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Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2020
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| 2020 Massachusetts Senate Elections | |
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| General | November 3, 2020 |
| Primary | September 1, 2020 |
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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.[1]
Democrats expanded their existing supermajority in the 2020 elections. All 40 state Senate seats were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Democrats had a 36-4 majority. Democrats gained a net one seat in 2020, expanding their supermajority to 37-3.
The Massachusetts State Senate was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. All 40 seats in the Massachusetts State Senate were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.
Massachusetts' 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In Massachusetts, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans are subject to gubernatorial veto.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Massachusetts modified its absentee/mail-in procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility was extended to all qualified voters in the general election.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Party control
| Massachusetts State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 36 | 37 | |
| Republican Party | 4 | 3 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
Candidates
General election
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate ConnectionPrimary election
Massachusetts State Senate primary election |
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| Office |  Democratic |
 Republican |
Other |
| 1st Bristol and Plymouth District |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 1st Essex District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 1st Essex and Middlesex District |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| 1st Hampden and Hampshire District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 1st Middlesex District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 1st Middlesex and Norfolk District |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 1st Plymouth and Bristol District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 1st Suffolk District |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 1st Suffolk and Middlesex District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 1st Worcester District |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 2nd Bristol and Plymouth District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 2nd Essex District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 2nd Essex and Middlesex District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District |
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| 2nd Middlesex District |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 2nd Plymouth and Bristol District |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 2nd Suffolk District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex District |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 2nd Worcester District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 3rd Essex District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 3rd Middlesex District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 4th Middlesex District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| 5th Middlesex District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| Bristol and Norfolk District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| Cape and Islands District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| Hampden District |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| Middlesex and Suffolk District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| Middlesex and Worcester District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District |
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| Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth District |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| Norfolk and Plymouth District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| Norfolk and Suffolk District |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| Plymouth and Barnstable District |
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| Plymouth and Norfolk District |
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| Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, and Middlesex District |
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| Worcester and Middlesex District |
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| Worcester and Norfolk District |
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Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
One incumbent lost in the Nov. 3 general election. That incumbents was:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Dean Tran |  Republican |
Worcester & Middlesex District |
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
One incumbent lost in the Sept. 1 primaries. That incumbent was:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| James Welch |  Democratic |
Hampden District |
Retiring incumbents
For the first time within the preceding decade, all 40 state Senate incumbents filed for re-election in 2020.[2] The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
| Open Seats in Massachusetts State Senate elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 40 | 0 (0 percent) | 40 (100 percent) |
| 2018 | 40 | 4 (10 percent) | 36 (90 percent) |
| 2016 | 40 | 3 (8 percent) | 37 (92 percent) |
| 2014 | 40 | 4 (10 percent) | 36 (90 percent) |
| 2012 | 40 | 2 (5 percent) | 38 (95 percent) |
| 2010 | 40 | 8 (20 percent) | 32 (80 percent) |
Process to become a candidate
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.[3][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 |
Candidates who win at least 15% at his or her state party nominating convention automatically appear on the primary ballot.[5] The requirement is a party rule, not a statute.[6]
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.[3][7]
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.[3][8]
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.[3][8]
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.[3][9]
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.[3]
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.[3]
| 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.[3]
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.[3][8]
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.[3][9]
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.[10]
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.[7][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[9] | 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[9] | 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[9] | 5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday in August in the year the election is to be held |
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for Massachusetts State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Massachusetts State Senate | Qualified party | 300 | N/A | 6/2/2020 | Source |
| Massachusetts State Senate | Unaffiliated | 300 | N/A | 8/25/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
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] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $73,655.01/year | No per diem is paid. |
When sworn in
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
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, Massachusetts, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic |  Hillary 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 | |||||
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Massachusetts utilizes a semi-closed primary system. An unaffiliated voter is allowed to vote in the primary election of his or her choice.[14][15]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Massachusetts, most polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. However, municipalities may open their polls as early as 5:45 a.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[16]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Massachusetts, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of Massachusetts, and at least 18 years old on or before Election Day.[17]
The deadline for registration is 10 days prior to the election. A voter can register online, by mail, or in person at any registration office or the Registry of Motor Vehicles. A form of identification is required to register. The following are acceptable forms of identification:[17]
- Valid driver's license
- State-issued identification card
- Current utility bill
- Bank statement
- Paystub
- Government-issued check
- Any other government document displaying the voter's name and address
Automatic registration
Massachusetts automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles, division of medical assistance, health insurance connector authority, and other agencies that collect what state law defines as reliable citizenship information.[18]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Massachusetts has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.[19]
Same-day registration
Massachusetts does not allow same-day voter registration.[19]
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Massachusetts, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.[17]
Verification of citizenship
Massachusetts does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, the penalty for an illegal registration is a "fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than five years or both."[20]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[21] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The Elections and Voting page, run by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Massachusetts does not require voters to present identification (ID) while voting, in most cases.[22]
However, voters will be asked to show ID in the following circumstances:
| “ | ” |
The following list of accepted ID was current as of August 2024:
- A driver's license
- A state ID card
- A recent utility bill
- A rent receipt or lease.
- A copy of a voter registration affidavit
- A letter from a school dormitory or housing office
- Any other printed identification which contains your name and address
| “ | Acceptable identification must include your name and the address at which you are registered to vote. Examples of acceptable identification include: a driver's license, state-issued ID card, recent utility bill, rent receipt, lease, a copy of a voter registration affidavit, or any other printed identification which contains the voter's name and address.[23] | ” |
Early voting
Massachusetts permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
Any eligible voter has the option to vote by absentee/mail-in ballot in all elections.[24]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "A Candidate's Guide to the 2022 State Election," January 2022
- ↑ Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 6," accessed April 9, 2025
- ↑ Justia, "Langone v. Secretary of the Commonwealth," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Paige Mackenthun, "Correspondence with Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth Director of Communications Debra O’Malley," March 19, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 48," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 9," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 46," accessed March 18, 2014 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "macertification" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "How to Run for Office as a Write-in or Sticker Candidate," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 10," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Massachusetts Constitution, "Article LXXXII," accessed February 12, 2021
- ↑ NCSL, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 3, 2024
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "How to Vote in a Primary," accessed October 3, 2024
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "The Voting Process," accessed April 13, 2023
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Voter Registration Information," accessed April 13, 2023
- ↑ Governing, “Automatic Voter Registration Gains Bipartisan Momentum,” accessed April 13, 2023
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 26, 2024
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Official Mail-in Voter Registration Form," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Identification Requirements," accessed April 13, 2023
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Voting by Mail," accessed July 18, 2022
