2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts

2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the nine members of the United States House of Representatives from the U.S. state of Massachusetts, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts. The elections coincided with other elections to the 116th United States Congress, the 2018 Massachusetts gubernatorial election, and various state legislative contests. All nine incumbent representatives, all members of the Democratic Party (United States), were re-elected, maintaining the party's monopoly on the state's House delegation.

Background

The political climate was heavily influenced by national opposition to the administration of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party (United States). In Massachusetts, a historically Democratic-leaning state, all nine sitting representatives were Democrats who had won their previous elections by wide margins. The 2016 United States presidential election had seen Hillary Clinton carry the state by over 27 percentage points. Key issues in the campaign included healthcare, following Republican attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, immigration policy, and local economic concerns. The state's delegation was seen as secure for Democrats, with no seats considered competitive by major forecasters like The Cook Political Report or Inside Elections.

Candidates and results by district

In the 1st district, veteran Representative Richard Neal of Springfield, the ranking member on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, defeated Republican challenger Tahirah Amatul-Wadud. The 2nd district saw Jim McGovern of Worcester easily win re-election against Republican Tracy Lovvorn. In the 3rd district, Lori Trahan won the open seat following the retirement of Representative Niki Tsongas, defeating Republican Rick Green and independent Mike Mullen in a race to represent the Merrimack Valley.

Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III of the 4th district won a fourth term against Republican Peter Tedeschi. In the 5th district, Katherine Clark of Melrose defeated Republican John Hugo. The 6th district incumbent, Seth Moulton of Salem, turned back a challenge from Republican Joseph Schneider. In the 7th district, longtime Representative Michael Capuano of Somerville was defeated in the Democratic primary by Ayanna Pressley; Pressley then won the general election against Republican John William Hugo and independent Roy Owens, becoming the first African American woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts.

In the 8th district, Representative Stephen Lynch of Boston defeated Republican William D. O'Brien. Finally, in the 9th district, Representative Bill Keating of Bourne won re-election against Republican Peter B. Tedeschi. The Democratic candidates collectively won every district with over 60% of the vote, with several exceeding 70% or even 80% margins.

Analysis and aftermath

The results reinforced Massachusetts's status as one of the most Democratic states in the nation for federal elections. The delegation remained entirely Democratic, contributing to the party retaking the majority in the House of Representatives nationally. The most significant change was the election of Ayanna Pressley, a member of "The Squad", who brought a prominent progressive voice to the delegation. The elections also saw high voter turnout, consistent with the national "blue wave" midterm trend. The outcomes had implications for committee leadership in the 116th United States Congress, with Richard Neal becoming Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and Jim McGovern chairing the Rules Committee.

See also

* 2018 United States elections * 2018 Massachusetts elections * 116th United States Congress * Massachusetts's congressional districts * List of United States representatives from Massachusetts

Massachusetts Category:United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts Category:2018 Massachusetts elections