Candidate · November 3, 2026

James P. McGovern

On the ballot for U.S. House · Massachusetts's 2nd District

DemocraticIncumbent
raised through Oct 14, 2026
$1.0M
cash on hand
$369K
issues with public statements
2

§1On the ballot

Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.

OfficeU.S. House · Massachusetts's 2nd District1,2
Party on the ballotDemocratic1,2
StatusIncumbent — Currently represents Massachusetts's 2nd District in the U.S. House.3
Also on the ballotNo other candidate is on the ballot for this race.

§2Who they are

Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

His campaign website says he was first elected to Congress in 1996, and his House website lists him as Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and a senior member of the Agriculture Committee's nutrition subcommittee.4,5 His campaign website says that before Congress he spent 14 years as a senior aide to U.S. Representative John Joseph Moakley.4 It says he earned a bachelor's degree in 1981 and a master's degree in public administration in 1984 from The American University.4 It says he worked as an aide in the office of U.S. Senator George McGovern and managed the senator's 1984 presidential campaign in Massachusetts.4

Why they say they're running

His campaign website says that in Congress he works to defend human rights, reform the campaign finance system, end hunger and create an economy where everyone can thrive.6

Service in Congress since 2023

  • 2025–nowU.S. Representative, MA-23
  • 2023–2025U.S. Representative, MA-23

Websites and accounts

§3What they've said on the issues

Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.

Elections and Government Reform

Campaign finance rules

His campaign website describes him as a leading voice in Congress in the effort to overturn Citizens United and a main advocate in the fight against corporate personhood.4

  1. Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United
  2. Keep spending unlimited but require groups to name their major donors
  3. Keep current rules
  4. Raise or remove limits on donations to candidates and parties
Marked: the option their statement matches.

Foreign Policy and Defense

Foreign aid

His campaign website says he expanded the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, which it says provides school meals to children in the world's poorest countries.4

§4Popular bills that never got a vote

Why this matters: Many bills with wide support from both parties never reach a vote, so no member of Congress is ever on record for or against them. Signing on as a sponsor or cosponsor is the only public record of support.

While James P. McGovern served, these bills had broad support from both parties but never reached a floor vote. No officeholder ever had to vote on them. James P. McGovern sponsored or cosponsored 32 of the 52. How bills die without a vote.

See all 52

§5Money

Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left. Outside groups that spend on their own, without coordinating with the campaign, report that too.

Reported to the Federal Election Commission for the 2025–2026 election cycle, through October 14, 2026.61

Raised$1,013,810
Spent$1,038,518
Cash on hand$369,457

Where the money came from

Individual donors$703K · 69%
PACs and other political committees$306K · 30%
Other receipts (other loans, refunds, interest)$4,812 · 0%

§6Financial disclosures

Why this matters: Federal candidates and members of Congress must report their assets, income, debts and outside jobs, and members must report stock trades. These filings show possible conflicts of interest.