Here’s What to Know About Tuesday’s Massachusetts Primary Elections

When Massachusetts voters head to the polls Tuesday for the 2024 primary elections, they will see lots of Democrats and few contested races. Here’s your guide to the primary ballot.

U.S. Senator

Incumbent Sen. Elizabeth A. Warren (D-Mass.) has never faced a primary challenge since her election to the Senate in 2012, and this election cycle is no exception. The progressive former Harvard Law School professor and 2020 presidential candidate is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

Meanwhile, three Republicans — engineer Robert J. Antonellis, Quincy City Council President Ian Cain, and attorney and former marine John Deaton — are facing off to run against Warren in the November general election.

None are likely to pose a genuine threat to Warren, who is expected to cruise to reelection in deep-blue Massachusetts.

U.S. Representative

All of the state’s nine incumbent representatives — all Democrats, including Cambridge representatives Katherine M. Clark and Ayanna S. Pressley — are running unopposed.

Only Massachusetts’ 8th congressional district, which includes part of Boston, has any Republican challengers. Three Republicans are facing off to challenge Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass.), including Robert G. Burke, who lost to Lynch by a landslide in 2022.

State Elections

Cambridge’s only contested state primary election will see 11-year incumbent representative, Democrat Marjorie C. Decker, run against staunch progressive Evan C. MacKay ’19 — the most serious threat to Decker’s seat since her election to the 25th Middlesex district in 2012.

MacKay, a former president of Harvard’s graduate students union has hammered Decker on issues of government transparency, while Decker has run on her record as chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health and is relying on her well-established network of local support.

The city’s five other incumbent state representatives — David Rogers, Steven Owens, Mike Connolly, Daniel J. Ryan, and Michael J. Moran — will be running unopposed in the Democratic primaries, as will Cambridge’s three incumbent State Senators: Sal N. DiDomenico, William N. Brownsberger ’78, and Patricia D. Jehlen.

No candidates have filed for the Republican primary in any of Cambridge’s state legislature races.

Governor’s Council

All eight of Massachusetts’ Governor’s Council seats will be up for election, with Cambridge voters split between the third and sixth districts. Governor’s Council representatives advise the Governor — currently Maura T. Healey ’92 — on “gubernatorial appointments, pardons and commutations, and warrants for the state treasury,” according to the state’s website.

In Cambridge, 25-year incumbent Marilyn P. Devaney will face public defender Mara Dolan in a rematch for District 3’s primary — a race Devaney narrowly won in 2022 by 1,658 votes.

Dolan was endorsed by four of Devaney’s colleagues — Councilors Terrence Kennedy, Joseph Ferreira, Paul DePalo, and Eileen Duff — days before the election, adding more fuel to the already hotly contested race.

Kennedy will run unopposed for District 6, and no candidates have filed for the Republican primary in either district.

Register of Deeds

Incumbent Democrat Maria C. Curtatone — one of 21 elected Registers of Deeds in Massachusetts who keeps records on real estate ownership — is running unopposed in the Democratic primary with no Republican challenger. She has served in the role since 2013.

Clerk of Courts

Incumbent Middlesex County Clerk of Courts Michael A. Sullivan — a Democrat whose role involves maintaining court records — is running unopposed for reelection. Sullivan previously served on the Cambridge City Council for more than a decade, including two terms as mayor, and was elected clerk of courts in 2007.

Polls will be open Tuesday, Sept. 3, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Correction: September 2, 2024

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated how long Marjorie Decker has served as state representative. She has served in office for 11 years.

—Staff writer Benjamin Isaac can be reached at benjamin.isaac@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @benjaminisaac_1.

—Staff writer Avani B. Rai can be reached at avani.rai@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @avaniiiirai.