Ballotpedia's 2012 General Election Preview Articles: Massachusetts State Legislature
October 29, 2012
By Ballotpedia's State legislative team
| Massachusetts' State Legislative Elections in 2012 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate seats | Contested senate seats | House seats | Contested house seats |
| 40 | 13 (32.5%) | 160 | 53 (33.1%) |
BOSTON: Massachusetts: There are 200 total legislative seats with 2012 elections in Massachusetts, where most polling places are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. However, municipalities may open as early as 5:45 AM.[1]
The State Senate has a total of 40 seats and is currently under Democratic control, 35 to 4, with 1 vacant seat. 2 incumbents, both Democrats, are retiring from the Senate this year. The 160-seat House of Representatives is 127-33 in favor of the Democrats. All 4 of the retiring incumbents are Democrats. Neither chamber is in danger of changing hands this election.
Of the 200 incumbents up for election in 2012, 194 (97.0%) of them are running for re-election. A total of 66 of 200 (33.0%) districts will see more than one major party candidate in the general election.
Here are a few races to watch:
General election
Senate
- One of the closer races is expected to be between incumbent Democrat Kenneth Donnelly and Republican challenger Gerry Dembrowski in the Fourth Middlesex District.[2]
House
- Second Essex District: Republican Leonard Mirra beat out several primary opponents to face Democrat Barry Fogel in November.
- Fourteenth Essex District: Diana DiZoglio will face Karin Rhoton (R).
- Second Hampden District: This district will see a rematch between challenger Marie Angelides and incumbent Brian Michael Ashe.
| Massachusetts State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 35 | 36 | |
| Republican Party | 4 | 4 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
| Massachusetts House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 127 | 131 | |
| Republican Party | 33 | 29 | |
| Total | 160 | 160 | |
Articles
- 2012 elections review: Few incumbents defeated in Massachusetts legislative primaries September 7
- 2012 elections preview: Massachusetts voters to select winners in congressional, legislative primaries September 5
See also
- Ballotpedia's 2012 General Election Preview Articles: Massachusetts Congressional Seats
- Ballotpedia:2012 general election preview articles
- State legislative elections, 2012
- November 6, 2012 election results
- Massachusetts elections, 2012
Footnotes
| |||||
