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U.S. House · Massachusetts's 8th District

South Boston, Quincy and southern suburbs of Boston, including Braintree, Weymouth and parts of Middlesex County.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Stephen Lynch, projected winner

CandidateVotesShare
Stephen Lynch195,60669.4%
Robert Burke75,61926.8%
Rasheed Walters10,5793.8%

About 99% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

  • Incumbent Stephen Lynch defeated Patrick Roath 56.9%-43.1% in the September 1, 2026 Democratic primary. Robert Burke won the Republican primary unopposed (99.0% of the vote, having previously run against Lynch in 2022 and 2024). Rasheed Walters is running as an unenrolled (independent) candidate.[1]

On the November 3 ballot · 3 candidates

Stephen LynchDINCUMBENTPROJECTED WINNERU.S. Representative (since 2001)Full profile →Robert BurkeRFull profile →Rasheed WaltersINDFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

  • Stephen Lynch
    Recorded votes[44][45][46]

    Voted yes on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 2021-09-24). Voted yes on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 8296, 2022-07-15). Voted no on Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36, 2017-10-03), which would have banned most abortions after 20 weeks.

  • Robert Burke
    —
  • Rasheed Walters
    —

Stricter gun laws

  • Stephen Lynch
    Recorded votes[39][40][41][42]

    Voted yes on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27), which would have required background checks on most private gun sales. Voted yes on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29), which would have banned the sale of many semiautomatic assault weapons. Voted yes on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24), which expanded background checks for buyers under 21 and funded state red-flag programs. Voted no on Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38, 2017-12-06), which would have required states to honor other states' concealed-carry permits.

  • Robert Burke
    —
  • Rasheed Walters
    —

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Stephen Lynch
    Recorded votes[22][23][24][25][26][27][28]

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted no on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11). Voted yes on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04; 2021-03-18).

  • Robert Burke
    —
  • Rasheed Walters
    Supports[9]

    Campaign site says he would push for federal funding to increase deportation capacity and for removal proceedings after state convictions of people who are in the U.S. illegally.

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

  • Stephen Lynch
    —
  • Robert Burke
    —
  • Rasheed Walters
    Opposes[11]

    Campaign site opposes the MBTA Communities Act, a state law requiring zoning for multifamily housing, and says he would defend local zoning control.

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Stephen Lynch
    Recorded votes[23][24][25][35][34]

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03; 2017-12-20), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent. Voted yes on Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022-08-12), which added a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a stock-buyback excise tax.

  • Robert Burke
    —
  • Rasheed Walters
    Supports[10]

    Campaign site says he would raise corporate taxes on multinational companies that offshore production.

Expand public health coverage

  • Stephen Lynch
    Recorded votes[23][24][25][30][31][32]

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08), which extended enhanced ACA premium subsidies. Voted no on Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590, 2010-03-21). Voted no on American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628, 2017-05-04), which would have capped federal Medicaid funding and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.

  • Robert Burke
    In their own words[8]
    “Boxer Works pushes personal catastrophic insurance you buy yourself, with benefits for staying fit and eating right.”

    On his campaign priorities page

  • Rasheed Walters
    Mixed[12]

    Campaign site rejects universal or single-payer health care and proposes an optional government-subsidized plan at $75 per month alongside private insurance.

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • Stephen Lynch
    Recorded votes[23][24][25][33][34]

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits. Voted yes on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19; 2022-08-12), which would have funded clean-energy tax credits.

  • Robert Burke
    —
  • Rasheed Walters
    In their own words[13]
    “I will work with the Departments of Energy and Interior to accelerate pipeline and energy infrastructure projects.”

    On his campaign site's affordability page

Increase police funding and staffing

  • Stephen Lynch
    —
  • Robert Burke
    In their own words[8]
    “How can anybody feel safe when crime is up, cops are being defunded, and the streets feel lawless?!”

    On his campaign priorities page

  • Rasheed Walters
    —

Raise the minimum wage

  • Stephen Lynch
    Recorded votes[43]

    Voted yes on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).

  • Robert Burke
    —
  • Rasheed Walters
    In their own words[10]
    “If they want taxpayer dollars, they pay workers $25 per hour minimum with full benefits, or they lose federal business.”

    On his campaign site's trade page, about companies with federal contracts or tax benefits

Broad tariffs on imported goods

  • Stephen Lynch
    Recorded votes[38]

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.

