year. Neither candidate is an incumbent.
Rhonda L. Nyman of Hanover, Democratic
Anthony Thomas O’Brien Sr. of Pembroke, Republican
Nyman says she is a former state representative for Hanover, Norwell and Rockland, a former Hanover Select Board member and, most recently, government affairs liaison at the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office. O’Brien, a military veteran who calls himself a “common-sense Republican,” said he served as a county commissioner from 2009 to 2013. In September he won the Republican primary over Commissioner Sandra M. Wright, who holds the seat.
The race comes after a contentious year at the commission. In September the sitting commissioners clashed over a workplace investigation and staff terminations. At their Oct. 19 forum, both candidates called the commissioners’ hiring of a new county administrator flawed. O’Brien said he hopes court cases “overturn the entire action.” Nyman said the county Advisory Board “was left in the dark through this whole process.”
O’Brien called Nyman a “career politician” and a “go-along, get-along, liberal Democrat,” and faulted her record in Hanover and the Legislature. Nyman said she is her own person and that Hanover “did well” with its federal pandemic money. On revenue, both said the county’s share of registry of deeds fees is too small. Nyman said she would ask legislators to file a bill to change it. On a broader audit of county government, O’Brien called himself a strong advocate for a performance audit; Nyman said she would want more information first. (Our forum coverage)
Anthony Thomas O’Brien is not the same person as Thomas J. O’Brien of Plymouth, the county treasurer.
Norfolk District Attorney: Perkins vs. Pagliarulo
This race is on Weymouth and Cohasset’s ballots, along with every other Norfolk County town, including Braintree, Holbrook, Randolph, and Avon. District Attorney Michael Morrissey is not seeking reelection.
Djuna Elizabeth Perkins of Dedham, Democratic
Joseph Michael Pagliarulo of Millis, unenrolled
Perkins, a former state prosecutor, won a seven-way Democratic primary on Sept. 1, finishing ahead of former federal prosecutor Adam Deitch by about 2,600 votes. She has campaigned on investigating the Stoughton Police Department’s youth programs in light of the Sandra Birchmore case, and on restoring trust lost in the Karen Read prosecution. Pagliarulo, also a former state prosecutor, is running as a self-funded independent. No Republican filed.
Uncontested county offices
Plymouth County District Attorney: Timothy J. Cruz of Marshfield, Republican (incumbent since 2001)
Plymouth County Treasurer: Thomas J. O’Brien of Plymouth, Democratic (incumbent)
Plymouth County Register of Probate: Matthew J. McDonough of Marshfield, Democratic (incumbent)
Norfolk County Commissioner: Peter H. Collins of Milton, Democratic (incumbent)
Norfolk County Treasurer: Michael G. Bellotti of Quincy, Democratic (incumbent)
Norfolk County Register of Probate: Colleen M. Brierley of Foxborough, Democratic (incumbent)
No sheriff’s office in either county is on the ballot this year.
The nine ballot questions
Nine questions tie the state record, set in 1994. Questions 1 through 8 would become ordinary state laws, which the Legislature can amend or repeal like any other statute. Question 9 is different: it is a vote on a law already in effect.
Campaign finance figures are from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, through Oct. 15 unless noted. Each summary links to our full explainer.
Question 1: Public records for the Legislature and governor. A yes vote puts the Legislature and the governor’s office under the same public records law that every city, town and state agency already follows, starting Jan. 1, 2027. A no vote leaves both exempt. Massachusetts and Michigan are the only states where both sit outside the law. The House and Senate have each passed narrower bills declaring themselves the “sole and exclusive remedy” for legislative records. Those bills are in conference committee and could be finalized after the election, and how they would interact with a yes vote is likely to end up in court.
The Yes committee has raised about $331,000, led by Auditor DiZoglio’s campaign account ($150,000), the Massachusetts Teachers Association ($30,000), the National Association of Government Employees ($25,000) and David Diantonio of Andover ($25,000). No committee opposes it. Read the full explainer.
Question 2: Collective bargaining for public defenders. A yes vote lets staff of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the state’s public defender agency, unionize. It does not touch the private bar advocates who handle most indigent cases and who stopped taking new ones in 2025. A union could not force a raise or strike; pay would still depend on the governor and the Legislature.
The Yes committee’s roughly $1.08 million has come entirely from two unions, NAGE of Quincy ($542,060) and SEIU Local 888 of Braintree ($541,000). No committee opposes it. Read the full explainer.
Question 3: All-party primaries. A yes vote replaces party primaries for state, congressional and county offices with a single September primary, starting in 2028; the top two finishers advance regardless of party. A no vote keeps the current system. Both state parties, organized labor and the MTA oppose it. Recent governors from both parties support it. A MassINC poll in September found 43 percent in favor and 36 percent opposed.
Its Yes committee is the best-funded committee on the ballot, having raised about $6.9 million through Oct. 1, including $500,000 each from Andrew Balson, David Peeler and Joshua Bekenstein, and $250,000 each from John Connaughton and Mark Nunnelly. The No committee, Voter Rights MA, has raised about $200,000, mostly from 1199 SEIU’s political action committee and the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee. Read the full explainer.
