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Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District election, 2026 (September 1 Democratic primary)

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← 2024
Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: June 2, 2026
Primary: September 1, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting in Massachusetts

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Democratic
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Democratic
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th
Massachusetts elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

A Democratic Party primary takes place on September 1, 2026, in Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District to determine which Democratic candidate will run in the district's general election on November 3, 2026.

Candidate filing deadline Primary election General election
June 2, 2026
September 1, 2026
November 3, 2026



A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Massachusetts utilizes a semi-closed primary system where voters who are affiliated with a political party and unaffiliated voters may vote in a party's primary.[1][2]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

This page focuses on Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District Democratic primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

  • Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
  • Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 4

Incumbent Jake Auchincloss (D), Christopher Boyd (D), Steve Chasse (D), Ihssane Leckey (D), and Jason Poulos (D) are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 4 on September 1, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Jake Auchincloss
Jake Auchincloss
Image of Christopher Boyd
Christopher Boyd  Candidate Connection
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Steve Chasse
Image of Ihssane Leckey
Ihssane Leckey
Image of Jason Poulos
Jason Poulos  Candidate Connection

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Christopher Boyd

Image of Christopher Boyd

WebsiteFacebookYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I'm Chris Boyd, a public school teacher and lifelong Massachusetts resident running for Congress in the 2026 Democratic Primary. I was born and raised in Bellingham by two young parents. Like a lot of families, mine was hit hard by the Great Recession. I watched my mom work multiple jobs and still worry about whether we’d make it through the month. Programs like SNAP and free school lunch weren’t abstract policy debates to us. They made the difference between stability and crisis. That experience shaped how I see government: it should work for regular people, especially when they need it most. I became a teacher because school was where I found stability, mentors, and community. For almost a decade, I’ve taught in public schools across Massachusetts, working with students whose families deal with housing insecurity, rising costs, and an economy that doesn’t feel built for them. As a former union rep, I know what it's like to fight for both my colleagues and my students, even (and especially) when it's hard. I’ve spent my life in classrooms and communities that are expected to make do with less, while Washington and establishment politicians keep finding excuses for why nothing can change. I’ve watched families work harder every year and still fall further behind while too many “leaders” in Congress are comfortable managing problems instead of fixing them. I'm running because *real change takes courage* that many Washington Insiders don't have."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Affordability & Cost of Living - Too many families are working harder than ever and still falling behind. I’m running to lower costs and rebalance an economy that rewards corporations while squeezing workers. That means strengthening unions and collective bargaining, raising the federal minimum wage and tying it to inflation, cracking down on exploitative practices like fake “ghost jobs,” and redefining “entry-level” so companies can’t demand years of experience for poverty pay. If you work full time, you should be able to afford your life and support your family

Defending Our Democracy - Our democracy only works if it answers to people, not corporations, wealthy donors, or special interests. I support overturning Citizens United, moving towards publically-financed campaigns, expanding voting access, reforming campaign finance laws, and pushing back against the influence of corporate and foreign money in our elections. I also support term limits for Congress so leadership reflects the urgency and energy of the next generation. Government should be accountable, transparent, and grounded in the communities it serves, not insulated from them.

Investing in Our Future - I’ve spent nearly a decade teaching in public schools, mostly in Title-I districts, and I’ve seen what happens when we underinvest in kids. If we’re serious about the future, we need to fund public education and provide opportunities and resources for our kids to build their own American Dream. Every student deserves a fair shot, no matter their ZIP code. That includes redirecting resources away from harmful, unaccountable systems and toward schools, teachers, and programs that actually strengthen our communities and prepare our nation's youth for the future.

