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Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District
The Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District was eliminated in the 2020 Census redistricting process. Fourteen districts in the state Senate, including this one, were renamed.
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
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] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $73,655.01/year | No per diem is paid. |
Vacancies
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]
See sources: Massachusetts Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54, § 141 and Massachusetts Const. Amend. Art. 24
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
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 Plymouth and Norfolk District
until January 3, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2020
General election
General election for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District (Historical)
Incumbent Patrick O'Connor defeated Meg Wheeler in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District (Historical) on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Patrick O'Connor (R) | 55.0 | 58,965 |
| Meg Wheeler (D) | 45.0 | 48,236 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 71 | ||
| Total votes: 107,272 | |||
 = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District (Historical)
Meg Wheeler advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District (Historical) on September 1, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Meg Wheeler | 99.1 | 32,471 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 303 | ||
| Total votes: 32,774 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District (Historical)
Incumbent Patrick O'Connor advanced from the Republican primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District (Historical) on September 1, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Patrick O'Connor | 99.4 | 9,484 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 55 | ||
| Total votes: 9,539 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District (Historical)
Incumbent Patrick O'Connor defeated Katie McBrine and Stephen Gill in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District (Historical) on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Patrick O'Connor (R) | 48.9 | 42,065 |
 | Katie McBrine (D) | 42.5 | 36,533 | |
 | Stephen Gill (Independent) | 5.2 | 4,503 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 3.4 | 2,903 | ||
| Total votes: 86,004 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District (Historical)
Katie McBrine advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District (Historical) on September 4, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Katie McBrine | 100.0 | 14,506 |
| Total votes: 14,506 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District (Historical)
Incumbent Patrick O'Connor advanced from the Republican primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District (Historical) on September 4, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Patrick O'Connor | 100.0 | 9,955 |
| Total votes: 9,955 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
General election
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 Patrick O'Connor defeated Paul Gannon in the Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth & Norfolk District general election.[13][14]
| Massachusetts State Senate, Plymouth & Norfolk District General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Patrick O'Connor Incumbent |
56.61% | 52,440 | |
| Democratic | Paul Gannon | 43.39% | 40,193 | |
| Total Votes | 92,633 | |||
| Source: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth | ||||
Joan Meschino defeated Brian Richard Cook in the Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth & Norfolk District Democratic Primary.[15][16]
| Massachusetts State Senate, Plymouth & Norfolk District Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Joan Meschino |
59.60% | 3,773 | |
| Democratic | Brian Richard Cook | 40.40% | 2,558 | |
| Total Votes | 6,331 | |||
Incumbent Patrick O'Connor defeated Stephen Gill in the Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth & Norfolk District Republican Primary.[15][16]
| Massachusetts State Senate, Plymouth & Norfolk District Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Patrick O'Connor Incumbent |
77.38% | 3,868 | |
| Republican | Stephen Gill | 22.62% | 1,131 | |
| Total Votes | 4,999 | |||
Special election
A special election for the position of Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District was called for May 10. A primary election took place on April 12.[17] The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 8, 2016.[18]
The seat was vacant following Robert Hedlund's (R) election to mayor of Weymouth in 2015.[19]
Joan Meschino defeated Paul Gannon in the Democratic primary. Patrick O'Connor defeated Stephen Gill in the Republican primary.[20][21] Meschino was defeated by O'Connor in the special election.[22][23][24]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Joan Meschino |
60.5% | 3,714 |
| Paul Gannon | 38% | 2,337 |
| Patrick O'Connor (Write-in) | 1% | 60 |
| All Others | 0.3% | 20 |
| Blank Votes | 0.2% | 11 |
| Total Votes | 6,142 | |
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Patrick O'Connor |
85% | 3,706 |
| Stephen Gill | 14.2% | 618 |
| All Others | 0.6% | 26 |
| Blank Votes | 0.2% | 9 |
| Total Votes | 4,359 | |
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 Robert Hedlund was unopposed in the Republican primary.[25]
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.[26] Incumbent Robert Hedlund (R) defeated Genevieve S. Davis (D) in the general election. Hedlund was unopposed in the Republican primary. Davis defeated Steve May in the Democratic primary.[27][28]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert Hedlund Incumbent |
68.3% | 61,686 | |
| Democratic | Genevieve Davis | 31.7% | 28,579 | |
| Total Votes | 90,265 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Genevieve Davis |
72.9% | 4,033 |
| Steve May | 27.1% | 1,498 |
| Total Votes | 5,531 | |
Campaign contributions
From 2012 to 2020, candidates for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District (Historical) raised a total of $735,348. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $66,850 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District (Historical) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2020 | $233,975 | 2 | $116,987 |
| 2016 | $356,507 | 5 | $71,301 |
| 2014 | $43,610 | 1 | $43,610 |
| 2012 | $101,256 | 3 | $33,752 |
| Total | $735,348 | 11 | $66,850 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Massachusetts Constitution, "Article LXXXII," accessed February 12, 2021
- ↑ The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Constitution," accessed May 21, 2025
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "How to Run for Office in Massachusetts," accessed May 27, 2025 (page 5)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 50, Section 6A)
- ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 3: Section 10A)
- ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 54: Section 141)
- ↑ MassLive, "As Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker OKs new districts, Secretary of State William Galvin warns of chaos," November 4, 2021
- ↑ Boston Globe, "Lawmakers poised to send new political maps, increasing number of majority-minority districts, to Baker," October 27, 2021
- ↑ Boston Globe, "Lawmakers poised to send new political maps, increasing number of majority-minority districts, to Baker," October 27, 2021
- ↑ Boston Globe, "Lawmakers poised to send new political maps, increasing number of majority-minority districts, to Baker," October 27, 2021
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 All About Redistricting, "Massachusetts," accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, "2016 State election candidates," accessed October 3, 2016
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Election data lookup," accessed December 20, 2016
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Massachusetts Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Candidates (Democratic)," accessed June 20, 2016
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Secretary of the Commonweath of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Election Statistics," accessed October 14, 2016
- ↑ wwlp.com, "Senate plans pair of special elections on may 10th," accessed January 13, 2016
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Special State Election- Plymouth and Norfolk Senate District*," accessed January 25, 2016
- ↑ Wicked Local, "Weymouth Mayor-elect Hedlund resigns Senate seat," December 24, 2015
- ↑ bostonherald.com, "Joseph Boncore winner of vacated Senate seat," accessed April 13, 2016
- ↑ The Patriot Ledger, "Four candidates make it to primary ballots for South Shore state Senate seat," accessed March 9, 2016
- ↑ patch.com, "Weymouth Town Council President Patrick O'Connor Wins State Senate Election," accessed May 11, 2016
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Democratic Primary," accessed September 7, 2016
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Republican Primary," accessed September 7, 2016
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "2014 State Primary Candidates," accessed September 9, 2014
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, “A Candidate’s Guide to the 2012 State Election.” Retrieved November 2, 2013
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, 2012 primary election results. Retrieved November 2, 2013
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, 2012 general election results. Retrieved November 2, 2013
