The Ballot Brief
Bristol County, Massachusetts

District Attorney, Bristol District

Markey and Aitken are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Bristol County election filings.

About this race

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.

What this office does

District attorney or prosecutor. The district attorney is the chief prosecutor for the county or judicial district. The office decides which criminal charges to file, negotiates pleas, tries cases and, in many states, advises county government or handles child support and juvenile matters. The office sets local charging and diversion policies within state law.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Massachusetts › Bristol County › District Attorney, Bristol District

Christopher Matthew Markey

Democratic

Top priorities

From other published sources

  • 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
Biography

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.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Seth Thomas Aitken

Republican

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • 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
Biography

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.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
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Questions about this race

Who is running for District Attorney, Bristol District in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for District Attorney, Bristol District on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Christopher Matthew Markey and Seth Thomas Aitken. Candidate information follows official Bristol County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the District Attorney, Bristol District election in Massachusetts?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Massachusetts are on the Massachusetts election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Bristol County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Bristol County and state election office filings, last verified October 16, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Massachusetts election office, or see the full Bristol County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Bristol County ballot

26 tracked races in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Bristol County TreasurerRegister of Probate, Bristol CountyMassachusetts Senate, Bristol and Norfolk DistrictSee all 26 Bristol County races
Candidate profiles
Christopher Matthew Markey, full profileSeth Thomas Aitken, full profileOfficial Massachusetts election office