Question 4: Election Day registration. A yes vote lets eligible residents register and vote at their polling place on Election Day, starting in 2028, with proof of residence and a sworn statement. A no vote keeps the 10-day deadline. Research suggests the turnout gain in Massachusetts would be modest and concentrated among young voters; the open question is whether every precinct can handle registration on the busiest day of the cycle. Secretary Galvin filed the measure and his campaign committee has given $79,000 of the roughly $160,000 raised; the ACLU of Massachusetts has made about $74,000 in in-kind contributions to a second Yes committee. No committee opposes it. Read the full explainer.
Question 5: The state tax revenue cap. A yes vote resets the 1986 cap on state tax revenue each year to the prior year’s actual collections, counts millionaire’s-tax revenue in the calculation, and refunds any excess, starting in fiscal 2028. Independent estimates put the result at two to five times as many rebates. The state’s budget office says it would reduce money available for the budget, including local aid. A no vote leaves a cap the state missed by $5.15 billion last year.
The Yes committee has raised about $570,000 in cash, plus $1.9 million in signature-gathering services from the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance, a business group that does not disclose its donors. Its largest cash donors are Raymond Stata and ABP Trust ($100,000 each). The No committee’s roughly $669,000 is almost entirely from labor: the SEIU State Council ($250,000), 1199 SEIU ($150,000) and the MTA ($100,000). Read the full explainer.
Question 6: The Nature for All conservation fund. A yes vote directs a share of existing sales tax from sporting goods stores, RV dealers and golf courses into a land and water conservation fund. It is not a new tax. Estimates range from about $65 million to $100 million a year. The money reaches the fund only if the Legislature appropriates it, which the measure’s lead sponsor acknowledged lawmakers are free not to do.
The Yes committee has raised about $2.9 million, led by Kirsten Waerstad of Belmont ($800,000), the Trustees ($500,000), Natasha Grigg of Boxford ($420,279), Mass Audubon ($300,000 plus about as much again in in-kind support) and the Conservation Law Foundation ($300,000). No committee opposes it. Read the full explainer.
Question 7: Starter-home zoning. A yes vote bars cities and towns from requiring more than 5,000 square feet and 50 feet of frontage for a single-family home, but only on lots with public water and sewer. On the South Shore, that one condition decides where it applies: it would reach most of Whitman, Abington, Rockland, Weymouth and Brockton, and barely touch septic towns like Norwell, Hanover, Hanson and Pembroke. Gov. Healey, the Boston Globe editorial board and several chambers of commerce, including Plymouth’s, support it; the Massachusetts Municipal Association opposes it. (The author has endorsed Yes on Question 7; see the disclosure below.)
The two Yes committees have raised about $1.7 million, led by the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and its PAC ($500,000), the Greater Boston Real Estate Board ($350,000), the Welcoming Neighbors Network of Washington, D.C. ($250,000), Eastern Bank ($100,000) and Marcus Partners ($100,000). No committee opposes it. Read the full explainer.
Question 8: Repealing legal marijuana sales. A yes vote ends licensed adult-use marijuana sales on Jan. 1, 2028. Possessing an ounce would stay legal. It would also end home growing and cut what an adult may keep at home from 10 ounces to one, two changes the attorney general’s ballot summary does not mention. Twelve of the 30 communities in our broader region have a dispensary. Polls in September showed repeal losing badly, and Gov. Healey opposes it.
SAM Action, a Virginia advocacy group that does not disclose its donors, has supplied about $3.73 million of the repeal campaign’s $3.78 million. The industry’s No committee has raised about $2.8 million, including $200,000 from Curaleaf and $125,000 from Chicago Atlantic in October. Both sides are now spending heavily: about $1.6 million against repeal and $930,000 for it in the first half of October alone. Read the full explainer.
Question 9: The 2024 gun law. On this question, YES keeps the law and NO repeals it. It is a referendum on the 2024 law that requires every firearm to be registered and serialized, regulates “ghost guns,” expands the red flag law and bars carrying in polling places and government buildings. Most of it has been in force since Oct. 2, 2024. If voters repeal it, the repeal would take effect about 30 days after the election, not on election night. A MassINC poll that read voters the ballot’s own wording found 70 percent would keep the law.
The committee defending the law has raised about $790,000, nearly two-thirds of it from the MTA ($500,000), plus $50,000 from Everytown for Gun Safety in October. The repeal committee has raised about $593,000, much of it in small gifts. Its largest donors include Smith & Wesson ($50,000, in 2024), Jeffrey Freudberg of Newton ($50,000 in October) and Old Colony Sportsmen’s Association of Pembroke ($21,933). Read the full explainer.
Disclosures
South Shore News Founder Justin Evans chairs the Whitman Select Board and has made several endorsements in these races in that capacity. He also works for the state Department of Public Utilities; David Golden, the Republican candidate in the First Plymouth District, has proposed taking ratemaking away from that agency and giving it to the Legislature. He has publicly endorsed Maura Healey and Kim Driscoll, Rhonda Nyman, Tamisha Civil, and Yes on Question 7. The race summaries above draw on South Shore News forum coverage and the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s official candidate list.
South Shore News forum coverage
The November Nine ballot question series, Sept. 5 to Oct. 25