First polling of the race shows Roath leading 24-year incumbent Rep. Stephen Lynch once voters learn basic information about both candidates
BOSTON, MA — Patrick Roath for Congress today announced results from the first polling in the Democratic primary race in Massachusetts’ Eighth Congressional District between 24-year incumbent Rep. Stephen Lynch and challenger Patrick Roath.
The poll shows a clear result: Roath is well positioned to win the September 1st primary.
Right now, 77% of voters say they have never heard of Roath, while only 5% say they’ve never heard of Rep. Lynch. Only 51% approve of the job Rep. Lynch is doing as U.S. Representative. If the race were held today, Roath trails Rep. Lynch 36% to 62%. However, once voters are exposed to neutral 2-sentence biographical statements about each candidate, Roath leads Rep. Lynch 57% to 42% — a 21 point swing. After more information about Roath’s background and policies were conveyed, his lead expands further. In a final informed vote, Roath leads Rep. Lynch by a 2:1 margin, 63% to 35%.
Roath significantly outraised Rep. Lynch in 2025, raising $600,551 to REp. Lynch’s $381,835. Roath’s raise was 100% from individuals, while Rep. Lynch’s raise was predominantly from PACs. Roath has been endorsed by former Governor Deval Patrick, David Hogg’s national candidate recruitment group Leaders We Deserve, and a growing slate of local electeds.
“This poll shows us what we already knew,” Roath said. “Voters in the Massachusetts Eighth are ready for change and eager for a driven Congressman who is ready to lead on the issues that really matter.”
Methodology
The poll was conducted by Workbench Strategy. The survey was administered via live telephone, email, and text-to-web among approximately 400 likely September 2026 Democratic primary election voters in the 8th Congressional District from February 17–19, 2026. The overall margin of error is ±4.89 percentage points. The poll was conducted before the commencement of President Trump’s war in Iran.
For more information, please respond to this email or contact: press@patrickroath.com
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Patrick Roath is a voting rights advocate, attorney, and candidate for Congress in Massachusetts’ 8th District. Roath, 39, lives in Jamaica Plain with his wife Vicky and their infant daughter. The Democratic primary is scheduled for September 1, 2026. Learn more at patrickroath.com.