Top-two primary elections
Massachusetts voters may decide Question 3 in 2026, an initiative to replace party primaries with a single all-party primary in which the top two finishers advance to the general election regardless of party. Supporters argue it would raise turnout and competitiveness; critics say it could weaken parties and frequently produce same-party general-election matchups in a heavily Democratic state.
Should Massachusetts adopt a top-two primary system for state elections?
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Sources
Coalition for Healthy Democracy 2026 — https://ballotpedia.org/Massachusetts_Question_3,_Top-Two_Primary_Elections_Initiative_(2026)
Coalition for Healthy Democracy 2026 registered to support the initiative. Voter Rights MA and Democratic Socialists Against Reactionary Rollbacks registered as the committees to oppose the initiative.
Tufts University Tisch College — https://tischcollege.tufts.edu/take-action/vote/voters-guide-2026-massachusetts-ballot-questions
In a state as blue as Massachusetts, the top two finishers in the all-party primary could often be Democrats—and the general election would thus feature two candidates from the same political party.
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
- Strongly support top-two primaries to boost turnout and let any voter pick any candidate
- Support top-two primaries with stronger party endorsement rules on the ballot
- Undecided or want more study of effects on parties and competition
- Oppose top-two primaries; keep party primaries but allow more open participation
- Strongly oppose; retain closed party primaries and party control of nominations