Incumbent Marjorie Decker and Evan MacKay are running in the Democratic primary for the 25th Middlesex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives on Sept. 1. This primary a rematch of the 2024 Democratic primary in which Decker defeated McKay, 50.3% to 49.7%, or by 41 votes, following a recount.
In Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey, both candidates said transparency is one of the top three messages of their campaigns.
Decker wrote: “I believe transparency and accountability are essential to building trust and ensuring government works for everyone. That’s why I communicate through weekly newsletters, town halls, office hours, and regular meetings with constituents. I made my committee votes public before the rules required it and fought to make legislative votes more accessible.”
MacKay wrote: “Government transparency is essential to a healthy and functioning democracy. Voters in my district and across the state deserve better than a legislature full of politicians who say one thing and then do the opposite.”
Transparency has been a theme in several Democratic primaries for the Massachusetts House this year. Those primaries are happening in the context of a conflict between the Legislature and the state auditor.
In 2024, Massachusetts voters approved Question 1 72% to 28% authorizing the state Auditor to audit the Legislature's operations. In February 2026, Auditor Diana DiZoglio (D) sued the Legislature, saying it had not complied with her efforts to initiate an audit. On June 2, the state House voted 125-28 to approve a bill limiting the auditor's authority to audit the legislature. Three of 132 Democrats and all 25 Republicans voted against the bill.
Decker voted in favor of the legislative audit bill. MacKay is one of seven Democratic candidates who are running against incumbents who voted for the legislative audit bill and who mentioned transparency in their campaign materials.
Here’s some more background on the candidates in the 25th Middlesex District.
Decker is also running on her record, including serving as Chair of the Legislature’s Joint Committee of Public Health. Decker wrote that she led efforts to increase the Earned Income Tax Credit from 15% to 40% and increase the Child and Family Tax Credit. She also said that she authored “one of the nation’s most comprehensive maternal health equity laws” and “legislation protecting access to health care for transgender patients.”
MacKay, who describes himself as a democratic socialist, is running on his experience as a union organizer and wrote that as the former President of the Harvard Graduate Students Union, UAW Local 5118, he “helped lead one of the largest union victories in Massachusetts in more than a decade and fought for stronger protections against harassment and discrimination.” Mackay also wrote that he “became active in Unite All Workers for Democracy, a reform movement within the United Auto Workers that helped win direct elections for top union leadership and supported Shawn Fain’s successful campaign for UAW president … ”
Both candidates provided endorsement lists in response to our survey.
Decker listed Reproductive Equity Now, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund, Massachusetts Nurses Association, Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund, Boston Teachers Union, American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts, and Massachusetts AFL-CIO, as well as several trade unions, among her endorsements.
MacKay listed DiZoglio, U.S. House candidate Claire Valdez (D-N.Y.), the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Our Revolution Massachusetts, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Boston DSA, Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts, Progressive Victory, and Run for Something, as well as several local officials and unions, among his endorsements
Click here and here to read both candidates' full survey responses. Click here to read more about the Democratic primaries for Massachusetts’ House of Representatives.