By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
After nearly 12 years leading the Bristol County District Attorney’s office, District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced Tuesday, Jan. 21, that he will not seek re-election when his term ends in 2027.
In a written statement released Monday, Jan. 20, Quinn said it has been a “great honor and a privilege” to serve Bristol County and confirmed he will complete his final year in office before stepping aside.
“I became a prosecutor nearly 40 years ago and have dedicated my career to the pursuit of justice,” Quinn said. “I have tried to be a district attorney who listened, who respected differing perspectives, and who worked to ensure that justice was administered thoughtfully and fairly to all.”
Quinn, a Bristol County native, was appointed district attorney in 2015 by former Gov. Deval Patrick to fill a vacancy, and later reappointed by former Gov. Charlie Baker. He went on to win election to the post and has served three terms.
Quinn has faced only one primary challenge during his tenure, when fellow Democrat Shannon McMahon ran against him in 2022.
No other candidates have formally announced campaigns for the seat. Historically, the office has been dominated by Democrats, with no Republican holding the Bristol County district attorney position in more than 50 years.
With Quinn’s announcement, former Assistant District Attorney Seth Aitken is now the only declared candidate in the 2026 race.
Aitken, a registered Republican, announced his candidacy earlier this year, positioning himself as a critic of Quinn’s leadership and pledging to bring what he described as greater accountability and transparency to the office. Aitken served as an assistant district attorney under Quinn from from 2018 to 2021.
“I’m running for Bristol County District Attorney because our residents have the right to feel safe where they live and work,” Aitken said at the time of his announcement, arguing that staffing shortages and a lack of leadership have strained the court system and weakened public trust.
Aitken has cited workload concerns within the district attorney’s office, noting that roughly 16,000 cases per year move through district court and are handled by about 25 prosecutors, many of them junior attorneys. He said improved training and staffing would be a priority if elected.
In addition to his prosecutorial background, Aitken previously served as Fall River City Administrator, a position he resigned from in February 2025 amid conflict-of-interest allegations. City officials later said the matter was reviewed and addressed, and Aitken said he welcomed the investigation and did not benefit financially from the actions in question.
Since leaving City Hall, Aitken has returned to private practice in Fall River, focusing on criminal defense and consumer protection cases in Bristol County courts. He also pointed to his eight years as an Army officer as formative leadership experience.
Quinn, who had not previously said whether he would seek a fourth term, thanked members of his staff, law enforcement partners and Bristol County residents in his statement, saying he was proud of the office’s accomplishments during his tenure.
“I remain fully committed to carrying out the responsibilities of this office with the same dedication and focus that have guided my 28 years as a prosecutor,” said Quinn.