Massachusetts votes blue in statewide races

Massachusetts+votes+blue+in+statewide+races

Paxtyn Merten and Julia Preszler

On Election Day, as Republicans won the presidency and took majorities in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, Massachusetts voted blue for every office on the ballot.

In the presidential election, 61 percent of Massachusetts residents who voted cast their ballot for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. This number was significantly higher among Boston voters, at 82 percent.

All nine of Massachusetts’ incumbent House representatives, all of whom are members of the Democratic Party, were re-elected and four ran unopposed.

Fifth district representative Katherine Clark was among those who ran unopposed.

“At this crossroads in our nation’s history, we must rise with all of our collective might to protect our constitution, equality and freedom,” Clark said in a Nov. 9 statement. “I will return to Congress resolved to stand against bigotry and division.”

Incumbent District Four representative and Democrat Joseph Kennedy III ran against Republican David Rosa and won 70 percent of the vote over Rosa’s 30 percent, according to the Boston Globe.

In a Nov. 9 statement released by the Joe Kennedy for Congress Facebook page, Kennedy noted the “overwhelming sentiment” of pride he observed at polls in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and congratulated President-elect Donald J. Trump.

“On January 20, he will take the reins of a country divided, impassioned, headstrong, hurting, hopeful and resilient. Together, may we work day and night to heal and march on,” Kennedy said.


Mike Capuano was re-elected as representative for the Massachusetts’ seventh congressional district, which includes Boston. Capuano ran unopposed.

“It is an honor and privilege to represent the people of the 7th Congressional District,” Capuano said in a Nov. 9 statement. “I think there will be difficult days ahead but I will try as hard as I can to work with the new President and his majorities in both the House and the Senate (and soon, the Supreme Court).”

Sixth district representative Seth Moulton was also among those who ran unopposed.

Thank you to #MA6 voters for your continued faith in me. I’m honored to serve. #ElectionDay

Neither of the state’s U.S. senators were up for re-election.

Both Boston’s state senator and state representative for the Massachusetts state legislature ran unopposed. William N. Brownsberger, the Democratic state senator for Massachusetts’ Second Suffolk and Middlesex district, and Chynah Tyler, the Democratic state representative for Massachusetts’ seventh Suffolk district, will both serve another term.

Incumbent Suffolk County Sheriff and Democrat Steven W. Tompkins also ran unopposed.

Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker tried to assure Bostonians that they are still safe despite the results of the election.

“After a presidential election, there shouldn’t be fear. It’s our job in the City of Boston to let the rest of the country know that Boston is a place of hope,” Baker said.

Photo Courtesy of Connormah, Creative Commons