Massachusetts State Senate elections
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This page displays election information for the Massachusetts State Senate.
Elections
Massachusetts state senators serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. Massachusetts holds elections for its legislature in even years.
2026
Elections for the Massachusetts State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.
2024
Elections for the Massachusetts State Senate 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]
In the 2024 elections, Democrats lost one seat but maintained their majority in the Massachusetts State Senate. The Democratic majority went from 36-4 to 35-5.
| Massachusetts State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2024 | After November 6, 2024 | |
| Democratic Party | 36 | 35 | |
| Republican Party | 4 | 5 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
2022
Elections for the Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for September 6, 2022. The filing deadline was May 31, 2022.
In the November 2022 election, Democrats won a vacant seat and maintained their 37-3 majority in the Massachusetts State Senate.
| Massachusetts State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 8, 2022 | After November 9, 2022 | |
| Democratic Party | 36 | 37 | |
| Republican Party | 3 | 3 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
2020
Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for September 1, 2020. The local filing deadline was May 5, 2020, and the state filing deadline was June 2, 2020.[2]
In the November 2020 election, Democrats increased their majority in the Massachusetts State Senate by one seat for a margin of 37-3.
| Massachusetts State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 36 | 37 | |
| Republican Party | 4 | 3 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
2018
Elections for the Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2018. The semi-closed primary election took place on September 4, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was June 5, 2018.
In the 2018 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the Massachusetts State Senate from 31-7 to 34-6.
| Massachusetts State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 6, 2018 | After November 7, 2018 | |
| Democratic Party | 31 | 34 | |
| Republican Party | 7 | 6 | |
| Vacancy | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
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. All 40 seats in the Massachusetts State Senate were up for election in 2016.
Heading into the election, Democrats held a 34-6 majority. No partisan change occurred in the election.
| Massachusetts State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 7, 2016 | After November 8, 2016 | |
| Democratic Party | 34 | 34 | |
| Republican Party | 6 | 6 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
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2014Elections 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. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 36-4 majority. Democrats lost two seats in the election, giving them a 34-6 majority.
2012Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on September 18, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was May 29, 2012. A total of 40 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 35-4 majority with one vacancy. Democrats gained one seat in the election, giving them a 36-4 majority.
The table below details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election in 2012.
2010Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on September 14, 2010., and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was May 4, 2010, for partisan candidates and August 3, 2010, for independents. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 35-5 majority. Democrats gained one seat in the election, giving them a 36-4 majority.
During the 2010 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $8,982,549. The top 10 donors were:[3]
2008Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 16, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $7,993,572. The top 10 contributors were:[4]
2006Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 19, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $7,948,867. The top 10 contributors were:[5]
2004Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 14, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $12,267,971. The top 10 contributors were:[6]
2002Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 17, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $6,865,146. The top 10 contributors were:[7]
2000Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 19, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $8,944,038. The top 10 contributors were:[8]
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Historical party control
Democrats won control of the Massachusetts State Senate in 1958. In 2024, they won a 35-5 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Massachusetts Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Massachusetts State Senate election results: 1992-2024
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 | '24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 31 | 30 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 35 | 36 | 36 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 37 | 37 | 35 |
| Republicans | 9 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Trifecta history
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. Between 1992 and 2023, Massachusetts was under the following types of trifecta control:
- Democratic trifecta: 2007-2014, 2023
- Republican trifecta: None
- Divided government: 1992-2006, 2015-2022
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 |
Footnotes
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ To appear on the ballot in Massachusetts, prospective candidates must submit nomination papers for certification to the registrars of the cities or towns in which signatures were collected and to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The local filing deadline must occur four weeks prior to the candidate's second filing deadline with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. In 2020, the local-level filing deadline was May 5 and the state-level filing deadline was June 2. Click here to learn more.
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2010 - Candidates," accessed July 21, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2008 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2006 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2004 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2002 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2000 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
