A Massachusetts primary tests Democrats’ appetite to ‘change the culture’

PEABODY, Mass. — The 2026 midterm primary cycle has been a year of tests — both ideological and generational — for Democrats across the nation.

A race for a House seat north of Boston poses another question: Are voters looking for a candidate with powerful connections and a raft of experience or are they seeking a Washington outsider who promises to take on the party establishment?

At a recent forum here for the Democrats vying for Massachusetts’ 6th District, anti-incumbent fervor was on full display.

“We keep electing D.C. insiders … playing by the old playbook,” said state Rep. Tram Nguyen.

“People are fed up with the status quo,’’ asserted another candidate, fintech executive John Beccia.