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Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2016

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Six seats were vacated in the Massachusetts State Legislature in 2016. All six seats were filled through special elections.

Vacancies filled

Breakdown of 2016 special elections

Across the country in 2016, special elections for state legislative positions were held for a variety of reasons:

  • 23 were due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
  • 11 were due to a retirement
  • 11 were due to the incumbent accepting another job
  • 12 were due to a death
  • 4 were due to a conviction
  • 3 were due to filling a remaining term
  • 1 was due to an expulsion

The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:

Partisan Change from Special Elections
Party As of Vacancy After Special Election
     Democratic Party 37 39
     Republican Party 28 24
     Independent 0 2
Total 65 65

Note: The table above reflected information for elections that were held—not total vacant seats.

How vacancies are filled


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.[2] Local governments that conduct special elections can receive reimbursement from the state treasurer's office for costs incurred.[3][4]

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


Special elections

March 1, 2016



May 10, 2016



See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Itemlive.com, "State says farewell to Fennell," February 25, 2016
  2. ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 50, Section 6A)
  3. ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 3: Section 10A)
  4. ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 54: Section 141)
  5. ↑ Peabody Patch, "Dates Set for State Rep. Special Election," accessed October 22, 2015
  6. ↑ salemnews.com, "Peabody state rep Leah Cole resigning," accessed September 21, 2015
  7. ↑ Patch.com, "Six Candidates Seek State Rep Seat," accessed January 5, 2016
  8. ↑ masslive.com, "Democrats sweep three House special elections," accessed March 2, 2016
  9. ↑ The Salem News, "Walsh and Peach win primaries," accessed February 3, 2016
  10. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special General Election," accessed March 28, 2016
  11. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Democratic Primary," accessed March 28, 2016
  12. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Republican Primary," accessed March 28, 2016
  13. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Special State Election-Ninth Plymouth Representative District*," accessed November 20, 2015
  14. ↑ The Enterprise, "3 Brockton Democrats in race for 9th Plymouth state representative seat," accessed January 13, 2016
  15. ↑ masslive.com, "Democrats sweep three House special elections," accessed March 2, 2016
  16. ↑ NewBostonPost, "Cassidy wins Brockton primary, fields narrowed in Fitchburg, Peabody," accessed February 3, 2016
  17. ↑ William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Democratic Primary," accessed March 28, 2016
  18. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Special State Election- Third Worcester Representative District*," accessed November 20, 2015
  19. ↑ Sentinel and Enterprise, "Kimatra Maxwell is aiming to be a 'social worker at state level'," accessed January 13, 2016
  20. ↑ masslive.com, "Democrats sweep three House special elections," accessed March 2, 2016
  21. ↑ NewBostonPost, "Cassidy wins Brockton primary, fields narrowed in Fitchburg, Peabody," accessed February 3, 2016
  22. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Democratic Primary," accessed March 28, 2016
  23. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Republican Primary," accessed March 28, 2016
  24. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special General Election," accessed March 28, 2016
  25. ↑ wwlp.com, "Senate plans pair of special elections on may 10th," accessed January 13, 2016
  26. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Special State Election- Plymouth and Norfolk Senate District*," accessed January 25, 2016
  27. ↑ Wicked Local, "Weymouth Mayor-elect Hedlund resigns Senate seat," December 24, 2015
  28. ↑ bostonherald.com, "Joseph Boncore winner of 
vacated 
Senate seat," accessed April 13, 2016
  29. ↑ The Patriot Ledger, "Four candidates make it to primary ballots for South Shore state Senate seat," accessed March 9, 2016
  30. ↑ patch.com, "Weymouth Town Council President Patrick O'Connor Wins State Senate Election," accessed May 11, 2016
  31. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Democratic Primary," accessed September 7, 2016
  32. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Republican Primary," accessed September 7, 2016
  33. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Special State Election- First Suffolk and Middlesex Senate District*," accessed January 25, 2016
  34. ↑ wwlp.com, "Senate plans pair of special elections on may 10th," accessed January 13, 2016
  35. ↑ bostonherald.com, "Joseph Boncore winner of 
vacated 
Senate seat," accessed April 13, 2016
  36. ↑ Boston Globe, "Political Happy Hour: March 8, 2016," accessed March 9, 2016
  37. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Democratic Primary," accessed September 7, 2016
  38. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Special State Election- Tenth Essex Representative District*," accessed March 2, 2016
  39. ↑ Itemlive.com, "State says farewell to Fennell," February 25, 2016
  40. ↑ bostonherald.com, "Joseph Boncore winner of 
vacated 
Senate seat," accessed April 13, 2016
  41. ↑ Item Live, "Cahill flying solo in special race," accessed March 9, 2016
  42. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Democratic Primary," accessed September 7, 2016
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