Who's running in Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Lori Trahan currently holds this seat
Low confidenceLow confidenceOnly one weak source, dated material, or indirect evidence. Treat specifics with caution.What would raise it: An official filing record and at least one independent report about this candidate would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Protecting children online, which she calls one of Congress's most urgent responsibilities.
Transparency rules for frontier artificial intelligence, through a bipartisan bill with Rep. Jay Obernolte.
Rebuilding trust with working families and retaking the House for Democrats.
Environmental protection, including the Merrimack River.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Massachusetts's 3rd District since January 2019; won the 2018 Democratic primary by 155 votes, upheld after a recount.
Former chief of staff to Rep. Marty Meehan; former CEO of the Concire Leadership Institute.
Co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, re-elected to the post in late 2024.
Investigated by the House Ethics Committee over $300,000 in 2018 campaign loans sourced from a joint account with her husband; the committee dismissed the inquiry in July 2020.
Lifetime League of Conservation Voters score of 97%.
Won the September 1, 2026 Democratic primary unopposed.
Had $1.68 million in campaign cash as of March 31, 2026.
Arguments in favor
Her fellow House Democrats chose her again to help lead the caucus's strategy and communications, a role she has used to argue the party must rebuild trust with working families and win back the House in 2026.
— Lori Trahan, statement on her re-election as Democratic Policy and Communications Committee co-chair
Arguments against
She repeatedly told the public in 2019 that she had personally had the funds for $300,000 she lent her 2018 campaign, when the money had in fact come from her husband's companies via a joint account — and she was cleared by the Ethics Committee despite not cooperating with the Office of Congressional Ethics.
— The Intercept (2020), drawing on a Boston Globe investigation and the Office of Congressional Ethics report
What we couldn’t verify
No criticism of Trahan by Gary Grossi or the NRCC for the 2026 race could be found; Grossi's campaign materials focus on his own background and priorities.
No 2026 newspaper endorsement or local campaign coverage of the general election could be found in the Lowell Sun, Eagle-Tribune or WHAV.
Her fundraising after March 31, 2026 was not found.
Whether she will debate Grossi had not been reported.
Affordable, evidence-based energy policy to lower household costs.
Supporting law enforcement alongside community partnerships and community-based mental health services.
Exposing and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in government.
Term limits for members of Congress, with end-of-tour audits.
Protecting free speech and the right to bear arms.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Retired US Army colonel; 29 years of service including deployment to Mosul and Al Asad, Iraq, in 2006–07 and deputy commander for nursing of the 399th Combat Support Hospital.
Nurse at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the West Palm Beach VA and the Bedford VA Hospital (2000–2022); UMass Boston nursing graduate.
Vice chair of the Acton Republican Town Committee.
Won the September 1, 2026 Republican primary unopposed.
Had $4,529 in campaign cash as of March 31, 2026.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
A nurse, soldier and neighbour who worked two or three jobs to support his family and grew up in public housing, he understands the struggles of working families and is stepping up because the nation he served is heading in the wrong direction.
— Gary Grossi campaign site
Arguments against
He had raised about $4,500 by March 2026 against an incumbent with $1.68 million on hand, in a district forecasters rate safe Democratic.
— Federal Election Commission filings; forecaster ratings
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Grossi by name could be found — not from Trahan's campaign, the DCCC, or local coverage.
No news coverage of his campaign could be found; his positions come only from his campaign site.
His fundraising after March 31, 2026 was not found.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Massachusetts held its state primary on September 1, 2026, and both major-party nominees were unopposed. The November contest is between Democratic incumbent Lori Trahan and Republican Gary Grossi. Ballotpedia and Wikipedia also list an unenrolled candidate, computer programmer Kevin Ades, for the general election, but his ballot qualification (2,000 certified signatures) could not be confirmed: the Secretary of the Commonwealth's candidate list is behind a bot check that could not be passed, no news report names him as qualified, and his campaign site is a pre-launch page. He is therefore not profiled; if he is on the ballot this file is incomplete. The district covers Boston's northwestern suburbs — Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, Andover, Methuen, Concord and Fitchburg. Forecasters rate it safe Democratic. As of March 31, 2026 Trahan had $1.68 million on hand and Grossi $4,529. News coverage of this race is very thin.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Massachusetts ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.