UPDATED 1/15/26 6:21PM: To include an announcement from the House that there would be no special election.

Heading back to school. (via Facebook/Blais official)

Western Mass appears to have its first open legislative contest of the 2026 cycle. Deerfield Rep Natalie Blais announced last week that she would be resigning on January 19 to take a job with UMass-Amherst. It is unclear whether there will actually be a special election for the seat. Either way, a large field could easily bubble up from the 18 communities the sprawling 1st Franklin District.

Blais won her seat in 2018, succeeding Stephen Kulik. The real contest then, as it likely would be now, was the primary. Blais prevailed in a field of over a half-dozen candidates. Redistricting after the 2020 Census changed the district radically. Originally reaching west into the foothills of the Berkshires, Beacon Hill swung the district clockwise toward Vermont adding half of Greenfield in the process.

“This felt like the right decision for me, even though it was an incredibly difficult one to make,” Blais told the Greenfield Recorder. “It’s been very, very hard because I love this job and I love this district.”

Blais announced her resignation in a note posted to social media. She underscored her commitment to rural issues, like agriculture and schools and transportation funding. She also mentioned issues of statewide import including work on preventing sexual and domestic violence.  This term, she was the House chair for the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries.

Blais’s note on social media indicated family considerations, namely the monster commute to Boston, also played a role. She confirmed this to the Recorder.

UMass-Amherst looms large north of the Tofu Curtain as one the region’s largest employer. Moreover, Blais is becoming the campus’s Associate Vice Chancellor for Government Relations at a time when higher education faces continuing assaults from the federal government.

“Supporting public higher education at the Commonwealth’s flagship campus is more important than ever as it faces reduced federal research funding and changes to federal policies that impact immigration, student aid and more,” Blais said in her post.

“In this new role, I will work to address these challenges and support the transformational opportunities this public institution offers its students, families, and employees,” she continued.

The university, in a press release, said Blais would focus on the campus’ legislative strategy, both federal and state. She would also work on funding and grant opportunities. Her remit will include the Henry M. Thomas, III Center in Springfield.

Although Deerfield Democrat had previously worked for UMass-Amherst. a substantial amount of her career had been in politics. Before embarking on her own political career, she had worked for the late Congressman John Olver and for Worcester Congressman James McGovern.

McGovern’s district has reached westward into the 413 since 2013. Much Blais’s district today now overlaps with his congressional district. On social media, he congratulated his former aide, who had worked out of his Northampton office.

“She’s an incredible legislator, a selfless public servant, & a powerful voice in the State House,” McGovern wrote. “Most importantly, she’s an awesome person. Wishing her all the best in her next chapter at UMass!”

I first worked with Natalie Blais when she was a member of my team in my Northampton office. She’s an incredible legislator, a selfless public servant, & a powerful voice in the State House.Most importantly, she’s an awesome person. Wishing her all the best in her next chapter at UMass!

— Representative Jim McGovern (@repmcgovern.bsky.social) 2026-01-09T23:03:06.781Z

The 1^st Franklin consists of Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Hawley, Heath, Leverett, Leyden, Monroe, Montague, Rowe, Shelburne, Sunderland, Whately, and Greenfield precincts 5, 6, 7 and 8.

1st Franklin’s election: Same name. Different map. (via malegislature.gov)

The contest for Blais’s seat will be wide open. Because there are so many communities in the district almost none of which are dramatically bigger than the others, there could be many candidates. This essentially happened in 2018.

One major difference from 2018 is Greenfield. Eight years ago, the seat of Franklin County was in a different state House district. That district had leapt westward into the Berkshires where its rep lived. After the 2020 Census, the district shifted northeast. Greenfield was split between Blais and 2^nd Franklin Rep Susannah Whipps, an Athol independent.

Blais launching in 2018–in the old version of her district. (via Facebook/Blais campaign)

Splitting the city would have made it difficult for Greenfield pols to challenge either incumbent. Yet, an open contest could present a possibility for ambitious Greenfielders. While it may not amount to many more votes than the other small towns, a candidate from there may be able to marshal more resources.

It is also possible that the seat could be empty for nearly a year. The House will decide whether to hold a special election. On Tuesday morning, a spokesperson for House Speaker Ron Mariano had no decision about a special election to announce. However, on Thursday, after this post originally published, Mariano’s office confirmed there would be no special.

“The Secretary of the Commonwealth has outlined a number of logistical concerns regarding a potential special election in the 1st Franklin District. Therefore, the House will not be calling for a special election after the resignation of Representative Natalie Blais, effective January 19,” a spokesperson for the Speaker said.

While the legislative chamber with a vacancy ultimately determines special election schedules—including petitioning window, primary date, general election date—the House and Senate make decision in consultation with Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin. His office administers state elections. State law and the existing town election calendars could push a special election into mid spring. By then, two months before the legislative session ends on July 31, the new rep’s vote may not influence much .

A spokesperson for Galvin, Debra O’Malley, added that a May election would likely fall after key deadlines for candidates running in the regularly scheduled election. Holding the election earlier in the spring presents other challenges. The many small towns in the district have local elections throughout the spring. Most lack the capacity for additional polling days.

“A spring special election and primary would likely conflict with some of the upcoming annual town elections and town meetings in the district,” O’Malley emailed. “Most clerks in this district have limited business hours and budgets, and administering three elections at once would be a significant burden.”

She said secretary would not support a special election, but noted it was the House’s decision.

“Given the complications of running two elections for the same seat at the same time, and the resulting costs that would be borne by the towns in the district, Secretary Galvin would oppose holding a special election at this late stage,” O’Malley continued.

Comerford may have extra legislating to do this year. (still via malegisalture.gov)

The speaker’s office confirmed that Blais’s staff would remain on after her resignation to handle constituent services. However, an extended vacancy in the House means an additional burden will fall on the towns’ legislators in the Senate.

The 1^st Franklin is split between the districts of Northampton Senator Jo Comerford and Beckett Senator Paul Mark. More of Blais’s towns lie within Mark’s district. However, Comerford represents more of the population who reside in the larger towns along the Connecticut River.

Like others, Comerford, who entered the Senate the same day Blais joined the House, congratulated and praised her departing colleague.

“It has been a seven-year joy and an honor to partner with Representative Natalie Blais in the Legislature, working side by side with Natalie for the residents of Franklin County and our shared communities,” Comerford said in a statement “I am deeply grateful for her leadership and her team’s dedication. I wish Rep. Blais every success as she takes on a new role at UMass Amherst.”

On the possibility that a chunk of her constituents would have no rep for quite a while, Comerford indicated she was preparing for the change.

“My team and I are working closely with Rep. Blais and her team during this transition,” she said.