Elections & Open Seats

Every seat. Every race. 2026 through 2028.

“C’mon guys — nobody is coming to save us. If we want candidates who actually fight for this town, we have to find them, support them, and put them on the ballot ourselves. That’s not somebody else’s job. That’s our job. That’s why this committee exists.”

— JERRY O’CONNELL, VICE CHAIR, YARMOUTH RTC

The Yarmouth Republican Town Committee is done waiting. We have new volunteers who showed up, read the rules, and are running this committee the way it was designed to be run. We meet monthly — minimum — in an election year. We are autonomous, motivated, and capable. We are actively recruiting and supporting our own candidates to replace entrenched career politicians who have not moved the marker for Yarmouth families in any meaningful way.

We stand in the tradition of those ordinary men who told a tyrannical king they would govern themselves. Today, different faces push the same arrogance — and we have heard the calling.

FOR THE REPUBLIC.

2026 Local Election — May 19

Annual Town Election — Yarmouth, MA

Open Seat
Select Board
1 seat · 3-year term
Mark Forest’s term expires 2026. This is a voting seat on the board that controls Yarmouth’s budget, policy, and town direction. We need a candidate.
Open Seats
D-Y School Committee
Yarmouth seat(s) · 3-year term
The committee oversees a $80.6M regional school budget serving Dennis and Yarmouth. Parents, taxpayers, and education advocates — your voice belongs here.
Open Seat
Housing Authority
1 seat · 5-year term
Oversees public housing and affordable housing policy in Yarmouth. Long terms mean lasting impact. Step up.
Open Seat
Town Moderator
1 seat · 1-year term
Presides over Town Meeting — the most direct form of democracy in America. The moderator controls the floor, the debate, and the process. This seat matters.

2026 State & County Races — November

State primary September 1 · General election November 3

No Republican Candidate Filed
State Rep — 1st Barnstable
Yarmouth Precincts 1–4, 7, 8
Rep. Chris Flanagan (D) is not seeking re-election. Two Democrats are running. Zero Republicans. This is an open seat with no GOP challenger. That is unacceptable.
Incumbent Unchallenged
State Rep — 2nd Barnstable
Yarmouth Precincts 5, 6
Kip Diggs (D) has held this seat since 2021. No announced Republican challenger. Former Rep. Will Crocker lost this seat in 2020. We need someone to step up.
Incumbent Unchallenged
State Senate — Cape & Islands
12 towns + Martha’s Vineyard + Nantucket
Julian Cyr (D) has held this seat since 2017. No Republican has filed. The entire Cape Cod delegation to the State House is Democrat. That changes when we start fielding candidates.
2 Seats · Republicans Running
County Commissioner
Barnstable County · 4-year term
Two seats open. Democratic incumbents Mark Forest and Sheila Lyons face Republican challengers Cynthia Stead (Dennis) and Ron Beaty (West Barnstable). Support them.

Looking Ahead — 2028

We start building now for the races ahead

County Office · 6-Year Term
Sheriff
Barnstable County
Donna Buckley (D) was elected in 2022. Six-year term expires 2028. Public safety is not a partisan issue — but leadership is.
County Office · 6-Year Term
Register of Deeds
Barnstable County
John Meade has held this office since 1989 — over 35 years. Every property transaction on Cape Cod flows through this office. Fresh leadership is overdue.
Republican Party Leadership
State Committee Chairman
Cape & Islands District · 4-year term
The State Committee Chairman represents Cape Cod and the Islands Republicans at the state party level. This position sets the direction for GOP organizing, candidate recruitment, and campaign support across the entire region.
Republican Party Leadership
State Committeewoman
Cape & Islands District · 4-year term
The State Committeewoman is the senior female representative of Cape Cod Republicans at the state level. Effective leadership in this role means active candidate recruitment, grassroots organizing, and accountability to the town committees she serves.

Ready to Run? Ready to Help?

Whether you want to run for office, volunteer on a campaign, or just learn more about what’s on the ballot — we want to hear from you. The Yarmouth RTC meets monthly and we are actively recruiting candidates for every open seat on this page.

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