Jesse St. Gelais, R-Acushnet, is running for Mass. State Representative in the 8th Bristol District in the 11/3/26 election. Campaign photo.
Press Release
Jesse St. Gelais of Acushnet has officially secured the Republican nomination for State Representative in Massachusetts’ 8th Bristol District after winning the September 1 Republican primary.
St. Gelais received 1,860 votes, or 63.5 percent of the vote, defeating Christopher Thrasher, who received 1,067 votes, according to official Massachusetts election results.
“I am incredibly humbled and grateful for the trust the voters of the 8th Bristol District have placed in me,” said St. Gelais. “This campaign has never been about me. It is about the people who live here, work here, raise their families here, and are asking for a government that works as hard for them as they work every day.”
A longtime Acushnet resident and private-sector insurance professional, St. Gelais has centered his campaign on affordability, government accountability and transparency, stronger support for cities and towns, and protecting local control.
St. Gelais first sought the 8th Bristol District seat in 2024 as an unenrolled candidate, receiving more than 4,200 votes in a five-candidate general election. He returned to the campaign trail in 2026 as a Republican, emphasizing his private-sector background and his belief that working families need stronger representation on Beacon Hill.
“I have spent my career in the real world, working with families, homeowners, businesses, and municipalities and seeing firsthand what rising costs and government decisions can mean for people trying to make ends meet,” St. Gelais said. “People are looking for results, not excuses. They want someone willing to listen, show up, ask the difficult questions, and fight for the communities we call home.”
Among the issues St. Gelais has identified as priorities are reducing the cost pressures facing working families and seniors, addressing high energy costs, increasing and reforming state aid to municipalities, strengthening transparency and accountability in state government, and ensuring that decisions affecting local communities include a meaningful local voice.
With the Republican primary concluded, St. Gelais will face Democratic incumbent State Representative Steven Ouellette in the November 3 general election.
“The primary is behind us, and now the real race begins,” St. Gelais said. “Whether you are a Republican, Democrat, independent, or have never cared much about politics, my commitment is the same: I will work for you. I believe we can bring common sense, accountability, and balance back to Beacon Hill while putting the people of this district first.”
St. Gelais added that his campaign will continue meeting directly with residents throughout the district in the weeks leading up to Election Day.
“I’m going to keep doing what I’ve done from the beginning, showing up, meeting people, listening, and earning their trust one conversation at a time,” St. Gelais said. “The choices we make today shape our world tomorrow, and I’m asking the people of the 8th Bristol District for the opportunity to stand with them and work for them at the State House.”
•••
Click here to download the 10/1/26 issue: 10-01-26 Storm
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal
