2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts

The 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts were held on November 2, 2010, to determine who would represent the state of Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives. Massachusetts has ten seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 112th Congress from January 3, 2011 until January 3, 2013. All current representatives are member of the Democratic Party and none of the ten faced major party opposition in 2008.

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts

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All 10 Massachusetts seats in the United States House of Representatives
 Majority partyMinority party
 
PartyDemocraticRepublican
Last election100
Seats won100
Seat changeSteadySteady
Popular vote1,335,738808,305
Percentage60.05%36.34%
SwingDecrease 26.16%Increase 24.22%

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 2010[1]
PartyVotesPercentageSeats+/–
Democratic1,335,73860.05%10
Republican808,30536.34%0
Independents80,2123.61%0
Totals2,224,255100.00%10

By district

Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts by district:[2]

DistrictDemocraticRepublicanOthersTotalResult
Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
District 1128,01160.00%74,41834.88%10,9355.12%213,364100.0%Democratic hold
District 2122,75157.33%91,20942.60%1641.80%214,124100.0%Democratic hold
District 3122,70856.46%85,12439.16%9,5204.38%217,352100.0%Democratic hold
District 4126,19453.90%101,51743.36%6,4162.74%234,127100.0%Democratic hold
District 5122,85854.84%94,64642.25%6,5252.91%224,029100.0%Democratic hold
District 6142,73256.85%107,93042.99%4190.17%251,081100.0%Democratic hold
District 7145,69666.42%73,46733.49%1940.09%219,357100.0%Democratic hold
District 8134,97498.05%00.00%2,6861.95%137,660100.0%Democratic hold
District 9157,07168.30%59,96526.08%12,9285.62%229,964100.0%Democratic hold
District 10132,74346.87%120,02942.38%30,42510.74%283,197100.0%Democratic hold
Total1,335,73860.05%808,30536.34%80,2123.61%2,224,255100.0%

District 1

Massachusetts's 1st congressional district covers roughly the northwest half of the state. It has been represented by Democrat John Olver since June 1991.

Massachusetts's 1st congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJohn Olver (incumbent) 127,474 60.1
RepublicanBill Gunn73,95234.8
IndependentMichael Engel10,8415.1
Total votes212,267 100
Turnout

District 2

Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district lies in the south-central part of the state. It has been represented by Democrat Richard Neal since 1989.

The Republican Party nominee is Tom Wesley, who defeated Jay Fleitman in the September primary. Democrat Neal has not faced a Republican challenger since 1996.[3]

Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticRichard Neal (incumbent) 122,547 57.3
RepublicanTom Wesley91,18142.7
Total votes213,728 100
Turnout

District 3

Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district lies in the central and southeastern part of the state. It has been represented by Democrat Jim McGovern since 1997.

Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJim McGovern (incumbent) 122,357 56.5
RepublicanMarty Lamb84,97239.2
IndependentPatrick Barron9,3044.3
Total votes216,633 100
Turnout

District 4

Massachusetts's 4th congressional district lies in the southern part of the state, including the South Coast region. It has been represented by Democrat Barney Frank since 1981. CQ Politics had forecast the race as 'Safe Democrat'. Rachel Brown, famous for comparing health care reform to a Nazi in front of Frank during a 2009 Town Hall meeting, ran unsuccessfully against Frank in the Democratic primary, losing 39,974 to 10,289. Sean Bielat, a technology executive from Brookline, won the Republican primary to challenge Frank, defeating Earl Sholley, the Republican Nominee from Norfolk in 2008, by a vote of 11,797 to 7,782.[4]

Polling

Poll SourceDates administeredBarney Frank (D)Sean Bielat (R)Undecided
Boston Globe/UNHOctober 17–22, 201046%33%-
WPRI/FlemingOctober 14–17, 201049%37%12%
Kiley & Co.October 13–14, 201056%37%-
OnMessage Inc.September 15–16, 201048%38%-
Massachusetts's 4th congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticBarney Frank (incumbent) 125,823 53.9
RepublicanSean Bielat101,31543.4
IndependentSusan Allen3,4301.5
IndependentDonald Jordan2,8711.2
Total votes233,439 100
Turnout

District 5

Massachusetts's 5th congressional district lies in the north-east part of the state. It has been represented by Democrat Niki Tsongas since she won a special election in October 16, 2007 upon the resignation of Marty Meehan (D).

Massachusetts's 5th congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticNiki Tsongas (incumbent) 122,676 54.9
RepublicanJon Golnik94,50142.3
IndependentDale Brown4,3762.0
IndependentBob Clark1,9860.9
Total votes223,539 100
Turnout

District 6

Massachusetts's 6th congressional district covers the north-east corner of the state. At the time of the election it had been represented by Democrat John F. Tierney since 1997.

Massachusetts's 6th congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJohn F. Tierney (incumbent) 142,456 56.9
RepublicanBill Hudak107,73943.1
Total votes250,195 100
Turnout

District 7

Massachusetts's 7th congressional district lies in the eastern part of the state, including some Boston suburbs. It has been represented by Democrat Edward J. Markey since 1976.

Massachusetts's 7th congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticEdward J. Markey (incumbent) 141,364 65.9
RepublicanGerry Dembrowski73,00634.1
Total votes214,370 100
Turnout

District 8

Massachusetts's 8th congressional district lies in the eastern part of the state, including part of Boston and the immediately adjacent cities of Cambridge, Somerville, and Chelsea. It has been represented by Democrat Mike Capuano since 1999. Capuano ran unopposed.[5][6]

District 9

Massachusetts's 9th congressional district lies in the eastern part of the state, including part of Boston and some of its southern suburbs. It has been represented by Democrat Stephen Lynch since October 2001. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

In response to Lynch's vote against health care reform, Needham selectwoman Harmony Wu announced she was considering a run against Lynch in the Democratic Primary, but announced on April 7, 2010 that she decided not to run. On April 22 Mac D'Alessandro,[7] the New England political director of SEIU, announced his intention to challenge Lynch.[8] Polling has indicated[9] that Lynch is vulnerable to such a challenge.

Massachusetts's 9th congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticStephen Lynch (incumbent) 156,079 68.1
RepublicanVemon Harrison60,12026.2
IndependentPhilip Dunkelbarger12,8335.6
Total votes229,032 100
Turnout

District 10

This was an open seat. Candidates were Democratic nominee William R. Keating, Republican nominee Jeff Perry, and Independents Maryanne Lewis and Jim Sheets.

Massachusetts's 10th congressional district covers the south-east part of the state, including parts of the South Shore and all of Cape Cod and The Islands. Democrat Bill Delahunt, who has represented the seat since 1997, announced in March 2010 that he did not plan to run for re-election. The Boston Globe, on April 30, 2010, reported that Democratic State Senator Robert O'Leary would announce his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the seat on the day following.[10] Joseph P. Kennedy III was considered a likely Democratic contender, but he chose not to run.[11] It was reported in the Boston Globe, that District Attorney of Norfolk County William R. Keating also sought the Democratic nomination for the seat.[12]

Republican Joe Malone, who ran against Ted Kennedy in 1988 and served as state treasurer from 1991 to 1999, unsuccessfully ran for the seat.[13][14] Republican State Representative Jeff Perry also ran.[15] Despite a movement to draft him into running, Republican State Senator Bob Hedlund decided not to enter this race.[16][17] Ray Kasperowicz of Cohasset had also filed to run as a Republican, but also lost in the primary.[18]

Malone received a donation from US-Cuba Democracy PAC.[19] Perry received donations from the Sandwich and Nantucket Republican Town Committees, the Cape Cod Republican Club, as well as other PACs such as the Committee to Elect Greer Swiston and the Cummings Committee.[19]

Polling

Poll SourceDates administeredBill Keating (D)Jeff Perry (R)Undecided
Boston Globe/UNHOctober 17–22, 201037%33%23%
NMB ResearchOctober 20–21, 201043%45%-
MassINC Polling GroupOctober 13–15, 201046%43%4%
NMB ResearchOctober 6–7, 201042%44%-
Massachusetts's 10th congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticWilliam R. Keating 132,582 46.9
RepublicanJeff Perry119,82042.4
IndependentMaryanne Lewis16,6735.9
IndependentJim Sheets10,4383.7
Bring Home TroopsJoe Van Nes3,0751.1
Total votes282,588 100
Turnout

Campaign financing

District 1

Fundraising totals for Olver and Gunn are as of October 13, 2010. Totals for Engel are as of September 30. Source: Federal Election Commission[20]

Candidate (party)ReceiptsDisbursementsCash on handDebt
John Olver (D)$819,402$842,892$79,980$0
Bill Gunn (R)$39,731$24,203$15,528$0
Michael Engel (I)$18,295$3,640$14,654$0

District 2

As of October 13, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission[21]

Candidate (party)ReceiptsDisbursementsCash on handDebt
Richard Neal (D)$2,131,010$1,937,756$2,400,446$0
Tom Wesley (R)$123,203$86,455$1,660$0

District 3

As of October 13, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission[22]

Candidate (party)ReceiptsDisbursementsCash on handDebt
Jim McGovern (D)$1,591,426$1,570,083$353,622$0
Marty Lamb (R)$98,331$60,089$38,242$27,200

District 4

As of October 13, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission[23]

Candidate (party)ReceiptsDisbursementsCash on handDebt
Barney Frank (D)$3,001,877$2,525,757$649,561$0
Sean Bielat (R)$1,297,433$834,520$462,914$0

District 5

As of October 15, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission[24]

Candidate (party)ReceiptsDisbursementsCash on handDebt
Niki Tsongas (D)$1,703,083$1,197,751$520,827$27,100
Jon Golnik (R)$300,652$232,044$68,608$105,000
Dale Brown (I)$3,459$3,515$-57$1,500

District 6

As of October 13, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission[25]

Candidate (party)ReceiptsDisbursementsCash on handDebt
John F. Tierney (D)$766,196$611,356$1,437,451$0
Bill Hudak (R)$723,614$628,743$94,871$19,923

District 7

Totals for Markey are as of October 13; totals for Dembrowski are as of October September 30. Source: Federal Election Commission[26]

Candidate (party)ReceiptsDisbursementsCash on handDebt
Edward J. Markey (D)$1,424,700$951,075$3,299,910$0
Gerry Dembrowski (R)$22,455$18,723$3,732$0

District 8

As of October 13, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission[27]

Candidate (party)ReceiptsDisbursementsCash on handDebt
Mike Capuano (D)$822,047$1,894,452$91,474$48,250
Frederick Golder (R)$0$0$0$0

District 9

As of October 13, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission[28]

Candidate (party)ReceiptsDisbursementsCash on handDebt
Stephen Lynch (D)$844,965$1,391,385$755,272$0
Vernon McKinley Harrison (R)$5,305$6,383$-1,078$2,207

District 10

As of October 13, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission[29]

Candidate (party)ReceiptsDisbursementsCash on handDebt
William R. Keating (D)$1,169,722$945,441$224,281$420
Jeff Perry (R)$948,634$714,930$233,703$0
Maryanne Lewis (I)$59,914$50,516$9,398$0
Jim Sheets (I)$47,940$34,437$13,502$0

References

External links

Preceded by
2008 elections
United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts
2010
Succeeded by
2012 elections