Mass Voters Retain Recreational Cannabis, Tighten Gun Laws in Midterms
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Massachusetts resoundingly voted to keep recreational cannabis and tighten gun laws during the midterm election on Tuesday.
The Democratic Berkshire delegation was re-elected without contest, and unofficial results show Democratic incumbent Maura Healey taking more than 62 percent of the vote for Massachusetts governor over Republican challenger Michael Minogue.
This coincides with the blue tsunami seen nationally during the midterms, with Democrats flipping seats across the United States and taking control of the House and Senate.
Pittsfield has roughly 10 cannabis dispensaries, alongside several other retail operations and cultivation facilities in Berkshire County. At least three-quarters of the state voted against repealing the legalization that was passed 10 years ago.
According to unofficial results, 46.89 percent of registered Pittsfield voters went to the polls. Pittsfield's 33,934 registered voters cast 15,913 votes, according to these results.
As of Wednesday morning, with more than 85 percent of ballots counted, almost 76 percent of voters opposed Question 8, that would repeal the laws that legalize, regulate, and tax the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana in Massachusetts. It was proposed by an initiative petition.
Similarly, as of 10 a.m., 67 percent of Massachusetts voters have said "yes" on Question 9, which sustains several changes to Massachusetts laws governing firearms: adding school administrators and licensed healthcare providers as parties permitted to ask a court to issue an Extreme Risk Protection Order if an individual is a present danger to self or others, imposing penalties for possessing, creating, and transferring untraceable "ghost gun" firearms, and more.
"At a time when the federal government is focused on the priorities of the gun lobby and rolling back national protections, the people of Massachusetts have reaffirmed our commitment to keeping our residents safe through proven, common-sense regulations," American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Jessica Tang said in a statement released late on Tuesday evening.
"The AFT Massachusetts represents educators and staff working in some of the communities that have benefited the most under these current gun control regulations. With this law, gun violence in Springfield dropped by 20 percent, Chelsea saw a 16 percent drop, while gun violence in Lynn dropped by 13 percent."
The AFT also praised the projected re-election of Healey as governor and Kim Driscoll as lieutenant governor, and Edward Markey as U.S. senator.
"We know that Massachusetts is not immune to the anti-worker, anti-union and anti-immigrant agenda from the White House or their dangerous campaign to dismantle and defund public education. It's impacting working families and communities every single day. The Healey-Driscoll Administration has taken every step to protect our state from this dangerous federal agenda while protecting the values we cherish here in the Commonwealth," Tang said in a statement.
With about 85 percent of votes counted, according to AP News, Question 1 to expand the public record law to governor and legislative offices is passing with 86 percent of the vote, Question 2 allowing the Committee for Public Counsel Services Employees to engage in collective bargaining is passing with 64 percent of the vote, Question 4 for same-day voter registration securing more than 56 percent of votes in support, and Question 6 to establish a Nature For All conservation fund is passing with almost 61 percent of the vote.
Question 3 to replace political primaries with open primaries is failing, with more than 61 percent of voters saying "no," and Question 5, which would modify the state tax revenue limit methodology, is close, but more than 52 percent of voters say "no." Question 7 to reduce the minimum lot sizes for single-family homes is also polling close, 50.4 percent of voters opposed and 49.6 percent in favor.
The Pioneer Institute applauded the outcome on Question 1, and in a statement said voters expressed that government must be held accountable for the people it serves.
"For years, Massachusetts has lagged other states in government transparency, with the Legislature and Governor's Office exempt from the state's public records law, said Mary Connaughton, director of government transparency at Pioneer Institute.
"Pioneer's research and public education have long underscored the importance of opening government records to public scrutiny and ensuring that taxpayers have the information they need to hold elected officials accountable."
The institute said this must be followed by meaningful action, stating "Massachusetts voters delivered a clear message in 2024, when 72 percent approved a ballot question authorizing the state auditor to audit the Legislature, yet implementation has stalled due to the Legislature's refusal to comply. Government must honor the will of the people without hesitation."
The Mass Opportunity Alliance stated its disappointment on the projected outcome of Question 5: "because it means the affordability and competitiveness issues that workers and businesses face remain unaddressed. The Mass Opportunity Alliance was established to shine a light on these challenges."
Tags: ballot measure, election 2026,