  • Robert Burke
    —
  • Rasheed Walters
    Supports[10]

    Campaign site says he would write Section 301 and Section 232 tariffs into permanent law and impose additional tariffs on foreign semiconductors, automobiles and auto parts.

Universal, publicly funded child care

  • Stephen Lynch
    Recorded votes[33]

    Voted yes on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.

  • Robert Burke
    —
  • Rasheed Walters
    —

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote

  • Stephen Lynch
    Recorded votes[29]

    Voted no on SAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).

  • Robert Burke
    Supports[8]

    Campaign priorities page calls for passing the SAVE America Act and says voters must be U.S. citizens.

  • Rasheed Walters
    —

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

  • Stephen Lynch
    Recorded votes[36][37]

    Voted yes on War Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization. Voted yes on War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.

  • Robert Burke
    —
  • Rasheed Walters
    —

Research notes & limits

Walters's positions and statements come from the policy pages of his campaign site; no Candidate Connection survey or news coverage was reviewed. Burke's priorities, position and statements come from the priorities page of his campaign site. Federal key votes and FEC finance totals for Lynch are added separately by script. Burke's issue positions are quoted verbatim from his campaign website as reproduced by Ballotpedia; his biography draws on his campaign site's "Meet Rob" page. Rasheed Walters has no biography on Ballotpedia and no other biographical information was found, so his entry has no background items.

Sources · 53

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Stephen Lynch · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.Health Care · Office of Rep. Stephen Lynch Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Gun Control · Office of Rep. Stephen Lynch Candidate's own words
  5. 5.Civil Rights · Office of Rep. Stephen Lynch Candidate's own words
  6. 6.Labor and Working Families · Office of Rep. Stephen Lynch Candidate's own words
  7. 7.Energy and Environment | Congressman Stephen Lynch · Office of Rep. Stephen Lynch Official record
  8. 8.My Priorities for MA-8 | Burke4Congress · Burke4Congress Candidate's own words
  9. 9.Rasheed Walters: Immigration · Rasheed Walters for Congress Candidate's own words
  10. 10.Rasheed Walters: Trade and Industry · Rasheed Walters for Congress Candidate's own words
  11. 11.Rasheed Walters: MBTA Communities Act · Rasheed Walters for Congress Candidate's own words
  12. 12.Rasheed Walters: Healthcare · Rasheed Walters for Congress Candidate's own words
  13. 13.Rasheed Walters: Affordability · Rasheed Walters for Congress Candidate's own words
  14. 14.Rasheed Walters: Corruption · Rasheed Walters for Congress Candidate's own words
  15. 15.Stephen Lynch · Ballotpedia Reference
  16. 16.About · Office of Rep. Stephen Lynch Official record
  17. 17.Massachusetts U.S. House District 8 election results 2026 · NBC News · 2026-11-09 News report
  18. 18.H.R. 2743, the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (Raise the Wage Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  19. 19.H.Con.Res. 38 (Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  20. 20.H.Con.Res. 40 (Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  21. 21.H.Con.Res. 68 (To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  23. 23.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  24. 24.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  25. 25.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  26. 26.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  27. 27.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
  28. 28.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
  29. 29.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
  30. 30.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  31. 31.Roll call: Affordable Care Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2010-03-21 Official record
  32. 32.Roll call: American Health Care Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-05-04 Official record
  33. 33.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  34. 34.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  35. 35.Roll call: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-20 Official record
  36. 36.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
  37. 37.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
  38. 38.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  39. 39.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  40. 40.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  41. 41.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  42. 42.Roll call: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-06 Official record
  43. 43.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
  44. 44.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  45. 45.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record
  46. 46.Roll call: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-10-03 Official record
  47. 47.Robert Burke (Massachusetts) · Ballotpedia Reference
  48. 48.Meet Rob · Burke for Congress Candidate's own words
  49. 49.Robert Burke's campaign website, quoted verbatim · Ballotpedia (quoting Burke's campaign website) · 2026-08-28 Reference
  50. 50.U.S. House · Massachusetts's 8th District results 2026 · NBC News News report
  51. 51.United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
  52. 52.Rasheed Walters: Trade and Industry · Rasheed Walters for Congress Candidate's own words
  53. 53.U.S. House · Massachusetts's 8th District results 2026 · NBC News News report