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The New Bedford Light and the League of Women Voters SouthCoast have joined together to present two candidate forums at Keith Middle School, 225 Hathaway Blvd., New Bedford, on Oct. 6 and 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. 

The forums are civil discussions designed to give voters an opportunity to hear candidates answer specific questions about how they would handle some of the most challenging issues affecting New Bedford and the South Coast. 

Here are the candidates participating in the Oct. 6 forum:

Massachusetts 9th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Bill Keating and Tyler Macallister

Bristol County District Attorney

Seth Aitken and Christopher Markey

Here are the candidates participating in the Oct. 7 forum:

State Representative races:

Rep. Steven Ouellette (8th Bristol)

Edward Pacheco (9th Bristol)

Brendalee Smith and Rep. Mark Sylvia (10th Bristol)

Rep. Christopher Hendricks (11th Bristol)

Rep. Antonio F. D. Cabral (13th Bristol)

State Senate, 2nd Bristol and Plymouth 

Robert McConnell 

Sen. Mark Montigny (State Senate, 2nd Bristol and Plymouth), Jesse St. Gelais (8th Bristol) and Chester Tam (9th Bristol) have declined to participate because of other commitments.

Visit The Light’s Election 2026 page for more coverage of this year’s candidates, issues and results.

More Election 2026 coverage

5 replies on “The Light, League of Women Voters to present candidate forums”

  3. Where has the League of women voter’s been for Municipal elections. I can remember when they ran the best Debates at the Ziteron for the Municipal Primary. They must be made up of far left democrats and don’t want Jon Mitchell to have any real problems? Even though he has created a mess of our city.

  4. RE: Where has the League of Women Voters been for Municipal elections?

    That’s a pretty short-sighted comment—and it’s simply not accurate.
    The League of Women Voters SouthCoast has been actively involved in the Municipal election. Candidate forums have been held at the Keith Middle School Community Room, including forums organized in partnership with the New Bedford Light, the Coalition for Social Justice, the YWCA, Town of Dartmouth, the New Bedford Ward 5, and UIA.

    There was also a 9-Question Ballot Forum last Thursday, with additional forums scheduled back on September 17. These events were publicized and open to the public.

    I know this firsthand because I participated in all of them.

    So before accusing the League of hiding, being partisan, or protecting Mayor Jon Mitchell, perhaps it would be worth actually attending—or at least checking the facts about—the forums that have already taken place.

    Also, I will be doing a Ballot Forum in Attleboro on Thursday, October 22nd at a senior housing facility.

    You can disagree with the League, the candidates, or the issues being discussed. But suggesting that the League “hasn’t been around” or is somehow avoiding tough questions simply ignores what has actually been happening in this election.

    Facts matter, especially in a municipal election.

    Eileen J. Marum
    Chair, League of Women Voters SouthCoast

  5. If Deaton wanted separate himself from Trump and many Republican positions, he should have run as an independent. Now he’s trying to separate himself from the party that he’s affiliated with.

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