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State Representative, 9th Bristol District

Vote for
1
Term
2 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state representative votes on Massachusetts laws and the state budget in the General Court.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Edward M. Pacheco

Democratic

Dartmouth

The gist

  • Supports the Common Start child care legislation
  • Supports considering power sources beyond solar and wind
  • Supports Medicare for All in Massachusetts
  • Supports licensing and taxing online gambling
  • Supports penalties for interfering with elections or election workers
  • Opposes cooperating with ICE under current practices
More about Edward
View sources (1)

  1. Supports the Common Start child care legislation

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: 2026 State House Ninth Bristol District

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I am a strong proponent of the Common Start legislation.”

  2. Supports considering power sources beyond solar and wind

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: 2026 State House Ninth Bristol District

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “We also need to consider other sources of electric generation beside solar and windmills.”

  3. Supports Medicare for All in Massachusetts

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: 2026 State House Ninth Bristol District

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I am a proponent of Medicare for All for 3 reasons.”

  4. Supports licensing and taxing online gambling

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: 2026 State House Ninth Bristol District

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “Massachusetts should explore new revenue opportunities, including licensing and taxation of online gambling”

  5. Supports penalties for interfering with elections or election workers

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: 2026 State House Ninth Bristol District

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “State law should provide clear penalties for anyone attempting to interfere with the administration of elections or intimidate voters and election workers.”

  6. Opposes cooperating with ICE under current practices

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: 2026 State House Ninth Bristol District

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I would not support cooperating with ICE under these circumstances.”

Chester M. Tam

Republican

Technology professional · Dartmouth

The gist

  • Supports streamlined permitting for starter and workforce housing
  • Opposes unnecessary taxes, fees and unfunded mandates
  • Proposes indexing local aid to revenue growth and inflation
  • Supports independent reviews of energy projects' rate effects
  • Supports price transparency and oversight of insurers, PBMs
  • Supports paper records, routine audits and ballot custody
  • Supports immigration enforcement focused on public-safety threats
More about Chester
View sources (1)

  1. Supports streamlined permitting for starter and workforce housing

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: 2026 State House Ninth Bristol District

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I would support streamlined permitting for starter and workforce housing, reuse of suitable vacant properties”

  2. Opposes unnecessary taxes, fees and unfunded mandates

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: 2026 State House Ninth Bristol District

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I will oppose unnecessary taxes, fees, regulations, and unfunded mandates that raise the price of housing, transportation, utilities, and groceries.”

  3. Proposes indexing local aid to revenue growth and inflation

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: 2026 State House Ninth Bristol District

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I would index unrestricted local aid to state-revenue growth and inflation; fully fund Chapter 70 education and state mandates”

  4. Supports independent reviews of energy projects' rate effects

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: 2026 State House Ninth Bristol District

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “independent reviews of each major project's effect on rates, reliability, fishing, and local jobs”

  5. Supports price transparency and oversight of insurers, PBMs

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: 2026 State House Ninth Bristol District

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I support enforceable price transparency, stronger oversight of insurers and pharmacy-benefit managers, and enforcement of the state's cost-growth benchmark.”

  6. Supports paper records, routine audits and ballot custody

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: 2026 State House Ninth Bristol District

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I support secure voter-registration systems, documented ballot custody, paper records, routine audits, bipartisan observation, and stronger municipal cybersecurity.”

  7. Supports immigration enforcement focused on public-safety threats

    VOTE411 Voter Guide: 2026 State House Ninth Bristol District

    Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org

    “I support lawful enforcement focused on genuine public-safety threats while opposing unlawful federal overreach”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.