Massachusetts House District 8 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them
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Stephen Lynch (Democrat) and Robert Burke (08) are the nominees for Massachusetts's 8th congressional district in the November 3, 2026 general election. Stephen Lynch is the incumbent. By their latest FEC reports, Stephen Lynch's campaign had raised $1.1 million (through October 14, 2026) and Robert Burke's campaign $2,000 (through September 30, 2026). Outside groups have reported $78,000 for Stephen Lynch and $214,000 against.
Stephen Lynch (DEM, incumbent), Robert Burke (08).
1 other filed with the FEC; any ads they ran are below. 0 ads analyzed, 0 with at least one technique in the copy.
Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing.
Also on every Massachusetts ballot: 9 statewide ballot measures → The ballot wording and the official arguments, read for rhetorical techniques.
How to vote in Massachusetts
From Massachusetts's official election office. Each line links to the official page it came from.
Checked October 8, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with the official site before you go.
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Money in this race
From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.
Stephen Lynch (DEM, incumbent)
- Raised
- $1.1M through 2026-10-14
individuals $622K · PACs $415K · cash on hand $494K
- Outside spending
- $214K opposing Lynch · $78K supporting Lynch · latest reported 2026-08-20
- Largest outside spenders
- LEADERS WE DESERVE
— $214K opposing Lynch
Largest donors:
HOULIHAN, RITA $3.2M (47%); Barbara Weitz $350K (5%), NOT-Employed, NOT-Employed; Amos Hostetter $225K (3%), Pilot House Associates LLC, Chair; Clay Kirk $210K (3%), Self-Employed, Investor; Dagmar Dolby $200K (3%), NOT-Employed, Retired
ONE PAC
— $78K supporting Lynch
- Bundled through PACs
- none reported · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01
111 PACs gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election
- AFLAC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AFLAC PAC) $2,500
- ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
- AMALGAMATED SUGAR COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
- AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION COPE $2,500
- AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE PAC $5,000
- AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) $5,000
- AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LIFE INSURERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
- AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES PAC $1,000
- AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY & MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES P E O P L E $10K
- AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, AFL-CIO $2,500
- AMERICAN FINANCIAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION PAC $1,000
- AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, PAC $1,000
- AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, PAC $2,000
- AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION, AFL-CIO $6,500
- AMERIPAC: THE FUND FOR A GREATER AMERICA $5,000
- AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AMERIPRISEPAC) $2,500
- ARENTFOX SCHIFF CIVIC PARTICIPATION FUND $1,500
- ASSOCIATION OF UNITED STATES POSTAL LESSORS PAC, ALSO KNOWN AS AUSPL PAC $2,000
- AT&T INC. EMPLOYEE FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AT&T EMPLOYEE FEDERAL PAC) $1,000
- BLACKROCK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC. PAC $5,000
- BOILERMAKERS-BLACKSMITHS PAC $3,500
- BUILD POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
- CARPENTERS LEGISLATIVE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE UNITE $10K
- CHIME FINANCIAL, INC. PAC (CHIME PAC) $2,000
- CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. POLITICAL COMMITTEE $2,500
- COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FINANCE COUNCIL PAC $1,000
- COMMITTEE TO ELECT JOHN R BUCKLEY JR $100
- COMMITTEE TO ELECT JOSEPH CONNOLLY $1,500
- COMMITTEE TO ELECT ROBERT SULLIVAN $100
- COMMITTEE TO ELECT WALTER TIMILTY $250
- CTE JOE REYNOLDS $150
- CTE PETER J MORIN $100
- CULAC THE PAC OF CREDIT UNION NATIONAL ASSOCIATION $2,500
- DEPOSITORY TRUST AND CLEARING CORPORATION PAC - DTCC PAC; THE $3,500
- DRIVE POLITICAL FUND PAC $5,000
- ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
- EMPLOYEES OF RTX CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $6,000
- ERNST & YOUNG POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $7,500
- FEDERAL MANAGERS' ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
- FERREIRA COMMITTEE $100
- FMR LLC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE - FEDERAL (FIDELITY PAC) $1,000
- GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (GDC PAC) $2,000
- I.A.T.S.E. POLITICAL ACTION FUND $1,000
- I.B.E.W. LOCAL 103 FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
- IBEW COPE $4,000
- INDEP. INSURANCE AGENTS OF AMERICA, PAC $1,000
- INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY BANKERS OF AMERICA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $4,500
- INT' L. UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS PAC $5,000
- INT'L ASSOCIATION OF BRIDGE, STRUCTURAL, ORNAMENTAL AND REINFORCING IRON WORKERS (IPAL) $10K
- INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS INTERESTED IN REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION PAC $10K
- INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HEAT & FROST INSULATO $1,000
- INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SHEET METAL, AIR, RAIL AND TRANSPORTATION WORKERS POLITICAL ACTION LEAGUE $10K
- INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS & ALLIED TRADES $5,000
