Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch defeats a younger challenger in Massachusetts primary

Sep. 2, 2026, 3:11 AM UTCLynch won against Patrick Roath, NBC News projects, who is more than three decades younger and came at the incumbent from the left.Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., speaks at a House hearing in 2025.Michael Brochstein / Sipa USA via AP fileDemocratic Rep. Stephen Lynch has defeated a younger, more progressive primary challenger, NBC news projects, in the highest-profile test remaining for House incumbents after a turbulent primary season.The 71-year-old incumbent won renomination over Patrick Roath, a 39-year-old former aide to former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. With his win, Lynch staved off an attempt to add him to the list of Democratic officeholders dethroned by rivals pushing for generational change. Roath outraised Lynch, outspent him significantly on the airwaves and scored the Boston Globe editorial board’s endorsement to go with backing from Patrick, progressive activist David Hogg’s group Leaders We Deserve, and key teachers’ unions.Patrick Roath talks with a demonstrator in Hingham, Mass., at a rally in 2025 to protest President Donald Trump's policies.Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images fileThat support helped Roath press Lynch for months in one of the toughest fights of his political career. The challenger highlighted Lynch’s various breaks with his party in the past, including votes against the Affordable Care Act and, more recently, for the Laken Riley Act. Roath also called for progressive measures like “Medicare for All,” abolishing ICE and restricting military aid to Israel. But Lynch persevered, trumpeting work he says held President Donald Trump’s administration accountable and leaning on his decades of experience, including deep relationships with unions and other fixtures in the district.“I got to know this district by living here and regularly attending hundreds of town meetings, not just to speak, but to listen and understand the needs and priorities of the people that I represent,” Lynch said during an August forum sponsored by The League of Women Voters Hingham and others. He touted “tens of billions of dollars that I’ve been able to bring back to our district” and added that he “accomplished much of that as a member of the minority party in Congress. You can only imagine what we can do together if the situation changes.” Lynch’s victory means he’s avoided the fate of 11 of his House colleagues — including seven Democrats — who lost primary challenges this year as primary voters took some of their frustrations with Washington out on incumbent lawmakers. Another two senators, both Republicans whose primary opponents got Trump endorsements, also lost primaries this year.