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Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District

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Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 6, 2021

Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District is represented by Adam Gomez (D).

As of the 2020 Census, Massachusetts state senators represented an average of 175,837 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 163,991 residents.

About the office

Members of the Massachusetts State Senate serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Massachusetts legislators assume office the first Wednesday in January after the election.[1]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Article CI, Section 2 of the Massachusetts Constitution states: "Each district shall elect one senator, who shall have been an inhabitant of this Commonwealth five years at least immediately preceding his election and at the time of his election shall be an inhabitant of the district for which he is chosen; and he shall cease to represent such senatorial district when he shall cease to be an inhabitant of the Commonwealth."[2]

According to the Massachusetts Secretary of State's office, an individual must be a registered voter to run for office.[3]


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[4]
SalaryPer diem
$73,655.01/yearNo per diem is paid.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Massachusetts General Court, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. The election must be held on the next regularly scheduled date on the election calendar.[5] Local governments that conduct special elections can receive reimbursement from the state treasurer's office for costs incurred.[6][7]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Massachusetts Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54, § 141 and Massachusetts Const. Amend. Art. 24


District map

Redistricting

2020 redistricting cycle

See also: Redistricting in Massachusetts after the 2020 census

Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed the state's new legislative maps into law on November 4, 2021.[8] The state House passed the maps by a vote of 158-1 on October 21, 2021. The state Senate approved the legislative plans on October 27, 2021 by a vote of 36-3. The legislature began consideration of the state's redistricting plans on October 19, 2021.[9] These maps took effect for Massachusetts' 2022 legislative elections.

After the redistricting plans were enacted, Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin (D) issued a statement expressing concern regarding how the maps would be implemented: "I am extremely disappointed that these bills were signed into law in their current form and I think it is a devastating blow to the voters of Massachusetts. With local precincts divided multiple ways, it will inevitably lead to chaos at the polls and make it impossible for voters to understand who their elected representatives are."[10] After the legislature approved the maps, State Sen. William Brownsberger (D) said, "It’s a quality final product. We have used every minute we’ve had to keep vetting, to keep adjusting . . . and to respond to input that we’ve received."[11]

How does redistricting in Massachusetts work? In Massachusetts, congressional and state legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature. The lines drawn by the state legislature are subject to veto by the governor.[12]

State statutes require that state legislative district boundaries be contiguous and "reasonably preserve counties, towns, and cities intact, where otherwise possible." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[12]

Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District
until January 3, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District
starting January 4, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District

Incumbent Adam Gomez won election in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Adam Gomez
Adam Gomez (D)
 
97.0
 
43,211
 Other/Write-in votes
 
3.0
 
1,340

Total votes: 44,551
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District

Incumbent Adam Gomez defeated Malo Brown in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District on September 3, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Adam Gomez
Adam Gomez
 
70.4
 
7,236
Malo Brown
 
29.3
 
3,011
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.4
 
36

Total votes: 10,283
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2022

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District

Incumbent Adam Gomez won election in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Adam Gomez
Adam Gomez (D)
 
96.6
 
23,665
 Other/Write-in votes
 
3.4
 
845

Total votes: 24,510
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District

Incumbent Adam Gomez advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District on September 6, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Adam Gomez
Adam Gomez
 
99.0
 
8,980
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.0
 
92

Total votes: 9,072
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2020

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District

Adam Gomez won election in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Adam Gomez
Adam Gomez (D)
 
97.5
 
44,038
 Other/Write-in votes
 
2.5
 
1,151

Total votes: 45,189
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District

Adam Gomez defeated incumbent James Welch in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District on September 1, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Adam Gomez
Adam Gomez
 
52.4
 
11,522
Image of James Welch
James Welch
 
47.3
 
10,397
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.3
 
59

Total votes: 21,978
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2018

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District

Incumbent James Welch won election in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of James Welch
James Welch (D)
 
98.3
 
31,109
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.7
 
548

Total votes: 31,657
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District

Incumbent James Welch defeated Amaad Isiah Rivera in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District on September 4, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of James Welch
James Welch
 
58.5
 
5,909
Amaad Isiah Rivera
 
41.5
 
4,198

Total votes: 10,107
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2016

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 8, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 7, 2016.

