Neal and Milleron Face Off in First District
Longtime Congressman Richard Neal and independent challenger Nadia Milleron contest the Western Massachusetts seat in a rematch of their 2024 race.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Do you trust a long-serving congressman more than a newcomer to represent your area?
Democrat Richard Neal and independent Nadia Milleron are competing for Massachusetts' First District House seat in a rematch of the 2024 election. Polls close Tuesday night, and officials cannot legally turn away voters who are in line when polling locations close.
Why it matters
The outcome determines who represents the First District in Congress, a region spanning Western Massachusetts. Neal is seeking a 20th term, and the contest pits long-serving experience against a challenger campaigning on working-class priorities and campaign finance limits.
Neal, seeking his 20th House term, has nearly 40 years of experience on Capitol Hill, while Milleron, an attorney, graduated from Smith College in 1986. Public polling figures and fundraising totals for the contest were not available in the source material.
The players
Richard Neal
Richard Neal is a longtime Democratic Congressman representing Massachusetts' First District and is seeking a 20th term in the U.S. House.
Nadia Milleron
Nadia Milleron is an attorney and independent candidate who earned her undergraduate degree from Smith College in 1986.
The details
Neal is campaigning on his decades of experience to deliver for the region. Milleron is running as an independent on a platform of fighting for working-class families, pursuing major tax changes, and limiting PAC spending.
Timeline
2024: Neal and Milleron previously faced each other in the First District election.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Polls close in the First District race.
Political Context
This election is a direct rematch of the 2024 contest between Neal and Milleron, so voters are weighing the same candidates again with the benefit of a full prior campaign. Neal's 20th-term bid and Milleron's independent run keep the race framed around incumbency versus an outside challenge.
Voters in the First District will choose their House representative when polls close Tuesday night. If you are in line at closing time, you will still be allowed to cast your ballot.
The takeaway
The First District race is a rematch, so the choice comes down to whether voters want to keep Neal's long tenure or back Milleron's independent platform. Check your polling location and closing time before Tuesday.
Further reading
For more on how the state's races are shaping up, see Elections coverage across Massachusetts.
Live Poll
Do you trust a long-serving congressman more than a newcomer to represent your area?
