Who's running in Massachusetts's 4th 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 · Jake Auchincloss currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Building more housing, including through the bipartisan YIMBY Caucus he co-chairs and the Affordable Homes Act.
Supporting Massachusetts's medical research economy, the NIH and the FDA, and lowering prescription drug costs.
Holding social media companies accountable for deepfakes, cyberharassment and harm to minors.
One-on-one online tutoring for young students, funded by a tax on large tech companies' advertising revenue.
Defending democracy and restoring congressional oversight of the Trump administration.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Massachusetts's 4th District since January 2021; won the 2020 open-seat primary with 22.4%.
Co-chair of the bipartisan YIMBY Caucus.
Says he has held more than 40 town halls this term and visited all 35 cities and towns in the district.
Won the September 1, 2026 Democratic primary with 73.1% against Jason Poulos.
Endorsed by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, VoteVets, Giffords, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and more than 20 state legislators including Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem.
Received $400,322 from pharmaceutical and health interests and $547,380 from pro-Israel groups between 2019 and 2024, according to OpenSecrets data reported by Brookline.News.
Raised $3.63 million this cycle through August 12, 2026, with $7.34 million on hand.
Arguments in favor
His record on health care, medical research and social media regulation, plus constant constituent contact — 40-plus town halls and staff who work with every town to bring back federal money — show he both fights and fixes problems: 'Fighting is necessary in today's Washington. So is fixing problems.'
— Jake Auchincloss, to the North Star Reporter
He is focused on defending democracy in Washington, lowering prices in Massachusetts and paving the way for a stronger Democratic Party.
— Georgina Burros, Auchincloss campaign spokesperson, to Brookline.News
Arguments against
He takes hundreds of thousands of dollars from the pharmaceutical industry, then repeats its talking points and shifts the blame for rising drug prices instead of taking the industry on.
— Tom Stalcup, Republican opponent, campaign launch and campaign site
His positions on drug pricing and foreign policy line up with his donors' interests, and voters should ask whether they want a representative 'who speaks for the working class or the donor class'.
— Jason Poulos, Democratic primary opponent, to Brookline.News and the North Star Reporter
What we couldn’t verify
Whether Auchincloss will debate Stalcup had not been reported.
No NRCC material naming Auchincloss in 2026 could be found.
Immediate, broad Medicare drug price negotiation without limits on which drugs are covered.
Reforming the laws that let pharmaceutical companies keep prices high.
Opposing US military intervention abroad, including the Trump administration's war in Iran.
Evidence-based policy over partisan rhetoric.
Lowering health care and housing costs for working families.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Physicist with a PhD; owner of a Brookline company that designs software for remote weather stations.
Former Democrat; registered independent after 2016; registered Republican in 2026 to run.
Won the September 1, 2026 Republican primary unopposed.
Launched his campaign outside Biogen's Cambridge headquarters in April 2026.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
He is 'not the typical Republican in Massachusetts': an anti-war former Sanders supporter who went years without affordable health insurance and would put patients ahead of pharmaceutical companies, confronting the industry directly.
— Tom Stalcup, to Brookline.News and the Fall River Reporter
Arguments against
He faces an incumbent with more than $7 million on hand in a district forecasters rate safe Democratic, and joined the Republican Party only months before the primary, saying he did so because it was required to run.
— Federal Election Commission filings; forecaster ratings; Brookline.News
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Stalcup by name could be found — not from Auchincloss's campaign, the DCCC, the Massachusetts Republican Party or local coverage.
His fundraising totals were not found.
His positions on issues beyond drug prices and foreign policy were not published in the coverage 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. The November contest is between Democratic incumbent Jake Auchincloss, who beat AI researcher Jason Poulos 73.1% to 26.8% in the primary, and Republican Tom Stalcup, who was unopposed. Ballotpedia also lists two independents, Steve Chasse and Matthew Cook, for the general election, and a Hoodline report repeats that listing. But neither has a campaign finance report showing any money raised, no local outlet confirms that either qualified for the ballot, and the Secretary of the Commonwealth's candidate list could not be read because of a bot check. They are therefore not profiled; if either is on the ballot this file is incomplete. The district runs from Newton and Brookline south through Milford, Attleboro and Taunton to Fall River. Forecasters rate it safe Democratic. As of August 12, 2026 Auchincloss had $7.34 million on hand.
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.