Massachusetts's 4th congressional district

Massachusetts's 4th congressional district is a U.S. House district located in eastern Massachusetts. It is currently represented by Democrat Jake Auchincloss, who was first elected in 2020. The district's boundaries have shifted significantly over its long history, now encompassing a diverse swath of Greater Boston suburbs and exurbs stretching from the affluent Boston suburbs of Newton and Brookline southwest to parts of Fall River and Taunton.

History

The district was created following the 1790 United States census and elected its first member to the 4th United States Congress. Its early geography was centered on Suffolk County and the city of Boston. Throughout the 19th century, notable representatives included Fisher Ames, a prominent Federalist, and John Quincy Adams, who served the district before his election as president. Following the American Civil War, the district was represented by figures like Benjamin F. Butler, a controversial Union Army general and Radical Republican. Major redistricting after the 1970 United States census shifted the district's core to the southern Boston suburbs, an area long represented by Barney Frank, who served from 1981 to 2013 and was a key author of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The most recent redistricting cycle, following the 2020 United States census, significantly reconfigured the district, adding more conservative-leaning areas in Bristol County while removing others.

List of members representing the district

The district has been represented by a succession of individuals since the 1st United States Congress. Early representatives were primarily members of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties. The 19th century saw a mix of Whigs, Know Nothings, and Republicans. In the modern era, the district has been a Democratic stronghold. Key 20th-century representatives include Harold Donohue, who served from 1947 to 1974, and Robert Drinan, a Jesuit priest who served from 1971 to 1981. Barney Frank held the seat for over three decades, becoming a nationally influential figure on financial regulation and LGBT rights. He was succeeded by Joe Kennedy III, a member of the Kennedy family, who served from 2013 to 2021. The current representative, Jake Auchincloss, a former Marine and Newton city councilor, was elected in 2020.

Election results

Election results have historically reflected the district's political evolution. In the early 20th century, the district was competitive, electing Republicans like George R. Stobbs. However, since the New Deal era and particularly after the 1964 election, it has become reliably Democratic. Barney Frank typically won reelection by wide margins, as did Joe Kennedy III. The 2020 Democratic primary was a highly contested, multi-candidate race following Joe Kennedy III's decision to run for the United States Senate, ultimately won by Jake Auchincloss. In general elections, Republican candidates have rarely been competitive since the 1970s, though margins can vary in the more conservative towns added in recent redistricting.

Recent election results

In the 2022 general election, incumbent Jake Auchincloss defeated Republican nominee Robert F. Burns with approximately 62% of the vote. The 2020 election saw Auchincloss win the open seat with about 61% against Republican Julie Hall. The 2018 and 2016 elections, with Joe Kennedy III as the Democratic nominee, resulted in landslide victories of over 70% of the vote. The most competitive recent general election was in 2010, when Barney Frank won by a relatively narrow 11-point margin against Republican Sean Bielat during the Tea Party movement wave.

Demographics

According to the 2020 United States census, the district has a population of 781,497. The racial and ethnic composition is approximately 73.5% White, 12.5% Asian, 5.8% Black or African American, and 5.7% Hispanic or Latino. Key municipalities include Newton, Brookline, Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, and Milford. The district is one of the most affluent in the nation, with a median household income over $117,000 and high levels of educational attainment; over 55% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Prominent institutions within its borders include Boston College, Brandeis University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (though MIT's main campus is just outside the district in Cambridge). The Cook Partisan Voting Index rates the district as D+14, indicating a strong Democratic lean.

Category:Massachusetts's congressional districts