Keating Wins Ninth Term in Massachusetts
Democrat Bill Keating defeated Republican R. Tyler Macallister in Massachusetts' 9th Congressional District on Election Day.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat Bill Keating won a ninth term in Congress, defeating Republican R. Tyler Macallister in Massachusetts' 9th Congressional District. The Associated Press projected Keating the winner at 10:27 p.m. on November 3, 2026.
Why it matters
The result keeps the 9th District seat with a long-serving Democrat as national forecasts gave Democrats a strong chance of winning a House majority. Keating said Democrats needed to regain control of the House to restrain the president and address affordability.
With about 35% of votes counted, Keating held a 62% to 38% lead over Macallister, and the New York Times forecast gave Democrats over a 95% chance of winning the U.S. House. The source does not report final district-wide totals.
The players
Bill Keating
Keating is a Democrat who first entered Massachusetts politics in the Massachusetts House in 1976 and later served in the state Senate and as Norfolk County district attorney before his congressional career.
R. Tyler Macallister
Macallister is a Republican fisherman, business owner and former Mattapoisett Select Board member who ran against Keating in the 9th District.
The details
Keating, a Democrat first elected to Congress in 2010, defeated Macallister, a fisherman, business owner and former Mattapoisett Select Board member. The 9th District includes New Bedford, the Cape and Islands, and parts of the South Coast and South Shore.
Timeline
September 2026: Keating defeated New Bedford activist Craig Swallow in the Democratic primary.
October 2026: Candidates debated at a forum hosted by The Light and League of Women Voters.
November 3, 2026: Election Day; the Associated Press projected Keating the winner at 10:27 p.m.
Political Context
Keating's stated priority is restoring Congress's authority over tariffs, a recurring point of tension between legislative and executive power. Opposition arguments from Macallister's campaign are not detailed in the source.
Keating's win keeps the 9th District with a Democrat who has served since 2010, and his stated priorities are restoring congressional tariff authority and addressing affordability. Voters in the district's communities, including New Bedford, the Cape and Islands, and parts of the South Coast and South Shore, now have the same representative for another term.
The takeaway
Congressional seats can hinge on a few hours of counting, so results are best read once final totals are certified. Keating's reelection shows how long-term incumbency and primary contests shape who represents a district.
Further reading
For more on how the state's races are decided, see Elections coverage for Massachusetts.
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