John Deaton

Republican candidate for Senator in Congress, Massachusetts · Challenger

Attorney

John Deaton is an attorney and the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts in 2026. He was also the Republican nominee in 2024 and lost to Sen. Elizabeth Warren. He declared his 2026 candidacy in November 2025, ran unopposed in the September 1, 2026 Republican primary, and faces incumbent Democrat Ed Markey in the general election.

Where Deaton stands

Health care: Opposes Medicare for All. He says it cannot pass because most Senate Democrats do not support it, and he favors breaking up large health insurance companies instead.
Immigration enforcement: Says ICE should be reformed rather than abolished.
Tariffs: Disagrees with President Trump on tariffs.
War with Iran: Disagrees with President Trump on the war with Iran.
Party loyalty: Says he has never voted for Donald Trump and has no loyalty to a political party.

Background

Attorney
Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, 2024 (lost to Elizabeth Warren)
Declared 2026 U.S. Senate candidacy in November 2025; endorsed before the primary by the Massachusetts Republican Party and Log Cabin Republicans
Won the Republican primary unopposed, September 1, 2026

In the news

Deaton and Markey clash over Trump, voting record in first and only debate The New Bedford Light, October 14, 2026
John Deaton's biggest challenge isn't Ed Markey. It's President Trump WBUR, October 13, 2026

Also running for Senator in Congress

Edward J. Markey Democratic
Shiva Ayyadurai Independent
Joe Tache Socialism and Liberation

Sources

Last researched October 23, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.