Daniel Darris-O'Connor defeats incumbent in Massachusetts House race

Daniel Darris-O'Connor, a 19-year-old Democrat from Billerica, defeated Republican incumbent Marc Lombardo in a Massachusetts House contest during the 2026 midterm elections. Unofficial results released by the town gave him a 438-vote margin.

The reported count put Darris-O'Connor on 8,968 votes and Lombardo on 8,530. The outgoing representative acknowledged the close loss in a social media message and thanked residents for allowing him to serve for 16 years.

Darris-O'Connor said he was ready to represent his constituents on Beacon Hill. He will turn 20 on the day before his swearing-in, placing him among the state's youngest House representatives.

Cost of living central to campaign

Daniel Darris-O'Connor said his campaign had concentrated on issues rather than his age. He identified the rising cost of living and stronger local representation as concerns that had connected with voters.

After the result, he thanked the people who supported his campaign and described the contest as difficult. He said his team had faced an established incumbent, had been outspent and had encountered doubts about whether victory was possible.

He promised to focus on Billerica families and seek more funding for the town. In his account, neighbouring communities had secured more support through grants and earmarks, a gap he said he wanted to address from the beginning of his term.

Darris-O'Connor graduated from Billerica High School in 2025 and now attends UMass Lowell. He had also been elected to the Select Board two months before the House result.

Lombardo's concession thanked his campaign team and volunteers for their work as well as constituents for their support over his years in office. The reported vote totals remain unofficial, as released by the town.

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