Bristol County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026

On the September 1, 2026 Massachusetts state primary ballot; a plurality wins the nomination and voters not enrolled in a party may take either party's ballot, per the Secretary of the Commonwealth. An open seat: incumbent Thomas Quinn III is retiring. Democrat Chris Markey and Republican Seth Aitken are each unopposed September 1 and meet in November, per the New Bedford Light.

• Christopher Matthew Markey · Democratic▾

  Christopher Matthew Markey is a state representative from Dartmouth and former Bristol County assistant district attorney who tried murder, rape, and child abuse cases, serving on Beacon Hill since 2011, per the Boston Globe and the New Bedford Light. He entered the race after incumbent Thomas M. Quinn III announced in January 2026 he would not seek a fourth term, per the New Bedford Light.

  Priorities: Diverting mentally ill defendants from the criminal justice system, including hiring a full-time forensic psychologist, per the New Bedford Light · Digital forensic labs in district courts so victims can quickly download cell phone evidence, per the New Bedford Light · Expanding personnel, training, and mentorship for district court prosecutors, per the New Bedford Light
• Seth Thomas Aitken · Republican▾

  Seth Thomas Aitken is a Fall River attorney, Army veteran, and longtime Swansea resident who served eight years as an Army combat engineer officer, per his campaign site. He served two stints as a Bristol County assistant district attorney, including as a supervisor overseeing Fall River District Court trials, taught trial practice at UMass Dartmouth School of Law, and spent three years as Fall River City Administrat

  Priorities: Increasing personnel, resources, and training for district court prosecutors, per his campaign site · New partnerships with state and federal agencies to target drugs, guns, gangs, and violence, per his campaign site · A financial-crimes team to pursue public corruption and fraud against businesses and the elderly, per his campaign site

  Campaign site →

On the September 1, 2026 Massachusetts state primary ballot; a plurality wins the nomination and voters not enrolled in a party may take either party's ballot, per the Secretary of the Commonwealth. One seat on the three-member commission is up in 2026; the sitting commissioner is the only certified candidate in either party, per the official county roster and certified lists.

• John Thomas Saunders · DemocraticIncumbent▾

  John Thomas Saunders is a sitting Bristol County commissioner, per the county's official roster.

On the September 1, 2026 Massachusetts state primary ballot; a plurality wins the nomination and voters not enrolled in a party may take either party's ballot, per the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The only certified candidate in either party.

• Christopher T. Saunders · DemocraticIncumbent▾

  Christopher T. Saunders is the sitting Bristol County Treasurer, a Democrat whose office is based at the county complex in Taunton, per the county's official government directory.

On the September 1, 2026 Massachusetts state primary ballot; a plurality wins the nomination and voters not enrolled in a party may take either party's ballot, per the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The only certified candidate in either party.

• Thomas Cleary Hoye, Jr. · DemocraticIncumbent▾

  Thomas Cleary Hoye Jr. is the sitting Bristol Register of Probate, per the court's official site, and the only certified candidate in either party.