Newton voters will choose between State Rep. John Lawn and City Councilor Alison Leary in the 10th Middlesex Democratic primary on Sept. 1, with a pair of candidate interviews published by Fig City News offering the most detailed look yet at where the two stand on health care, housing and Beacon Hill transparency.

Key dates.

Early voting opens Aug. 22, running through Aug. 28, with mail-in ballot applications due by 5 p.m. Aug. 25. No Republican is running, so the primary winner advances directly to the Nov. 3 general election.

Health care.

Lawn, who chairs the Legislature's Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, points to a bill protecting health care workers from workplace violence that's cleared both chambers and awaits conference committee action, along with $10 million the state allocated to Healthcare for All to help MassHealth recipients navigate new federal work requirements. Leary supports Medicare for All and argues the state can lead toward universal coverage, telling Fig City News that rising insurance premiums are forcing communities to divert money from schools, citing studies suggesting billions could be saved through a streamlined system.

Housing.

Lawn backs the MBTA Communities Law and says towns resisting new housing may face more state pressure, calling for more workforce and senior housing options. Leary has earned an endorsement from Abundant Housing Massachusetts for supporting by-right development and duplexes, arguing housing growth should concentrate near transit where residents have real alternatives to driving.

Transportation.

Both candidates praised MBTA General Manager Phil Eng while acknowledging decades of underinvestment. Leary focused specifically on the Newtonville commuter rail station, scheduled to close in December for about 28 months of reconstruction — as of June, the MBTA had no plan to add bus service during the closure despite more than 300 daily riders. "They call this the Better Bus project. I mean, come on! We're going to have to rely on buses while that work gets done," Leary said.

Transparency.

Leary accused Beacon Hill leadership of running a centralized, top-down structure that limits transparency and discourages dissent, questioning the system of committee stipends and leadership benefits. Lawn defended the Legislature's record, noting public hearings and committee votes are already posted online, and pointed to a House-passed bill allowing the state auditor to select an independent auditor funded by the House — a proposal the auditor herself opposed.

The OUI question.

Lawn was arrested in July 2025 after colliding with a parked truck and running two stop signs while driving under the influence, according to a Waltham Times profile. He pleaded guilty to OUI and to leaving the scene of property damage, losing his license for 45 days and receiving a year of probation. Asked about it in his Fig City News interview, Lawn said, "I've already talked about it, and there is really nothing left to say."

The broader race.

Lawn carries endorsements from Gov. Maura Healey, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and Waltham Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy. He missed 22 of 116 roll call votes in the 2025 session — among the highest totals in the House — which he attributed to a vacation scheduling miscommunication. Leary, who lost to Lawn in the 2020 primary by a 52.7% to 47.2% margin, also used her interview to apologize for past remarks about Nonantum made during a debate, calling them "dismissive" and "totally wrong." Lawn, for his part, highlighted district investments including tree planting in Nonantum, support for Newton veterans' facilities and parks, preservation of Waltham Community Farms, and state funding for Watertown's net-zero high school.

This is the only contested race for the seat this cycle; Lawn has run unopposed in his last five general elections.