Jesse St. Gelais announces candidacy for the Massachusetts House of Representatives in the 8th Bristol District

Jesse St. Gelais (R, Acushnet) has announced his candidacy for the Massachusetts House of Representatives in the 8th Bristol District, which includes Westport, Fall River, Acushnet, Freetown, and New Bedford.

“I’m a family man living with the same reality as the people I’m asking to represent,” St. Gelais said. “It’s too expensive to live here. Families are being crushed by costs and suffocated by policies that make life harder, not easier. That’s neither sustainable nor acceptable.”

St. Gelais previously ran for the 8th Bristol seat two years ago.

“Two years ago, during my campaign, I realized that the message connecting with so many voters was the straightforward, common-sense reform that Republicans have proudly championed in Massachusetts for years. After that election, I officially registered as a Republican, and now I am excited to give voters a real choice this November,” St. Gelais said.

St. Gelais said the district needs active, independent representation, not silence that serves Boston’s house leadership. “We can’t afford two more years of nobody at the helm,” he said. “This district deserves leadership that votes for its constituents, shows up every day, and is ready to fight for the people who sent them there.”

He said that it starts with running the type of campaign the voters deserve. “If you want to represent people, you have to be willing to do the work,” he said. “That means knocking on doors, listening, and learning from the people you hope to represent, God willing. Leadership starts by listening, not hiding behind titles or party leadership.”

St. Gelais states he has more than 26 years of private-sector experience running an insurance agency that serves families and small businesses directly. He said he has developed a clear understanding of what makes policies succeed and what causes them to fail.

“I’ve spent my career writing policies that had to protect people and actually work,” St. Gelais said. “I know what good policy looks like, and I have a very good eye for bad policy when I see it. Massachusetts needs fewer theories and more policies that work in the real world.”

St. Gelais has officially launched his campaign and will continue meeting with voters, community leaders, and local organizations throughout the 8th Bristol District.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Bristol District is represented by Democrat Steve Ouellette, who was elected in November 2024.