- INTL UNION OF BRICKLAYERS & ALLIED CRAFTWORKERS PAC $2,500
- IRON MOUNTAIN INCORPORATED EMPLOYEES PAC 2025 $1,000
- JOHN HANCOCK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (USA) FEDERAL PAC $4,500
- JSTREETPAC $1,000
- LABORERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA $5,000
- LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY - PAC $1,000
- MACHINISTS NON-PARTISAN POLITICAL LEAGUE $5,000
- MADISON PAC; THE $2,500
- MASSACHUSETTS BIOTECHNOLOGY COUNCIL FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $3,500
- MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO. $3,500
- MASTERS, MATES AND PILOTS POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION FUND $2,500
- MORTGAGE BANKERS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMM $1,000
- NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COM (NARFE-PAC) $2,500
- NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (NABPAC) $1,000
- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL ADVISORS POLITICAL ACTION COMM $10K
- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS OF U.S.A. POLITICAL FUND (LETTER CARRIER POLITICAL $2,500
- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POSTAL SUPERVISORS PAC $2,000
- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $4,000
- NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $3,000
- NATIONAL BEER WHOLESALERS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
- NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
- NATIONAL ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS PAC/ INTN'L UNION $7,500
- NATIONAL MULTI HOUSING COUNCIL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
- NATIONAL POSTAL MAIL HANDLERS UNION - DIVISION OF LABORERS' INT'L UNION OF NORTH AMERICA $5,000
- NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH, LLP FEDERAL PO $1,000
- NETJETS ASSOCIATION OF SHARED AIRCRAFT PILOTS PAC; NJASAP PAC $2,500
- NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION C $2,500
- NEXTERA ENERGY, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
- NIXON PEABODY LLP PAC $2,500
- NRLCA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
- O'NEILL & ASSOCIATES PAC $1,000
- ORGANOGENESIS INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, A/K/A ORGANOPAC $3,300
- PETE AGUILAR FOR CONGRESS $2,000
- PITNEY BOWES INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
- PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITT $1,000
- QUINCY DEMOCRATIC CITY COMMITTEE $400
- REBUILD AMERICA PAC $2,500
- REYNOLDS AMERICAN INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE; RAI PAC $1,000
- RGA REINSURANCE COMPANY FEDERAL PAC $1,000
- SANTANDER HOLDINGS USA INC. PAC (SANTANDER US PAC) $1,000
- SEIU COPE $1,000
- SHEET METAL AND AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS PAC $2,500
- SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP GOOD GOVERNMENT FUND $3,000
- STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY VOLUNTARY POLI $2,500
- STEPTOE LLP POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
- TD BANK N.A. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
- THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT BRIAN GOLDEN $100
- THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT MICHAEL W MORRISSEY $100
- TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS COMMITTEE $1,500
- TRANSUNION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (TU PAC) $2,500
- UA UNION PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS VOTE! PAC (UNITED ASSOCIATION OF JOURNEYMEN AND APPRENTICES OF THE PLUMBING & PIPEFITTING INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA) $5,000
- ULLICO INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ULLIPAC) $1,000
- UNITE HERE TIP CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE $5,000
- UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION ACTIVE BALLOT CLUB $10K
- VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,500
- WAYFAIR LLC PAC $3,000
- WESTERN ALLIANCE BANCORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (WABPAC) $5,000
All filings at the FEC ↗
Robert Burke (08)
- Raised
- $1,525 through 2026-09-30
individuals $25 · PACs $0 · candidate's own money, incl. loans $1,500 · cash on hand $-17K
- Outside spending
- none reported
- Bundled through PACs
- none reported · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01
All filings at the FEC ↗
No campaign ads analyzed for this race yet.
What this page is
- An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it comes from a national Senate group and ran mostly in MA; or it ran mostly in MA and names a candidate — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
- Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
- A technique is a specific rhetorical move in the wording, found by our model and explained in one line. It is not a claim that the ad is false.
- Claims are checked when a reader asks: press "Check this ad's claims" on a card. Running a check and seeing its verdicts are part of Semblen Pro, because each check costs money to run; anyone can see which claims an ad makes. The ten ads with the most money behind them in each race are checked ahead of time.
- Claim verdicts say what the cited sources say. A verdict that an ad is wrong or misleading is shown only when it cites an established fact-checker or an institutional record — Congress, a federal agency, a court — and its confidence is not low; a weaker one is not shown at all. Each verdict shows what it rests on and how confident it is. If we got one wrong, press Disagree: a verdict that readers dispute and no one defends comes down.
- Video ads come from the campaigns' own YouTube channels; the transcript is analyzed. Meta ads are analyzed on their text; their video and images are not, yet.