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Democratic · 3 November 2026
Jim McGovern
U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district (since 2013)
Jim McGovern, a Democrat who has served in the U.S. House since 1997 and represented Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district since 2013, is his party's nominee for re-election in the 2nd district in 2026.
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U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-2nd District, and U.S. Rep.
No story this week names this candidate.
- Born
- November 20, 1959
- Birthplace
- Worcester, Massachusetts
- Education
- Worcester Academy
American University (Bachelor of Arts in history, 1981)
American University (Master of Public Administration, 1984)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Jim McGovern was born on November 20, 1959, in Worcester, Massachusetts, where his mother, Mindy, was a dance instructor and his father, Walter, owned a liquor store.
He first became involved in politics in junior high school by campaigning for U.S. Senator George McGovern in the 1972 presidential race. After graduating from Worcester Academy, McGovern moved to Washington, D.C., and worked as an aide to George McGovern from 1977 to 1980.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from American University in 1981 and a Master of Public Administration in 1984, and he made the nominating speech for George McGovern at the 1984 Democratic National Convention.
Career
In 1981 McGovern joined the Capitol Hill staff of U.S. Representative Joe Moakley, where he served as a senior staff member until 1996. In 1990 Moakley appointed him to lead a House task force investigating the 1989 murder of six Jesuit priests and two women in El Salvador.
After losing the 1994 Democratic primary for what was then the 3rd district, McGovern ran again in 1996 and defeated Republican incumbent Peter Blute with 53% of the vote.
When Massachusetts lost a district after the 2010 census, his district was renumbered as the 2nd and extended west to Amherst and the Pioneer Valley.
In the House, McGovern took over the top Democratic position on the House Rules Committee after the death of Louise Slaughter and became its chair after Democrats won the majority in the 2018 midterm elections.
As chair he played a central role in devising the procedures for the first impeachment of Donald Trump, and he is now the committee's ranking member.
He has chaired the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, co-chairs the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, chairs the board of the Congressional Hunger Center and belongs to the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
2026 race
The 2nd district lies in central Massachusetts and includes Worcester, and McGovern, the incumbent, was re-elected there with 68.6% of the vote in 2024. In the 2026 Democratic primary he received 80,813 votes, or 99.6%, to secure renomination. He is the Democratic nominee in the general election on November 3, 2026.