Finegold, Kassner Win Reelection in Massachusetts
Barry Finegold and Kristin Kassner retained their Massachusetts legislative seats in the state election held Tuesday.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democratic state Senator Barry Finegold won reelection for the 2nd Essex and Middlesex district with 64% of the vote over Ted Semesnyei, while state Representative Kristin Kassner won reelection for the 2nd Essex House seat with 59% over Daniel Kelly. Results are unofficial as reported.
Why it matters
Both incumbents retained their seats, with Finegold returning to a Senate district he has represented in two separate stints. Kassner's win extends her tenure after she was first elected to the 2nd Essex seat in 2022.
Finegold received 64% of the Senate vote against Semesnyei's 36%, and Kassner received 59% of the House vote against Kelly's 41%. The figures are unofficial as reported and have not been certified.
The players
Barry Finegold
Barry Finegold is a Massachusetts Democrat who has served as state senator for the 2nd Essex and Middlesex district in two separate terms.
Kristin Kassner
Kristin Kassner is a Massachusetts state representative who was first elected to represent the 2nd Essex House district in 2022.
The details
Finegold won 5,371 votes in Amesbury to Semesnyei's 2,509, while Semesnyei took Merrimac 2,534 to 1,905. In the House race, Kassner carried Newbury 2,295 to 1,515 and Rowley 1,631 to 1,537 over Kelly, who was making his first bid for public office.
Timeline
Finegold first served as state senator for 2nd Essex and Middlesex from 2011 to 2015 and has served again from 2019 to present.
Kassner was first elected to represent 2nd Essex in 2022.
Voters cast ballots in the state election held Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Political Context
Both races were contested within the existing 2nd Essex and Middlesex Senate and 2nd Essex House districts, with the incumbents holding seats in the same constituencies they have represented. The results reflect continuity in these legislative districts rather than a change in their boundaries.
Voters in the 2nd Essex and Middlesex Senate district and the 2nd Essex House district will have Finegold and Kassner representing them in the next legislative session. The result keeps existing representation in place for those districts.
The takeaway
Incumbency held in both contests, with Finegold returning to a Senate seat he previously held and Kassner extending her House tenure. Residents can track the certified results once official totals are released.
Further reading
For more on how these races fit into the state's contests, see Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily News of Newburyport.
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