The state Senate race for the Second Bristol and Plymouth District, Mark C.W. Montigny and Robert Scott McConnell, on Dartmouth's official sample ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026 state election
The Second Bristol and Plymouth District state Senate race on Dartmouth's official sample ballot for Nov. 3. Image: Dartmouth Town Clerk, official sample ballot

SOUTH COAST Voters in the 15 South Coast towns SC360 covers will choose 13 state legislators on Nov. 3, three senators and 10 representatives, and nine of those races are contests between a Democrat and a Republican.

Four candidates have no opponent on the ballot, two from each party, and one House seat has no incumbent running.

Contested seats

Republicans are challenging six Democratic incumbents. In the Senate, Michael J. Rodrigues of Westport faces Gabriel Boomer Amaral of Fall River in the 1st Bristol and Plymouth District, and Mark C.W. Montigny of New Bedford faces Robert Scott McConnell of Fairhaven in the 2nd Bristol and Plymouth.

In the House, Carole A. Fiola of Fall River faces Robert G. Anctil of Freetown in the 6th Bristol, Alan Silvia of Fall River faces Talos D. Farris of Fall River in the 7th Bristol, Steven J. Ouellette of Westport faces Jesse W. St. Gelais of Acushnet in the 8th Bristol, and Mark D. Sylvia of Fairhaven faces Brendalee A. Smith of Fairhaven in the 10th Bristol.

Democrats are challenging two Republican incumbents. John Robert Gaskey of Carver faces Sarah G. Hewins of Carver in the 2nd Plymouth District, which includes Wareham, and Justin E. Thurber of Somerset faces Jamison D. Souza of Somerset in the 5th Bristol.

The open seat

The 9th Bristol District, which covers Dartmouth and part of New Bedford, has no incumbent on the ballot. Rep. Christopher Markey, a Democrat who holds the seat, is the Democratic nominee for Bristol district attorney after winning the September primary without an opponent, according to state election results. He faces Republican Seth Thomas Aitken of Swansea for that office.

The race for Markey's House seat is between Democrat Edward M. Pacheco and Republican Chester M. Tam, both of Dartmouth.

Unopposed

Two Republicans and two Democrats have no opponent. Sen. Kelly A. Dooner of Taunton, a Republican, is unopposed in the 3rd Bristol and Plymouth District, which includes Dighton, Marion, Rehoboth and Wareham. Rep. Steven S. Howitt of Seekonk, a Republican, is unopposed in the 4th Bristol, which includes Rehoboth and part of Swansea.

In New Bedford, Democratic Reps. Christopher M. Hendricks of the 11th Bristol and Antonio F.D. Cabral of the 13th Bristol are the only candidates for their seats, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's candidate list.

Congress

Both South Coast seats in Congress are contested. In the 4th District, which includes Dighton, Fall River, Freetown, Rehoboth, Somerset and Swansea, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Newton faces Republican Thomas Stalcup of Brookline. In the 9th District, which includes Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Rochester, Wareham and Westport, Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Keating of Bourne faces Republican R. Tyler Macallister of Mattapoisett.

How to vote

Early voting ends Friday, Oct. 30, and a day sooner in Dighton and Wareham. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Each town's ballot, polling places and early voting hours are in the SC360 voter guide at southcoast360.com/vote/index.html.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.

Notes

Candidates, parties, hometowns and re-election lines come from the official ballots of 11 South Coast towns. The two New Bedford-only House races come from the Secretary of the Commonwealth's candidate list, since New Bedford has not posted a specimen ballot. Who holds each seat now comes from the Legislature's member lists, and the district attorney primary from the state's election results.

Corrections

No corrections to this story. If something here is wrong, tell us. Every correction is dated on the story and listed in our public log.

Sources (4)
  1. SC360 voter guide data: official specimen and sample ballots of 11 South Coast towns (Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, Somerset, Swansea, Wareham, Westport), and the Secretary of the Commonwealth's 2026 state election candidate listRead Oct. 26, 2026.
  2. Massachusetts Legislature: House membersRead Oct. 26, 2026.
  3. Massachusetts Legislature: Senate membersRead Oct. 26, 2026.
  4. Secretary of the Commonwealth election statistics: Christopher Matthew Markey, 2026 Bristol district attorney Democratic primaryRead Oct. 26, 2026.