Who won in Massachusetts? And all you need to know about Mass ballot questions 2026 results on gun-control
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On November 3, 2026, polls were held in Massachusetts for nine seats in US House of Representative, Senate as well as nine statewide ballot questions covering government transparency, election rules, housing, marijuana legalisation and gun control. The results have now been declared for all these.
The polls for the nine House seats have been swept by the Democratic party while incumbent Democrat Ed Markey defeated Republican challenger John Deaton to win another term in the US Senate. Voters also backed several proposed changes to state laws, including expanding public records access and introducing same-day voter registration. However, proposals to introduce all-party primaries and repeal recreational marijuana legalisation were rejected.
Here’s a look at the Massachusetts election results and the outcome of all nine ballot questions.
Who won in Massachusetts?
Democrats won all nine US House races in Massachusetts, retaining the party’s dominance in the state’s congressional delegation.
The winners included:
– Richard Neal
– James McGovern
– Lori Trahan
– Jake Auchincloss
– Katherine Clark
– Dan Koh
– Ayanna Pressley
– Stephen Lynch
– Bill Keating
Massachusetts Senate election results
Democrat Ed Markey won re-election to the US Senate, defeating Republican challenger John Deaton. Markey, who has served in the Senate since 2013, overcame a primary challenge from Representative Seth Moulton before securing another term. Deaton, a lawyer and former Marine, challenged the incumbent in the general election. The Associated Press declared Markey the winner at 8:01 p.m. EST on Election Day.
Massachusetts ballot questions 2026 results: What happened to all nine questions?
Massachusetts had nine statewide ballot questions in 2026, the highest number since 1994. The proposals covered public records, public-sector unions, election procedures, taxpayer refunds, conservation, housing, marijuana and gun control. Here is a breakdown of the results.
Question 1: Public records law expansion passesMassachusetts voters overwhelmingly approved Question 1, which expands the state’s public records law to include the Legislature and the governor’s office. The proposal aims to increase government transparency by making more government documents accessible to the public. As of Wednesday morning, November 4, the Yes side was leading by approximately 86% to 14%.
Question 2: Public defenders’ unionisation proposal passesQuestion 2, which allows employees of Massachusetts’ public defender agency to unionize, was approved by voters. Over 65 percent voters approved it.
Question 3: All-party primaries proposal rejectedMassachusetts voters rejected Question 3, which proposed replacing the state’s existing party-based primary system with all-party primaries from 2028. Under the proposed system, candidates from different political parties would compete in the same primary, with the top two candidates advancing to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
Question 4: Same-day voter registration approvedThe proposa to introduce Election Day voter registration in Massachusetts have been approved. The Associated Press called the race for the Yes side shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday. The measure will allow eligible residents to register to vote and cast a provisional ballot on Election Day, including in state and municipal elections. The system is already in place in 20 other states. Massachusetts’ new law is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2028. The state’s presidential primary in March 2028 could be the first election in which the system is used.
Question 5: Taxpayer rebate proposal concedes defeatQuestion 5 proposed changing Massachusetts’ revenue cap rules to make taxpayer rebates more frequent. The proposal sought to modify the state’s existing system for returning excess tax revenue to residents when collections exceed a specified limit. Although the Associated Press initially described the contest as too close to call, the Question 5 campaign conceded defeat shortly before 7:45 a.m. Wednesday.
Question 6: Nature conservation fund wins voter approvalQuestion 6 secured a victory, directing lawmakers to establish a dedicated nature conservation fund using sales tax revenue from sporting goods, recreational vehicles and golf-related spending. The proposed fund is expected to generate approximately $65 million annually once fully implemented, experts told Wbur.com.
Question 7: Single-family housing proposal remains too close to callThe proposal to make it easier to build single-family homes on smaller plots of land ended in a tie. The proposal would override certain local zoning restrictions and reduce minimum lot-size requirements for single-family housing. The measure has divided voters, with unofficial results showing the Yes and No sides tied at approximately 50% each.
Question 8: Recreational marijuana repeal rejectedMassachusetts voters overwhelmingly rejected Question 8, which sought to repeal the state’s recreational marijuana legalisation law. The proposal would have reversed the law approved by voters in 2016, putting the state’s multi-billion-dollar legal cannabis industry at risk. Unofficial results showed approximately three-quarters of voters opposing the repeal effort, allowing the existing recreational marijuana framework to remain in place.
Question 9: Effort to repeal gun-control law failsQuestion 9, which sought to repeal Massachusetts’ 2024 gun-control legislation, was also rejected by voters. The measure asked residents whether the state’s gun-control law should remain in effect. A Yes vote supported retaining the law, while a No vote favoured repealing it. More than two-thirds of voters backed keeping the legislation, dealing a decisive setback to the repeal campaign.
