Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2024

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2024 Massachusetts
House Elections
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PrimarySeptember 3, 2024
GeneralNovember 5, 2024
Past Election Results
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Elections for the Massachusetts House of Representatives took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was September 3, 2024. The filing deadline was May 28, 2024.[1]

Following the election, Democrats maintained a 134-25-1 veto-proof majority.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives was one of 85 state legislative chambers with elections in 2024. There are 99 chambers throughout the country.

Party control

See also: Partisan composition of state houses and State government trifectas
Massachusetts House of Representatives
Party As of November 5, 2024 After November 6, 2024
     Democratic Party 132 Pending
     Republican Party 24 Pending
     Independent 1 Pending
     Vacancy 3 Pending
Total 160 160

Candidates

General election

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Primary

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Voting information

See also: Voting in Massachusetts

Election information in Massachusetts: Nov. 5, 2024, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: Oct. 26, 2024
  • By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 26, 2024
  • Online: Oct. 26, 2024

Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

Yes

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: Oct. 29, 2024
  • By mail: Received by Oct. 29, 2024
  • Online: Oct. 29, 2024

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: Nov. 5, 2024
  • By mail: Postmarked by Nov. 5, 2024

Was early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What were the early voting start and end dates?

Oct. 19, 2024 to Nov. 1, 2024

Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When were polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.


General election race ratings

The table below displays race ratings for each race in this chamber from CNalysis.

Incumbents who were not re-elected

See also: Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 14, 2024

Incumbents defeated in general elections

See also: Incumbents defeated in state legislative elections, 2024

One incumbent lost in general elections. The average number of incumbents defeated in general elections from 2010 to 2022 was 2.6.

Name Party Office
Patricia Haddad Electiondot.png Democratic 5th Bristol District

Incumbents defeated in primaries

See also: Incumbents defeated in state legislative elections, 2024

Two incumbents lost in primaries. This was comparable to the average of 1.9 incumbent defeats per cycle from 2010 to 2022.


Name Party Office
Rady Mom Electiondot.png Democratic House District 18th Middlesex
Susan Gifford Ends.png Republican House District 2nd Plymouth

Retiring incumbents

Sixteen incumbents did not file for re-election in 2024.[2] The average number of total retirements from 2010 to 2022 was 16.7. Those incumbents were:

Name Party Office
William Straus Electiondot.png Democratic 10th Bristol District
Peter Capano Electiondot.png Democratic 11th Essex District
Kay Khan Electiondot.png Democratic 11th Middlesex District
Ruth Balser Electiondot.png Democratic 12th Middlesex District
Denise Garlick Electiondot.png Democratic 13th Norfolk District
F. Jay Barrows Ends.png Republican 1st Bristol District
Mathew Muratore Ends.png Republican 1st Plymouth District
Daniel Carey Electiondot.png Democratic 2nd Hampshire District
William Pignatelli Electiondot.png Democratic 3rd Berkshire District
Sarah Peake Electiondot.png Democratic 4th Barnstable District
Josh Cutler Electiondot.png Democratic 6th Plymouth District
William Driscoll Jr. Electiondot.png Democratic 7th Norfolk District
Paul Schmid III Electiondot.png Democratic 8th Bristol District
Angelo D'Emilia Ends.png Republican 8th Plymouth District
Gerry Cassidy Electiondot.png Democratic 9th Plymouth District
Dylan Fernandes Electiondot.png Democratic Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket District

Primary election competitiveness

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2024

This section contains data on state legislative primary election competitiveness in Massachusetts. These totals include data from all regularly-scheduled House and Senate elections. For more information about Ballotpedia's competitiveness analysis of state legislative elections, please click here.

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all state legislative districts up for election in Massachusetts in 2024. Information below was calculated on July 3, 2024, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.


Massachusetts had 33 contested state legislative primaries on September 3, 2024, the fewest since Ballotpedia started tracking in 2010.

There were 27 contested Democratic primaries and six contested Republican primaries. For both parties that was below the average from 2010 to 2022. The average number of contested Democratic primaries was 36.9 and the average number of contested Republican primaries was 8.3.

In addition to having fewer contested primaries, Massachusetts also had fewer candidates running for state legislative seats in 2024.

There were 279 candidates running in Massachusetts’ state legislative primaries, the fewest since Ballotpedia started tracking in 2010 and about 15.6% below the 2010 to 2022 average of 330.4.

Of all candidates, 218 were Democrats and 61 were Republicans, these were record lows for both parties.

All 200 seats of the Massachusetts General Court were up for election in 2024.

There were 181 incumbents running for reelection. From 2010 to 2022, the average number of incumbents running for reelection was 179.7.

