Jake Auchincloss

Rep. Jake Auchincloss is facing his first Democratic primary challenge since being elected six years ago.

Auchincloss is running on his track record of addressing cost-of-living issues and housing affordability.

Challenger Jason Poulos, an AI policy expert, is focusing on the threats of AI and the cost of housing.

The winner of the Democratic primary is expected to face Republican Thomas Stalcup in the general election.

For the first time since his election to the U.S. House of Representatives six years ago, Rep. Jake Auchincloss faces a Democratic Party primary challenger.

Auchincloss will face off against Jason Poulos, an artificial intelligence policy expert from Sherborn. The winner is expected to face Thomas Stalcup of Brookline - the sole Republican running for the seat on that party's primary ballot - in November's general election.

Auchincloss has represented Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District since his 2021 swearing-in. He won the Democratic Party’s nomination in the 2020 House elections with 22.4% of the vote; eight other candidates split the remaining ballots in a tight race.

Massachusetts’ 2026 primary election is set for Sept. 1. Fall River is at the southern end of the 4th Congressional District, which stretches north through Taunton, Attleboro and Milford to Boston’s south suburbs, all the way past Route 128 into Newton and Brookline.

The Herald News, part of the USA TODAY Network, spoke with Poulos and Auchincloss about their backgrounds, policy priorities and thoughts on the direction of the Democratic Party.

Auchincloss: 3-term incumbent points to track record on cost-of-living issues

Who he is: Auchincloss lives in Newton. He served in the Marines and on the Newton City Council before running for Congress in 2020.

In that general election, he defeated Republican candidate Julie Hall with over 60% of the vote. He faced no primary or general election challengers in 2022. He trounced a write-in candidate in 2024.

Platform: Looking back at his track record in Congress, Auchincloss said he’s focused on lowering the cost of living.

“Massachusetts is pricing out its middle class because of the cost of our housing,” he said.

He touted his support for a Massachusetts ballot measure that would require cities and towns to allow new single-family starter homes on smaller lots.

He said he wants to see more “missing middle” housing for seniors who don’t qualify for affordable units but still struggle to afford market prices. Such housing was recently built in Newton.

On technology policy, Auchincloss said he wants to expand legal liability for social media and AI companies found to cause harm to people, such as by circulating deepfakes.

He said he supports raising taxes on capital gains and decreasing taxes on income and payroll.

"I think we should institute a national wealth tax," he added.

Auchincloss also shared his thoughts on Fall River’s economic future. He said the area could see a windfall from Pentagon investments in maritime robotics. Defense contractor L3 Harris manufactures autonomous submarines in Fall River.

What he thinks about his opponent and Democrats: Auchincloss called on Democrats to be the “party for the new American Dream”: a strong education by age 18, a house by age 30 and retirement by age 65.

“Voters believe that both parties are more focused on niche issues than they are on the middle class,” he said.

He criticized Poulos’ membership in the Democratic Socialists of America.

“The DSA’s idea of how to be disruptive is abolishing prisons and canceling Thanksgiving,” he said.

The DSA’s national platform calls for gradual prison abolition. It does not mention Thanksgiving.

Poulos: AI policy concerns sparked progressive campaign

Who he is: Poulos has a doctorate in political science and works designing evaluation frameworks for new AI models, according to his campaign website. That experience motivated his campaign.

“I didn’t see anyone in Congress really concerned about the threat of AI on our society and our workforce," he said.

He also said Auchincloss’ support for Israel during the war in Gaza was a factor. Poulos said he was sympathetic to student protestors while working at Harvard during the conflict.

In July 2026, Auchincloss was one of 103 House Democrats who voted to cut off military aid to Israel.

Platform: Talking to voters across the district, Poulos said the cost of housing came up again and again.

He outlined three policy ideas aimed at the issue: direct federal investments into public and cooperative housing, incentives for local pro-housing zoning reform and a tenant’s bill of rights including a national cap on rent increases.

Poulos envisioned a larger role for the federal government in the world of AI.

He said he supports creating a federal board that would evaluate and approve new AI models, armed with regulatory power over data privacy and data center construction.

He proposes a public jobs program funded by taxes on companies that automate human jobs. He said participants in such a program could work maintaining roads and infrastructure.

He also proposes an “AI dividend”: a tax to “redistribute the productivity gains of AI companies towards people,” compensating them for the use of their data in AI development.

What he thinks about his opponent and Democrats: Though both candidates are on the younger side, Poulos called Auchincloss’ style of politics “old.”

“He represents the old establishment views, which have led to the situation where we have an authoritarian in office,” Poulos said.

He criticized spending in support of Auchincloss from Protect Progress, a group representing the cryptocurrency industry, as well as past direct donations to his campaign from healthcare executives.

He also criticized Auchincloss for not co-sponsoring federal Medicare for All legislation, which Poulos said he’d co-sponsor “on day one.”