Who's running in Massachusetts's 9th 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 · Bill Keating 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.
Reversing President Trump's tariffs and reasserting Congress's constitutional authority over them.
Restoring Affordable Care Act premium subsidies and reversing Medicaid cuts; Medicare for All as a long-term goal.
Deconstructing ICE as currently run.
Congressional oversight and hearings on the war with Iran.
Protecting district industries such as cranberries from retaliatory tariffs.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative since January 2011 (8th District until 2013, 9th District since).
Former Norfolk County district attorney and Massachusetts state legislator.
Serves on the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees; ranking Democrat on the Europe subcommittee.
Voted in July 2026 with 102 Democrats to cut off $3.3 billion in aid to Israel.
Held one in-person town hall between 2020 and March 2025; expanded from two to three district offices.
Won the September 1, 2026 Democratic primary with 77.5% against Craig Swallow.
Had $495,522 in campaign cash as of August 12, 2026.
Arguments in favor
'More is at stake for our country than ever before': with seniority on Armed Services and Foreign Affairs, a Democratic majority would give him the opportunity and oversight power to claw back funding and hold hearings on the administration.
— Bill Keating, to The Provincetown Independent
He has delivered legislative results for the district on health care, clean water, affordable housing, child care and emergency response, and personally got cranberries removed from Europe's retaliatory tariff list.
— Bill Keating, WATD debate reported by The New Bedford Light, and to The Provincetown Independent
Arguments against
He is inaccessible — holding only one town hall in six years — and is 'a cog for the Democratic Party' whose support for Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker and 'eventually' approach to Medicare for All leaves people waiting while premiums rise.
— Craig Swallow, Democratic primary opponent, WATD debate and The Provincetown Independent
Washington needs fewer career politicians and more people who have actually done the work, and a representative who answers to the district rather than the establishment.
— Tyler MacAllister, Republican opponent, campaign site
What we couldn’t verify
Whether Keating will debate MacAllister had not been reported.
No NRCC material naming Keating in 2026 could be found.
Protecting the fishing fleet and working waterfront with science-based policy.
Bringing down the price of groceries, fuel and housing.
Backing local law enforcement.
Cutting government waste and making Washington answer to the district.
Protecting veterans' and seniors' benefits.
Scrutiny of offshore wind projects such as Vineyard Wind, including who pays to remove the turbines.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Five-term member of the Mattapoisett Select Board, serving as chair; left the board in April 2026.
More than 20 years in Mattapoisett municipal positions; lives in Mattapoisett since 2001.
Commercial fisherman in the region for more than 40 years.
Won the September 1, 2026 Republican primary unopposed.
Raised $143,181 through March 31, 2026, with $54,816 on hand.
Arguments in favor
The district deserves leadership grounded in real-world experience, common sense and accountability — a lifelong local who knows the towns, harbours and fishing families and will answer to voters rather than the establishment.
— Tyler MacAllister campaign site
Arguments against
He is running in a district forecasters rate safe Democratic, where Keating has won every election since 2012 and holds a substantial fundraising lead.
— Forecaster ratings; Federal Election Commission filings
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of MacAllister by name could be found — not from Keating's campaign, the DCCC, or coverage in The New Bedford Light, The Provincetown Independent, CAI or The Sippican Week.
His positions on federal health care, immigration and tariff policy were not published in the coverage found.
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. The November contest is between Democratic incumbent Bill Keating and Republican R. Tyler MacAllister. Keating beat progressive challenger Craig Swallow 77.5% to 22.4% in the Democratic primary; MacAllister was unopposed. No independent candidate appears in Ballotpedia's general election listing or in coverage by The New Bedford Light and The Provincetown Independent. The Secretary of the Commonwealth's list could not be read directly. The district covers Cape Cod and the Islands, New Bedford and most of the South Coast, and much of the South Shore up to Cohasset — 49 towns. Forecasters rate it safe Democratic. Keating had $495,522 on hand as of August 12, 2026; MacAllister had raised $143,181 by March 31.
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.