Eighteen incumbents, or about 9.9% faced primary challengers in 2024. Between 2010 to 2022, an average of 19.1, or 10.6% of incumbents faced a primary challenger. 

Nineteen incumbents did not file for reelection in 2024. The average number of retirements from 2010 to 2022 was 20.3.

In Ballotpedia’s annual State Legislative Competitiveness report, Massachusetts received the lowest competitiveness index of all states holding elections in years that it had state legislative elections since 2016. 

Massachusetts has had a Democratic trifecta since 2023, when Governor Maura Healey (D) assumed office. Since 1992, the state has had 10 years of Democratic trifectas and no Republican trifectas. 


Open seats

The table below shows the number and percentage of open seats in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2010 to 2024.[3] It will be updated as information becomes available following the state’s candidate filing deadline.

Open Seats in Massachusetts House of Representatives elections: 2010 - 2024
Year Total seats Open seats Seats with incumbents running for re-election
2024 160 16 (10 percent) 144 (90 percent)
2022 160 19 (12 percent) 141 (88 percent)
2020 160 15 (9 percent) 145 (91 percent)
2018 160 20 (13 percent) 140 (87 percent)
2016 160 9 (6 percent) 151 (94 percent)
2014 160 12 (8 percent) 148 (92 percent)
2012 160 4 (3 percent) 156 (97 percent)
2010 160 24 (15 percent) 136 (85 percent)

Legislative referrals

See also: Legislative referral

A legislative referral, or legislatively referred ballot measure, is a ballot measure that appears on the ballot due to a vote of the state legislature. A legislative referral can be a constitutional amendment, state statute, or bond issue.

As of the 2024 election, a majority approval (50% + 1) was required in two successive joint legislative sessions for the Massachusetts General Court to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounted to a minimum of 101 votes, assuming no vacancies.

At the time of the 2024 election, Democrats held a 36-4 majority in the Senate and 133-25 majority in the House. Republicans needed to win 72 seats to be able to pass legislative referrals without Democratic votes. Democrats needed to lose 69 seats to lose the ability.

Process to become a candidate

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Massachusetts

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53

For party candidates

Recognized political party candidates seeking access to the primary election ballot must submit nomination papers. Nomination papers are provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Nomination papers must be signed by a certain number of registered voters. The number of required signatures varies according to the office being sought.[4][5]

Required signatures for nomination papers
Office Required signatures
Governor, Attorney General, United States Senator 10,000
Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurer, Auditor 5,000
United States Representative 2,000
State Senator 300
State Representative 150

A candidate must be an enrolled member of the party whose nomination he or she is seeking; with the exception of newly registered voters, the candidate must be enrolled throughout the 90-day period preceding the filing deadline. An individual cannot be a candidate for nomination by one party if he or she was enrolled in any other party during the one-year period preceding the filing deadline. A candidate must prove party affiliation by filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth a certificate of party enrollment signed or stamped by at least three local election officials of the city or town where the candidate is registered. At least one such certificate (which is included on the nomination papers discussed below) must be completed and filed by the filing deadline.[4][6]

Before filing nomination papers, the candidate must make sure that at least one of the certified nomination papers contains a written acceptance of nomination personally signed by either the candidate or his or her authorized attorney. Although the candidate does not have to sign the acceptance space on all nomination papers, the candidate should sign several certified papers to ensure that one of the papers ultimately filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth will include the written acceptance.[4][7]

For the nomination papers to be valid, a candidate for state-level office must also file a receipt from the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission indicating that he or she has filed a statement of financial interest (federal candidates are exempt from this requirement). The receipt must be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth by the filing deadline. Prior to the filing deadline, a state-level candidate must file a written statement with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance indicating whether the candidate agrees to limit campaign spending. A candidate who does not agree to limit spending may be required to file an additional statement of intended spending prior to the deadline for filing withdrawals of nomination.[4][7]

Nomination papers must be submitted to the registrars of the cities or towns in which signatures were collected for certification prior to final filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.[4][8]

For non-party candidates

Like party candidates, independents and other non-party candidates gain access to the general election ballot by filing nomination papers. A non-party candidate must file a certificate proving that he or she is a registered voter and is not enrolled in a recognized political party. This certificate is printed on each nomination paper, and at least one of these certificates must be signed and stamped by at least three local elections officials of the city or town where the candidate is registered.[4]

A non-party candidate may state a political designation in no more than three words. Signature requirements are the same as those that apply to party candidates.[4]

Required signatures for nomination papers
Office Required signatures
Governor, Attorney General, United States Senator 10,000
Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurer, Auditor 5,000
United States Representative 2,000
State Senator 300
State Representative 150