Jason Poulos

Image of Jason Poulos

Website

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "Jason Poulos is running to represent Massachusetts District 4 in Congress in the Democratic primary on September 1, 2026. As an independent researcher with expertise in artificial intelligence and policy, Jason understands the profound challenges facing workers in the age of automation and economic uncertainty. AI is displacing millions of workers while creating new forms of inequality. Jason is fighting for four interconnected solutions: Medicare-for-All so healthcare isn't tied to employment in an economy where AI is eliminating jobs, Universal Basic Income to provide financial security when jobs disappear, corporate taxes on automation to ensure companies pay their fair share when they replace workers with machines, and collective bargaining rights to empower workers to negotiate fair terms as technology reshapes their workplaces. The incumbent has taken over $863,000 from AIPAC, more than $800,000 from the pharmaceutical industry, and over $50,000 from cryptocurrency executives and PACs. The incumbent delivers on these investments: he voted to eliminate IRS reporting requirements for crypto platforms, voted against expanding Medicare drug price negotiation while parroting pharma talking points, and voted for $21.1 billion in military spending to Israel. Jason is not accepting money from corporate PACs, crypto PACs, AIPAC, or DMFI."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Healthcare is a human right — not a benefit your employer can take away. In an economy where AI is eliminating jobs and corporations are cutting costs, tying health insurance to employment makes working families one layoff away from losing coverage. I support Medicare-for-All because no one should have to choose between paying rent and seeing a doctor. The incumbent has taken over $900,000 from pharmaceutical companies and voted against expanding Medicare's ability to negotiate drug prices. I reject corporate PAC money and will fight for a healthcare system that puts patients over pharmaceutical profits.

I support Universal Basic Income. When corporations automate jobs and profits flow to shareholders while workers get pink slips, we need a floor beneath everyone's feet. This isn't a handout — it's a dividend from the productivity gains our economy generates. We can fund it by taxing companies that profit from replacing human workers with machines. The incumbent chairs a billionaire-funded PAC pushing policies that benefit tech investors over working families.

Corporations are not people. Money is not speech. I support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and restore democracy. When billionaires and corporate PACs can pour unlimited money into elections, they drown out the voices of working people. I reject contributions from corporate PACs, crypto PACs, AIPAC, and DMFI. My opponent has taken over $930,000 from the Israel lobby and chairs Majority Democrats, a PAC funded by Silicon Valley billionaires working to push the Democratic Party rightward. Massachusetts deserves a representative who answers to voters — not donors.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Massachusetts

Election information in Massachusetts: Sep. 1, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: Aug. 22, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by Aug. 22, 2026
  • Online: Aug. 22, 2026

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

N/A

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: Aug. 25, 2026
  • By mail: Received by Aug. 25, 2026
  • Online: Aug. 25, 2026

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: Sep. 1, 2026
  • By mail: Received by Sep. 1, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

Aug. 22, 2026 to Aug. 28, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (ET)

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Jake Auchincloss Democratic Party $2,420,087 $639,623 $6,763,691 As of December 31, 2025
Christopher Boyd Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Steve Chasse Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Ihssane Leckey Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Jason Poulos Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

  • District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
  • Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
  • State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.


Below is the district map in place for this election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

2023_01_03_ma_congressional_district_04.jpg
See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026
Information about competitiveness will be added here as it becomes available.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is D+11. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 11 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Massachusetts' 4th the 119th most Democratic district nationally.[3]

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District
Kamala Harris Democratic PartyDonald Trump Republican Party
59.0%39.0%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Massachusetts, 2024

Massachusetts presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 22 Democratic wins
  • 10 Republican wins
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Winning Party R R R D R R R D D D D D D R R D D D D D R R D D D D D D D D D D
See also: Party control of Massachusetts state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Massachusetts' congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Massachusetts
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 2 9 11
Republican 0 0 0
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 9 11

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Massachusetts' top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in Massachusetts, October 2025
OfficeOfficeholder
GovernorDemocratic Party Maura Healey
Lieutenant GovernorDemocratic Party Kim Driscoll
Secretary of StateDemocratic Party William Galvin
Attorney GeneralDemocratic Party Andrea Campbell

State legislature

Massachusetts State Senate

Party As of February 2026
     Democratic Party 34
     Republican Party 5
     Other 0
     Vacancies 1
Total 40

Massachusetts House of Representatives

Party As of February 2026
     Democratic Party 132
     Republican Party 25
     Other 1
     Unenrolled 0
     Vacancies 2
Total 160

Trifecta control

Massachusetts Party Control: 1992-2025
Eleven years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R D D D
Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Massachusetts in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Massachusetts, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Massachusetts U.S. House Ballot-qualified party 2,000 N/A 6/2/2026 Source
Massachusetts U.S. House Unaffiliated 2,000 N/A 8/25/2026 Source

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 53, § 37," accessed December 6, 2025
  2. ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 53, § 38," accessed December 6, 2025
  3. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025


Massachusetts' current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Edward Markey (D)
Elizabeth Warren (D)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
Democratic Party (11)


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