Pull to refresh
Logo
Kevin Hayden wins Suffolk County district attorney Democratic primary

Kevin Hayden wins Suffolk County district attorney Democratic primary

Rule Changes Boston, MA local

Incumbent fends off Rachael Rollins's comeback bid

September 1st, 2026: Hayden wins renomination

Overview

Updated Sep 3

Kevin Hayden won the Suffolk County district attorney Democratic primary Tuesday, beating Rachael Rollins, the woman he replaced, and attorney Linda Champion. Rollins had left the office in 2022 to become United States attorney, then resigned after a watchdog report criticized her conduct; her attempt to reclaim the job failed.

Hayden now heads to November asthe Democratic nominee. The race settled whether voters wanted to return a former district attorney tainted by federal scrutiny or keep an appointed incumbent with decades in the office. No Republican appeared on the primary ballot, so baerek is likely to stay.

Why it matters

Who runs prosecutions in Boston for the next four years? The Suffolk County district attorney primary almost certainly decides it.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

Kevin Hayden
Democratic nominee
Incumbent defeated Rachael Rollins and Linda Champion.
3
Candidates in the primary
Hayden, Rollins, and Champion were the only Democrats who filed.
4
Years in a full district attorney term
The winner heads to a four-year term starting January 2027.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Ever wondered what historical figures would say about today's headlines?

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

November 2018 September 2026

5 events Latest: September 1st, 2026 · 1 week ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Hayden wins renomination

    Latest Election

    He beat Rachael Rollins and Linda Champion; the Associated Press called the race for Hayden.

  2. Rollins resigns as United States attorney

    Resignation

    She stepped down after a Justice Department watchdog report found she retaliated against staff and leaked information.

  3. Hayden wins first primary

    Election

    He defeated Ricardo Arroyo to keep the seat for the remainder of Rollins's term.

  4. Rollins leaves district attorney's office; Hayden appointed

    Transition

    Rollins resigned to become United States attorney; Governor Baker named Hayden interim district attorney.

  5. Rollins elected Suffolk district attorney

    Election

    Reform candidate defeated Dan Conley's chosen successor Michael Maloney.

Scenarios

1

Hayden wins November general election and keeps the office

Likely Resolves by Nov 3, 2026

Discussed by: Associated Press, NBC Boston

The primary was the main obstacle. Without a Republican on the ballot, Hayden needs only to avoid a write-in upset to take the oath in January for a full four-year term.

2

Primary result stands; no recount requested

Likely Resolves by Sep 10, 2026

Discussed by: None publicly; state recount rules apply

Massachusetts recount requests are rare and require a showing of arithmetic errors near a legal threshold. Neither challenger indicated a request asof election night, and the race was called easily for Hayden.

3

Independent or third-party opponent enters the general election

Unlikely Resolves by Oct 6, 2026

Discussed by: None publicly; Massachusetts ballot law

Massachusetts allows minor-party and independent candidates to reach the general-election ballot through signature petitions. No such candidate had surfaced by primary night, but the filing deadline had not yet passed.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2002–2018

Dan Conley's 16-year tenure (2002–2018)

Dan Conley, a career prosecutor, was elected district attorney in2002 and held the office for four terms. In2018 he chose not to run again and supported Michael Maloney, a longtime prosecutor, to succeed him.

Then

Maloney lost the Democratic primary to Rachael Rollins, breaking the office's continuity.

Now

Rollins left the office under a cloud in2022. Kevin Hayden, who had been a Conley chief of staff, was appointed and later elected to take over.

Why this matters now

The sequence shows how rare it is for a Suffolk district attorney to lose once holding office. Hayden's primary win restored the elected line after Rollins's interruption.

June 2022

San Francisco district attorney recall (2022)

San Francisco voters recalled Chesa Boudin, elected three years earlier on promises to reduce incarceration and stop charging many low-level crimes. The recall campaign centered on public concern about property crime, drug dealing, and street conditions.

Then

Boudin was removed; Mayor London Breed appointed Brooke Jenkins, a former prosecutor, to replace him.

Now

The recall became a national example of voters reversing prosecution-reform policies when they perceived public safety failures.

Why this matters now

Rollins's loss in Boston fits a similar cycle: a former reform-minded district attorney who left office amid scandal could not persuade voters to return her to the job.

Sources

(4)