Berkshire County to Elect DA, Governor, More in Primary Election

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
11:01AM / Monday, August 10, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield and beyond will elect a Massachusetts governor, attorney general, district attorney for Berkshire County, and other positions in the 2026 state election.

The City Council OK’d the issuance of the State Primary Election warrant, to be held on Tuesday, Sept. 1, and designated polling locations, hours, and police details.

The early voting period for the state primaries will be Aug. 22-28, while early voting for the Nov. 3 state election will be held Oct. 17-30.

In the primary election, voters choose the candidates they prefer for a political party to nominate in the general election held on Nov. 3.

The following positions will be on the primary ballot:

Senator in Congress for the Commonwealth
Governor for the Commonwealth
Lieutenant Governor for the Commonwealth
Attorney General for the Commonwealth
Secretary of State for the Commonwealth
Treasurer of State for the Commonwealth
Auditor for the Commonwealth
Representative in Congress for the First District
Governor's Councillor for the Eighth District
Senator in General Court for the Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden Districts
Representative in General Court for the Second Berkshire District
District Attorney for Berkshire County
Register of Probate for the Berkshire Middle District

There are no challengers on the Democratic primary ballot for the re-election of the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and auditor.

On the Republican primary ballot, Michael Minogue of Hamilton and Brian Shortsleeve or Barnstable are vying for the gubernatorial nomination to take on Maura Healey in November; there are no other GOP primary races involving the Berkshires.

As there are no Republican nominees on the primary ballot for secretary of state or auditor, and no independent running in the general election, meaning the primary will essentially determine the winner in those two elections.

For U.S. senator, Edward Markey is being challenged by Seth Moulton in the Democratic primary; the winner will face off against John Deaton of Bolton, who is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

For the Massachusetts 1st District representative in Congress, Richard Neal is being challenged by Jeromie Whalen of South Hadley; the winner will face off against independent Nadia Milleron of Sheffield.

Closer to home, Paul Mark is unchallenged for state Senate and Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Leigh Davis for state representatives in the Democratic primary, but John Barrett III is being challenged by Andrew Fitch in the 1st Berkshire District.

Tara Jacobs of North Adams is being challenged as District 8 Governor's Councillor by Michael Fenton of Springfield.

There are no Republican or independent candidates for these seats so the winners will essentially be determined by the Democratic primary.

Polling locations for Pittsfield's 7 wards are as usual; polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. during the primaries on Sept. 1.

Pittsfield polling locations:

Ward 1, Precinct A Reid Middle School, 950 North Street
Ward 1, Precinct B Reid Middle School, 950 North Street
Ward 2, Precinct A Morningside Community School, 100 Burbank Street
Ward 2, Precinct B Somerset Fire Station, 9 Somerset Avenue
Ward 3, Precinct A Providence Court, 379 East Street
Ward 3, Precinct B Egremont School, 84 Egremont Avenue
Ward 4, Precinct A Herberg Middle School, 501 Pomeroy Avenue
Ward 4, Precinct B Williams School, 50 Bushey Road
Ward 5, Precinct A Pittsfield Library, One Wendell Avenue
Ward 5, Precinct B Pittsfield Library, One Wendell Avenue
Ward 6, Precinct A Columbus Arms Housing, 65 Columbus Ave.
Ward 6, Precinct B Silvio 0. Conte Community School, 200 West Union St.
Ward 7, Precinct A Pecks Road Fire Station, 54 Pecks Road
Ward 7, Precinct B Capeless Elementary School, 86 Brooks Avenue

Tags: election 2026,

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MSBA: No Stearns in Proposed West Pittsfield School

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:40PM / Tuesday, November 10, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Stearns may not be part of the proposed consolidated West Side elementary school after all.

During the School Building Needs Commission meeting on Monday, the owner's project managers, Skanska, reported that the Massachusetts School Building Authority would not fund a three-school project.

Stearns Elementary School had been included in the feasibility study to see if Crosby Elementary, Conte Community School, and Stearns Elementary could all be located at 517 West St. All three school locations listed in the feasibility study had to be considered; Conte has several site challenges.

Project designers TSKP reviewed 12 different school options, and it was relayed that only the rebuilds of Crosby and Conte could be fully funded. Pittsfield would have to pay for Stearns.

"I also think it's important to look at long-term and affordability, and if we choose to keep Stearns in, we're going to make the decision to keep PHS out," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.

"The city cannot afford it all."

He added that he would vote "no" on Pittsfield High School if the city is doubling down on Stearns. The city is also pursuing a statement of interest to the MSBA to fund repairs to the high school, which is almost a century old.

"I'm not going to go to the taxpayers and say, 'give me two debt exclusions so we can build new schools,'" the mayor said.