Before filing nomination papers, the candidate must make sure that at least one of the certified nomination papers contains a written acceptance of nomination personally signed by either the candidate or his or her authorized attorney. Although the candidate does not have to sign the acceptance space on all nomination papers, the candidate should sign several certified papers to ensure that one of the papers ultimately filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth will include the written acceptance.[4]

For the nomination papers to be valid, a candidate for state-level office must also file a receipt from the State Ethics Commission indicating that he or she has filed a statement of financial interest (federal candidates are exempt from this requirement). The receipt must be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth by the filing deadline. Prior to the filing deadline, a state-level candidate must file a written statement with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance indicating whether the candidate agrees to limit campaign spending. A candidate who does not agree to limit spending may be required to file an additional statement of intended spending prior to the deadline for filing withdrawals of nomination.[4][7]

Nomination papers must be submitted to the registrars of the cities or towns in which signatures were collected for certification prior to final filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.[4][8]

For write-in candidates

An individual is entitled to seek nomination or election by conducting a write-in campaign. No special forms (such as a declaration of intent) are required, but write-in candidates should familiarize themselves with the rules and guidelines that govern the casting of write-in votes. More information about write-in candidacies can be accessed here.[9]

Filing deadlines

Filing deadlines vary according to the type of candidate (i.e., party or non-party) and the office being sought. The table below summarizes the various filing deadlines established by statute.[10][6][11]

Filing deadlines
Type of candidate and office sought Deadline for certification with local officials Final filing deadline
Party and non-party candidates for the Massachusetts General Court 5:00 p.m. on the 28th day preceding the final filing deadline[8] 5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday in May in the year the election is to be held
Party candidates for federal and statewide office 5:00 p.m. on the 28th day preceding the final filing deadline[8] 5:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday in June in the year the election is to be held
Non-party candidates for federal and statewide office 5:00 p.m. on the 28th day preceding the final filing deadline[8] 5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday in August in the year the election is to be held

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Article LXXI of the Massachusetts Constitution states: Every representative, for one year at least immediately preceding his election, shall have been an inhabitant of the district for which he is chosen and shall cease to represent such district when he shall cease to be an inhabitant of the commonwealth.

Salaries and per diem

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[12]
SalaryPer diem
$73,655.01/yearNo per diem is paid.

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Massachusetts legislators assume office the first Wednesday in January after the election.[13]

Massachusetts political history

Trifectas

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.

Massachusetts Party Control: 1992-2024
Ten years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Governor R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R D D
Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Presidential politics in Massachusetts

2020

See also: Presidential election, 2020


Presidential election in Massachusetts, 2020
 
Candidate/Running mate
%
Popular votes
Electoral votes
Image of
Image of
Joe Biden/Kamala D. Harris (D)
 
65.6
 
2,382,202 11
Image of
Image of
Donald Trump/Mike Pence (R)
 
32.1
 
1,167,202 0
Image of
Image of
Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen (L)
 
1.3
 
47,013 0
Image of
Image of
Howie Hawkins/Angela Nicole Walker (G)
 
0.5
 
18,658 0
  Other write-in votes
 
0.4
 
16,327 0

Total votes: 3,631,402


2016

See also: Presidential election, 2016
U.S. presidential election, Massachusetts, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes Electoral votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngHillary Clinton/Tim Kaine 60% 1,995,196 11
     Republican Donald Trump/Mike Pence 32.8% 1,090,893 0
     Libertarian Gary Johnson/Bill Weld 4.2% 138,018 0
     Green Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka 1.4% 47,661 0
     - Write-in/other 1.6% 53,278 0
Total Votes 3,325,046 11
Election results via: Massachusetts Secretary of State


Massachusetts presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 22 Democratic wins
  • 10 Republican wins
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Winning Party R R R D R R R D D D D D D R R D D D D D R R D D D D D D D D D D


See also

Massachusetts State Legislative Elections News and Analysis
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Massachusetts State Executive Offices
Massachusetts State Legislature
Massachusetts Courts
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201920182017201620152014
Massachusetts elections: 202320222021202020192018201720162015
Party control of state government
State government trifectas
Partisan composition of state legislatures
Partisan composition of state senates
Partisan composition of state houses

