2026 Midterms · U.S. House · Massachusetts Safe D
Massachusetts — 5th District
Independent
Derek Fleming
The 2026 election for Massachusetts' 5th Congressional District features incumbent Democratic Representative and House Minority Whip Katherine Clark seeking re-election following her victory in the September 1, 2026 Democratic primary. Non-major party candidates including Independent Derek Fleming are also running in the general election, while major race rating outlets including Cook Political Report, Decision Desk, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball rate the seat as Solid or Safe Democratic. The race centers on Clark's national progressive leadership, economic relief efforts, healthcare access, reproductive freedom, and voting rights.
The pulse
updated Sep 16Economy and Cost of Living
high salienceDemocratic Katherine Clark
Supports middle-class relief, unions, and lifting tariffs
Clark advocates for an economy that prioritizes working families over the wealthy through living wages, paid family leave, and collective bargaining rights. She focuses on lowering living costs by lifting trade tariffs, ending foreign conflicts that raise gas prices, and expanding federal childcare subsidies.
- Supported the American Rescue Plan to increase the Child Tax Credit and expand childcare relief.
- Advocates for universal paid family leave, equal pay legislation, and collective bargaining protections.
- Opposes broad tariffs and military conflicts that increase domestic energy and consumer prices.
“Our economy should work for all Americans– not just the ultra wealthy.”
Healthcare
high salienceDemocratic Katherine Clark
Supports expanding ACA, Medicaid, and prescription price caps
Clark views access to healthcare as a fundamental human right and works to safeguard federal health safety-net programs against spending cuts. She supports capping prescription drug prices, extending Affordable Care Act tax credits, and bolstering treatment for substance abuse disorders.
- Opposed federal cuts to Medicaid and fought to maintain Affordable Care Act subsidies.
- Supported legislation capping insulin costs at $35 per month and authorizing Medicare prescription price negotiations.
- Passed legislation addressing infant care and medical professional shortages during the opioid epidemic.
“Access to health care should be a right, not a privilege.”
Abortion and Reproductive Rights
high salienceDemocratic Katherine Clark
Supports codifying federal abortion rights and contraception protections
Clark is a leading congressional advocate for reproductive freedom, supporting federal legislation to guarantee nationwide abortion access and protect contraception rights. She opposes state-level legal restrictions and prosecutions targeting patients traveling across state lines for medical care.
- Voted to pass federal legislation establishing statutory nationwide abortion access and birth control protection.
- Supports legal shields for physicians and out-of-state patients seeking reproductive healthcare.
“As the highest-ranking woman in Congress, Katherine has always fought to protect women.”
Childcare and Early Education
medium salienceDemocratic Katherine Clark
Supports treating childcare as essential federal infrastructure
Clark champions treating childcare as core economic infrastructure, advocating for expansive federal investments in early education and Head Start. She works to make childcare affordable for working families and college students while increasing relief funding for early childhood providers.
- Secured $50 billion in pandemic relief funding for childcare providers, early educators, and parents.
- Helped deliver historic federal budget investments for early education programs and Head Start.
- Authored legislation supporting campus childcare centers for student parents and youth in foster care.
Voting Rights and Democracy
medium salienceDemocratic Katherine Clark
Supports expanding voting protections and government ethics reform
Clark supports comprehensive federal legislation to eliminate voter suppression, ban racial gerrymandering, and reduce corporate money in political campaigns. She opposes strict documentary citizenship requirements for voter registration and pledges oversight over executive branch actions.
- Championed House passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act.
- Voted against the SAVE Act's mandatory documentary proof of citizenship requirements for federal voter registration.
- Pledges oversight on executive actions regarding immigration enforcement and presidential conflicts of interest.
“The right to vote is the most sacred tools of our democracy.”
Climate Change and Energy
medium salienceDemocratic Katherine Clark
Supports clean energy investment and holding polluters accountable
Clark advocates for green infrastructure investments, public transit expansion, and clean energy transition centered on environmental justice. She supports shifting the financial costs of waste and recycling away from municipalities and onto corporate polluters.
- Supported the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to replace lead service lines and expand public transit.
- Introduced legislation to reduce plastic production and hold corporate polluters financially responsible for recycling costs.
“We have a fundamental responsibility to future generations to protect our planet, invest in clean energy, and center environmental justice in all of our policies.”
Gun Safety
medium salienceDemocratic Katherine Clark
Supports assault weapon bans and universal background checks
Clark supports strict federal firearm legislation, including closing background check loopholes and banning assault weapons. She has taken a prominent protest role in Congress to demand votes on gun safety legislation.
- Partnered with Representative John Lewis to co-lead the historic House floor sit-in demanding votes on gun reform.
- Voted in favor of universal background checks and federal bans on assault weapons.
“Too many Americans live in fear of gun violence.”
Immigration and Foreign Policy
low salienceDemocratic Katherine Clark
Opposes restrictive detention laws and unauthorized foreign conflict
Clark opposes broad Republican immigration enforcement and detention measures, favoring targeted regulations and oversight over enforcement agencies. In foreign affairs, she opposes military engagements that trigger broader conflicts and raise domestic cost burdens.
- Voted against the Laken Riley Act, the Secure the Border Act, and DUI-based deportation legislation.
- Advocates ending unauthorized foreign conflicts that increase domestic fuel and economic pressures.
Prediction markets 3
updated Sep 16Polymarket ↗
MA-05 House Election Winner
Kalshi ↗
MA-05 House winner?
Kalshi ↗
MA-05 Democratic nominee?
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