5 candidates are tracked across 4 Bristol County races for the 2026 election, led by the District Attorney, Bristol District contest. Preview your Bristol County, Massachusetts sample ballot for 2026: browse tracked local races, then enter your ZIP code to confirm which districts and offices appear on your exact ballot.
These race previews show candidates we’re tracking now. A ZIP code shows your statewide and congressional races; a street address adds county and city contests.
Candidate roster last updated Sep 6, 2026 from official election sources. Enter your ZIP code at theballotbrief.com to see your exact 2026 ballot.
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Local Snapshot
Election DayNov. 3, 2026
StateMassachusetts
Races Listed4
Profiles5
Bristol County Sample Ballot 2026: Races We’re Tracking
Local races are address-specific. This guide previews tracked contests, while the lookup tool narrows the list to a voter’s exact address. Tap any name to see the race, full candidate profiles, and everything else on your exact ballot. Massachusetts held its state primary on September 1, 2026: a plurality won each party's contest and voters not enrolled in a party could take either ballot, per the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Results are unofficial until certified.
An open seat: incumbent Thomas Quinn III is retiring. Democrat Chris Markey and Republican Seth Aitken were each unopposed on September 1 and meet on the November 3 ballot, per the New Bedford Light. This is the rare Massachusetts district attorney contest with candidates from both parties in November.
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 · Digital forensic labs in district courts so victims can quickly download cell phone evidence · Expanding personnel, training, and mentorship for district court prosecutors (per the New Bedford Light)
Aitken is a Fall River attorney and long-time Swansea resident who served eight years as an Army officer leading Combat Engineer soldiers, per the campaign site. Aitken previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bristol County DA's office and as Fall River City Administrator from 2021 to 2024, per the campaign site.
Priorities: Increasing personnel, resources, and training for district court prosecutors · New partnerships with state and federal agencies to target drugs, guns, gangs, and violence · A financial-crimes team to pursue public corruption and fraud against businesses and the elderly (per the campaign site)
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. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 6, 2026.
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. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 6, 2026.
Thomas Cleary Hoye Jr. is the sitting Bristol Register of Probate, appointed in 2019 after serving as Taunton's mayor since 2011 and, earlier, as a public school teacher and Taunton city councilor, per press reporting and the court's official mass.gov listing.
Note: Use address lookup for your exact ballot; local pages preview tracked races.Profiles: Hand-verified profiles are added race by race; always confirm with the official election office linked above.