Incumbent James Welch ran unopposed in the Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District general election.[13][14]

Massachusetts State Senate, Hampden District General Election, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png James Welch Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth


Incumbent James Welch ran unopposed in the Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District Democratic Primary.[15][16]

Massachusetts State Senate, Hampden District Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png James Welch Incumbent (unopposed)



2014

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election was held on September 9, 2014, and a general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 3, 2014. Incumbent James Welch was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.[17]

2012

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 6, 2012 and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 29, 2012.[18] Incumbent James Welch (D) was unopposed in the general election. Welch defeated Melvin A. Edwards in the Democratic primary.[19][20]

Massachusetts State Senate, Hampden District Democratic Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJames Welch Incumbent 61.3% 6,244
Melvin Edwards 38.7% 3,936
Total Votes 10,180

Campaign contributions

From 2012 to 2024, candidates for Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District raised a total of $679,728. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $75,525 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $145,939 2 $72,970
2022 $84,985 1 $84,985
2020 $133,580 2 $66,790
2016 $92,297 1 $92,297
2014 $90,252 1 $90,252
2012 $132,675 2 $66,338
Total $679,728 9 $75,525


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Massachusetts Constitution, "Article LXXXII," accessed February 12, 2021
  2. The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Constitution," accessed May 21, 2025
  3. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "How to Run for Office in Massachusetts," accessed May 27, 2025 (page 5)
  4. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  5. Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 50, Section 6A)
  6. Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 3: Section 10A)
  7. Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 54: Section 141)
  8. MassLive, "As Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker OKs new districts, Secretary of State William Galvin warns of chaos," November 4, 2021
  9. Boston Globe, "Lawmakers poised to send new political maps, increasing number of majority-minority districts, to Baker," October 27, 2021
  10. Boston Globe, "Lawmakers poised to send new political maps, increasing number of majority-minority districts, to Baker," October 27, 2021
  11. Boston Globe, "Lawmakers poised to send new political maps, increasing number of majority-minority districts, to Baker," October 27, 2021
  12. 12.0 12.1 All About Redistricting, "Massachusetts," accessed May 4, 2015
  13. Massachusetts Secretary of State, "2016 State election candidates," accessed October 3, 2016
  14. Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Election data lookup," accessed December 20, 2016
  15. Massachusetts Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Candidates (Democratic)," accessed June 20, 2016
  16. Secretary of the Commonweath of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Election Statistics," accessed October 14, 2016
  17. Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "2014 State Primary Candidates," accessed September 9, 2014
  18. ‘’Massachusetts Secretary of State,’’ “A Candidate’s Guide to the 2012 State Election.” Retrieved November 2, 2013
  19. Massachusetts Secretary of State, 2012 primary election results. Retrieved November 2, 2013
  20. Massachusetts Secretary of State, 2012 general election results. Retrieved November 2, 2013


Current members of the Massachusetts State Senate
Senators
Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire District
Paul Mark (D)
Bristol and Norfolk District
Cape and Islands District
Hampden District
Hampden and Hampshire District
Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester District
Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District
Middlesex and Norfolk District
Middlesex and Suffolk District
Middlesex and Worcester District
Norfolk and Middlesex District
Norfolk and Plymouth District
Norfolk and Suffolk District
Norfolk, Plymouth, and Bristol District
Norfolk, Worcester, and Middlesex District
Plymouth and Barnstable District
Suffolk and Middlesex District
Worcester and Hampden District
Worcester and Hampshire District
Worcester and Middlesex District
1st Bristol and Plymouth District
1st Essex District
1st Essex and Middlesex District
1st Middlesex District
1st Plymouth and Norfolk District
1st Suffolk District
1st Worcester District
2nd Bristol and Plymouth District
2nd Essex District
2nd Essex and Middlesex District
2nd Middlesex District
2nd Plymouth and Norfolk District
2nd Suffolk District
2nd Worcester District
3rd Bristol and Plymouth District
3rd Essex District
3rd Middlesex District
3rd Suffolk District
4th Middlesex District
5th Middlesex District
Democratic Party (35)
Republican Party (5)