External links

Footnotes

  1. Candidates had to submit nomination papers to their local election offices for signature verification by April 30, 2024. They had until May 28, 2024, to file those certified signatures with the state.
  2. Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
  3. Ballotpedia defines a seat as open if the incumbent did not file to run for re-election or filed but withdrew and did not appear on any ballot for his or her seat. If the incumbent withdrew from or did not participate in the primary but later chose to seek re-election to his or her seat as a third party or independent candidate, the seat would not be counted as open. If the incumbent retired or ran for a different seat in the same chamber, his or her original seat would be counted as open unless another incumbent from the same chamber filed to run for that seat, in which case it would not be counted as open due to the presence of an incumbent.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "A Candidate's Guide to the 2014 State Election," revised January 2014
  5. Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 6," accessed March 18, 2014
  6. 6.0 6.1 Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 48," accessed March 18, 2014
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 9," accessed March 18, 2014
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 46," accessed March 18, 2014
  9. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "How to Run for Office as a Write-in or Sticker Candidate," accessed March 18, 2014
  10. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named macalendar
  11. Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 10," accessed March 18, 2014
  12. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  13. Massachusetts Constitution, "Article LXXXII," accessed February 12, 2021


Leadership
Speaker of the House:Ronald Mariano
Majority Leader:Michael Moran
Representatives
Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket District
1st Barnstable District
1st Berkshire District
1st Bristol District
1st Essex District
1st Franklin District
1st Hampden District
1st Hampshire District
1st Middlesex District
1st Norfolk District
1st Plymouth District
1st Suffolk District
1st Worcester District
2nd Barnstable District
Kip Diggs (D)
2nd Berkshire District
2nd Bristol District
2nd Essex District
2nd Franklin District
2nd Hampden District
2nd Hampshire District
2nd Middlesex District
2nd Norfolk District
2nd Plymouth District
Vacant
2nd Suffolk District
2nd Worcester District
3rd Barnstable District
3rd Berkshire District
3rd Bristol District
3rd Essex District
3rd Hampden District
3rd Hampshire District
3rd Middlesex District
3rd Norfolk District
3rd Plymouth District
3rd Suffolk District
3rd Worcester District
4th Barnstable District
Vacant
4th Bristol District
4th Essex District
4th Hampden District
4th Middlesex District
4th Norfolk District
4th Plymouth District
4th Suffolk District
4th Worcester District
5th Barnstable District
5th Bristol District
5th Essex District
5th Hampden District
5th Middlesex District
5th Norfolk District
5th Plymouth District
5th Suffolk District
5th Worcester District
6th Bristol District
6th Essex District
6th Hampden District
6th Middlesex District
6th Norfolk District
6th Plymouth District
Vacant
6th Suffolk District
6th Worcester District
7th Bristol District
7th Essex District
7th Hampden District
7th Middlesex District
7th Norfolk District
7th Plymouth District
7th Suffolk District
7th Worcester District
8th Bristol District
8th Essex District
8th Hampden District
8th Middlesex District
8th Norfolk District
8th Plymouth District
8th Suffolk District
8th Worcester District
9th Bristol District
9th Essex District
9th Hampden District
9th Middlesex District
9th Norfolk District
9th Plymouth District
9th Suffolk District
9th Worcester District
10th Bristol District
10th Essex District
10th Hampden District
10th Middlesex District
John Lawn (D)
10th Norfolk District
10th Plymouth District
10th Suffolk District
10th Worcester District
11th Bristol District
11th Essex District
11th Hampden District
11th Middlesex District
Kay Khan (D)
11th Norfolk District
11th Plymouth District
11th Suffolk District
11th Worcester District
12th Bristol District
12th Essex District
12th Hampden District
12th Middlesex District
12th Norfolk District
12th Plymouth District
12th Suffolk District
12th Worcester District
13th Bristol District
13th Essex District
13th Middlesex District
13th Norfolk District
13th Suffolk District
13th Worcester District
14th Bristol District
14th Essex District
14th Middlesex District
14th Norfolk District
14th Suffolk District
14th Worcester District
15th Essex District
15th Middlesex District
15th Norfolk District
15th Suffolk District
15th Worcester District
16th Essex District
16th Middlesex District
16th Suffolk District
16th Worcester District
17th Essex District
17th Middlesex District
17th Suffolk District
17th Worcester District
18th Essex District
18th Middlesex District
Rady Mom (D)
18th Suffolk District
18th Worcester District
19th Middlesex District
19th Suffolk District
19th Worcester District
20th Middlesex District
21st Middlesex District
22nd Middlesex District
23rd Middlesex District
24th Middlesex District
25th Middlesex District
26th Middlesex District
27th Middlesex District
28th Middlesex District
29th Middlesex District
30th Middlesex District
31st Middlesex District
32nd Middlesex District
33rd Middlesex District
34th Middlesex District
35th Middlesex District
36th Middlesex District
37th Middlesex District
Democratic Party (132)
Republican Party (24)
Independent (1)
Vacancies (3)