In one week, the 2026 primary campaign season will end in Massachusetts. And what a noisy primary season it’s been.

Candidates for governor, state legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are clamoring for their party’s respective nomination.

Here’s a rundown of what to know for next Tuesday’s big day.

1. Who can vote

Massachusetts primaries are open to all voters, but there are restrictions.

Someone registered as a member of a party isn’t allowed to vote in another party’s primary. So registered Democrats get Democratic ballots and Republicans get Republican ballots. Someone who wants to switch their party (or switch to unenrolled) to vote in the primary, must do so at least 10 days before the primary.

Unenrolled (previously called “independent”) voters are allowed to vote in any party primary.

Voters of all parties should check their registration status on the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s website.

2. State candidate choices

Unlike two years ago, Newton has only one competitive state legislature primary this year. The 10th Middlesex District has a primary race between incumbent Democratic State Rep. John Lawn and Alison Leary, a Democrat who currently serves on the Newton City Council.

This is the second time Leary has challenged Lawn for the seat. The first was in 2020.

This year’s race started out calm, other than Lawn’s arrest and guilty plea for drunk driving, but then things got loud. And Leary—a progressive running on a platform that includes single-payer healthcare and increased government transparency—accused Lawn of being “bought and paid for” by special interests before putting her foot in her mouth with comments about Nonantum voters.

Gov. Maura Healey has endorsed Lawn in the race.

Speaking of Healey, she’s up for reelection too. She and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll are running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

The contest is on the Republican side.

In Massachusetts, primary voters elect nominees for governor and lieutenant governor separately and then the nominees team up on one ticket for the general election.

Former Abiomed CEO Michael Minogue of Hamilton and former MBTA manager Brian Shortsleeve of Barnstable are running for the Republican nomination for governor.

There’s only one official Republican candidate for lieutenant governor: Shawn Oliver of New Bedford.

There is also a Democratic primary contest for Middlesex district attorney, with prosecutor David Solet taking on District Attorney Marian Ryan.

And there is a Democratic primary for the Governor’s Council 3rd District seat, currently held by Mara Dolan, who’s being challenged by Mass Family Advocacy Coalition Executive Director Margie Palladino.

3. Congressional candidate choices

In the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey is running for a third term. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton is running in the primary to unseat him.

Moulton, who has served in the House since 2015 and ran for president in 2020, has targeted Markey’s age (Markey is 80 years old) and says the Senate needs younger leadership. Moulton even accused Markey of having ties to someone who knew human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, while Markey is calling Moulton out for comments Moulton made about transgender kids and for owning and trading stocks from the defense industry.

John Deaton of Bolton, a lawyer and business owner, is running unopposed for the Republican nomination for the seat. Deaton ran for Senate in 2024 against U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and lost.

U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Democrat, is seeking a fourth term in Congress, but he’s going to have to get through a primary challenge from  Jason Poulos first.

Auchincloss, running on a platform of fighting corruption in healthcare and boosting housing production nationwide, has caught blowback for his campaign donations from Palantir and steadfast support for Israel during Israel’s military operation in Gaza.

Poulos, running on single-payer healthcare and an end to military aid for Israel, lacks elected office experience but is hoping to ride a progressive populist movement to primary victory, like others have this year in New York, Colorado and elsewhere.

4. LWVN resources

It’s been a busy primary season, and the League of Women Voters of Newton has been on top of it all.

The League hosted forum discussions with candidates:

10th Middlesex candidates

4th Congressional District candidates

Middlesex district attorney candidates

Governor’s Council candidates

5. When and where

The primary will be Tuesday, Sept. 1, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Polling places are all around the city and are specific to neighborhoods and addresses. Newton’s city website has a complete map of the city’s wards and precincts as well as a page where residents can enter their address and find their exact polling place for Election Day.

Early voting has been going on for several days and will continue at City Hall on the following days:

1. Tuesday, Aug. 25, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
2. Wednesday, Aug. 26, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3. Thursday, Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
4. Friday, Aug. 28, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The mail-in-voting application deadline is Tuesday, Aug. 25. Voters can find more information, including sample ballots, on the city website.