Worcester County voters went to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, and the results began to shape up early Wednesday morning. The Associated Press (AP) called the governor’s race for Democrat Maura Healey and the U.S. Senate race for Democrat Ed Markey within hours of poll closure at 8 p.m.

Governor’s Race

In the city of Worcester, Healey captured 66.7% of the vote while her Republican opponent, Minogue, earned 28.6%. A third‑party candidate, James, received 4.3%. The margin reflects a strong endorsement of Healey’s agenda in the county’s largest municipality.

U.S. Senate

Senator Markey won 67.8% of the Worcester vote, defeating Republican challenger Deaton, who earned 26.5%. Independent candidates Ayyadurai and Tache split the remainder of the vote with 2.3% and 3.3% respectively.

Congressional Districts

Four congressional districts intersect Worcester County. Incumbent Democrat James P. McGovern ran unopposed and secured another term. In the 3rd District, Democrat Mara Dolan (incumbent) also ran unopposed, as did Democrat Tara J. Jacobs in the 8th District. Both districts cover a mix of Worcester‑County towns and parts of neighboring Middlesex County.

Statewide Ballot Questions

Voters faced nine statewide questions. The AP has called seven of them:

• Question 1: A yes vote would place most legislative and executive records under the state public records law.
• Question 2: A yes vote would allow employees of the Committee for Public Counsel Services to unionize.
• Question 3: A yes vote would replace partisan primaries with a top‑two open primary.
• Question 4: A yes vote would let eligible residents register or update their address at the polling place on Election Day.
• Question 5: A yes vote would tie the state’s annual revenue cap to the prior year’s revenue plus wage growth, returning excess collections to taxpayers.
• Question 6: A yes vote would create a Nature for All Fund funded by taxes on sporting goods, recreational vehicles and golf courses.
• Question 7: A yes vote would allow single‑family homes on lots of at least 5,000 square feet with public water and sewer, while preserving local control over height, setbacks and parking.

Questions 8 and 9 remain too close to call. Question 8 proposes repealing the 2024 law that legalized, regulated and taxed adult‑use marijuana; the Worcester City Council has publicly opposed repeal, citing potential loss of city revenue. Question 9 would keep the 2024 firearms regulation law, which expands rules on ghost guns, semi‑automatic rifles and extreme‑risk protection orders; a no vote would repeal that law.

County Offices

County Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. (Democrat, incumbent) and Register of Probate Stephanie K. Fattman (Republican, incumbent) both ran unopposed and were re‑elected.

What’s Next

The AP’s preliminary totals will be updated as town clerks certify their returns and the state’s PD43+ election statistics database posts final numbers. Voters and candidates alike will watch the two remaining ballot questions closely, as they could influence future state policy on marijuana and firearms regulation.

For a complete breakdown of results by city and town, see the Worcester County election page on the Associated Press website.

Original reporting: This Week in Worcester — read the source article.