Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2026
|
← 2024
|
| 2026 Massachusetts Senate Election |
|---|
 |
| Election info |
|
Seats up: 40 |
| Election results by year |
| Learn more |
| Other state legislative elections |
Elections for the Massachusetts State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.
The Massachusetts State Senate is one of 88 state legislative chambers with elections in 2026. There are 99 chambers throughout the country.
Party control
| Party | As of September 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 35 | |
| Republican Party | 5 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 40 | |
Candidates
Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:
- Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
- Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
Primary
Democratic
RepublicanGeneral election
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Massachusetts
Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.
Competitiveness
This section will be updated with information about the competitiveness of state legislative elections in Massachusetts. For more information about Ballotpedia's Competitiveness Analysis of state legislative elections, please click here.
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.[1][2]
| 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.[3] The requirement is a party rule, not a statute.[4]
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.[1][5]
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.[1][6]
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.[1][6]
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.[1][7]
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.[1]
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.[1]
| 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.[1]
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.[1][6]
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.[1][7]
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.[8]
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.[5][9]
| 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[7] | 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[7] | 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[7] | 5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday in August in the year the election is to be held |
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[10] | |
|---|---|
| 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.[11]
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
2024
- See also: Presidential election, 2024
Presidential election in Massachusetts, 2024
Candidate/Running mate |
% |
Popular votes |
Electoral votes |
||
| ✔ |
 
| Kamala D. Harris/Tim Walz (D) |
61.2
|
2,126,518 | 11 |
 
| Donald Trump/J.D. Vance (R) |
36.0
|
1,251,303 | 0 | |
 
| Jill Stein/Gloria Caballero-Roca (G) |
0.8
|
26,545 | 0 | |
 
| Shiva Ayyadurai/Crystal Ellis (Independent) |
0.5
|
18,418 | 0 | |
 
| Chase Oliver/Mike ter Maat (L) |
0.5
|
17,735 | 0 | |
 
| Claudia De La Cruz/Karina Garcia (Party for Socialism and Liberation) |
0.4
|
12,889 | 0 | |
 
| Peter Sonski/Lauren Onak (American Solidarity Party) (Write-in) |
0.0
|
280 | 0 | |
 
| Cornel West/Melina Abdullah (Independent) (Write-in) |
0.0
|
243 | 0 | |
| Other write-in votes |
0.6
|
19,737 | 0 | ||
 |
Total votes: 3,473,668 |
2020
- See also: Presidential election, 2020
Presidential election in Massachusetts, 2020
Candidate/Running mate |
% |
Popular votes |
Electoral votes |
||
| ✔ |
| Joe Biden/Kamala D. Harris (D) |
65.6
|
2,382,202 | 11 |
| Donald Trump/Mike Pence (R) |
32.1
|
1,167,202 | 0 | |
 
| Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen (L) |
1.3
|
47,013 | 0 | |
 
| Howie Hawkins/Angela Nicole Walker (G) |
0.5
|
18,658 | 0 | |
| Other write-in votes |
0.4
|
16,327 | 0 | ||
|
Total votes: 3,631,402 |
2016
- See also: Presidential election, 2016
| 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 | |||||
Massachusetts presidential election results (1900-2024)
- 22 Democratic wins
- 10 Republican wins
| Year | 1900 | 1904 | 1908 | 1912 | 1916 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | 1940 | 1944 | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winning Party | R | R | R | D | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Redistricting following the 2020 census
Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed the state's new legislative maps into law on November 4, 2021.[12] 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.[13] These maps took effect for Massachusetts' 2022 legislative elections.
See also
| Massachusetts | State Legislative Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 |
|
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 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
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 48," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 9," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 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
- ↑ 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
