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Voters: Primary Election is on Sept. 1

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Voters will determine some winners ahead of the general election and select the Republican nominee for governor during the state primary election on Tuesday, Sept. 1. 

Polling stations in Berkshire County can be found here. 

In Berkshire County, most incumbent Democrats are unopposed, but there are races for the state representative of the First Berkshire District and the District 8 seat on Governor's Council. The nominees of these two races are effectively the winners as there are no other candidates on the general election ballot. 

The state primary election also will include Democratic nomination races for U.S. senator and U.S. representative. In these races, the nominees will face off with a Republican candidate and an independent, respectively, in the general election. 

Incumbent John Barrett III and Andrew Fitch, a North Adams city councilor, are running for the Democratic nomination to represent the First Berkshire District. There are no candidates in the Republican Party. 

Barrett and Fitch met at Williams College for a forum sponsored by the town's chapter of the League of Women Voters and answered questions from iBerkshires.  


Several incumbent Berkshire County Democrats are unopposed for re-election: Paul Mark for state senator, Tricia Farley-Bouvier for state representative of the Second Berkshire District, and Leigh Davis for state representative of the Third Berkshire District. 

In the Democratic race for the District 8 seat on Massachusetts Governor's Council, Michael Fenton of Springfield is challenging North Adams incumbent Tara Jacobs. There are no Republican candidates for this race.

Incumbent Edward Markey and Seth Moulton will face off in the Democratic primary election for the U.S. Senate seat, and John Deaton is running unopposed in the Republican Party primary. Incumbent Richard Neal and Democrat Jeromie Whalen are running to represent the U.S. House Massachusetts District; there are no Republican candidates. 

There are no Democratic challengers on the primary ballot for the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, and auditor. Incumbents Maura Healey, Kim Driscoll, Andrea Campbell, William Galvin, Deb Goldberg, and Diana DiZoglio are running for re-election. 

Michael Minogue and Brian Shortsleeve are running for gubernatorial nomination in the Republican Party, and running unopposed in the Republican primary is Shawn Oliver for lieutenant governor, Michael Walsh for attorney general, and Elizabeth Dionne for treasurer. 

More information about local, statewide, and national races is available on iBerkshires' Election News Page. 


Tags: election 2026,   primary,   


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Boutique General Store Opens on Holden Street in North Adams

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A newly opened boutique general store on Holden Street offers local and regional products along with a curated selection of gifts, wines and artwork. 
 
"It's just a lot of my favorite makers and small brands that I've, in my mind, collected over the years because I've wanted to do this for I don't even know since forever," owner Hannah Blazejewski said. "I'm trying to keep as much of the product at least local to New England as I can." 
 
The name for the Diving Horse at 26 Holden St. was inspired by one of her favorite movies, "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken," the story of a girl who joins a diving horse stunt show during the Depression.  
 
Blazejewski found the current space earlier this year before moving back to the county in March. It was formerly North Adams Yoga, so when she moved in she repainted the place and also worked with Outlook Builders to build the shelving and her dream "mousehole" wall.
 
The store showcases local goods from throughout New England, and she described it as a general store and gift boutique built around a personal collection of favorite makers, small brands, and hard-to-find products.
 
Her shop also includes children's items, artwork, stickers, home decor, cheeses, non-perishable items, wines and a selection of Scandinavian candy.
 
She said she hopes to contribute to the local economy, connect with other businesses and artists, and respect the city's history and culture.
 
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