Who's In the Race

At a New Bedford forum on Oct. 6, Rep. Bill Keating and Republican challenger Tyler Macallister clashed over offshore wind, immigration enforcement, and voter ID requirements, according to The New Bedford Light. The two face each other in Massachusetts's 9th District this fall, with a third candidate also on the general-election ballot. ​

Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA) has held the seat since 2010, bringing more than three decades of prior public service in the Massachusetts House, State Senate, and as Norfolk County district attorney. Keating won the Democratic primary on Sept. 1 with about 78 percent of the vote over Craig Swallow. Macallister is a commercial fisherman, a trained marine biologist, and a five-term Mattapoisett Select Board member.

What They Stand For

Keating supports clean energy, including solar and wind, to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, backs health care reform modeled on Massachusetts' system, supports background checks for all firearm purchases, and supports organized labor, and at an October 2026 candidate forum he called the SAVE Act a failed response to a problem that "doesn't exist," citing the low incidence of voter fraud, The New Bedford Light reported.

Macallister has proposed shortening nuclear-reactor permitting to a two-year timeline rather than the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's current ten-year process, according to The New Bedford Light's forum coverage. He has supported nuclear power and solar energy but opposes offshore wind turbines, which he says are ineffective and inefficient. He has said federal dollars should support training for skilled waterfront trades such as welding, plumbing, and electrical work, and help attract technology-sector employers to the region. He has said institutional investors are outbidding working-class families for housing and supports increasing available housing units. On voter ID, Macallister said at the forum, "We have a lot of fraud," The New Bedford Light reported.

The Money Behind the Race

Federal Election Commission filings show Keating raised about $422,000 through Aug. 12 and had about $496,000 in the bank, carrying no debt.

Macallister raised about $175,000 through Aug. 12 and had about $35,000 cash on hand, with about $1,005 in debt, Federal Election Commission filings show.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

The Cook Political Report rated the race "Solid Democratic" as of Sept. 25; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it "Solid Democratic" as of Sept. 29; and Inside Elections rated it "Solid Democratic" as of Oct. 2. Kalshi traders gave Democrats, whose nominee is Keating, a 93.3 percent chance of winning as of Oct. 8, with Republicans at 6.7 percent.

Keating won the district with about 58 percent in 2022 and about 54 percent in 2024. Democrats won all nine of Massachusetts's U.S. House seats in 2022. In the 2024 presidential race, Democrat Kamala Harris carried Massachusetts with about 61 percent of the vote.

Voters in Massachusetts have several upcoming deadlines. Online and in-person voter registration closes Saturday, Oct. 24, by 11:59 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively; mail registration must be postmarked by Tuesday, Oct. 27, according to Mass.gov. Early voting runs Saturday, Oct. 17, through Friday, Oct. 30, and the deadline to apply for a mail ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 27, by 5 p.m., according to the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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