2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts

The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts were held on November 3, 2020, to elect the nine U.S. representatives from the state of Massachusetts, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. Primary elections were held on September 1.

Overview

District 1

The 1st district is based in the western and central parts of the state, and includes the city of Springfield. The incumbent was Democrat Richard Neal, who was reelected with 97.6% of the vote in 2018 without major-party opposition.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Richard Neal, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary

• Alex Morse, mayor of Holyoke

Declined

• Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, attorney and candidate for Massachusetts's 1st congressional district in 2018
• David Daley, author and former editor-in-chief of Salon

Endorsements

U.S. representatives

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. representative from NY-14 (2019–present)

State legislators

• Charles Booker, former Democratic candidate for United States Senate in Kentucky, and member of the Kentucky House of Representatives

Municipal officials

• Carmen Yulín Cruz, Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico

Individuals

• Jamaal Bowman, educator and 2020 Democratic nominee in NY-16
• Shannon Liss-Riordan, labor attorney and former candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020
• Andrew Yang, entrepreneur and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate

Labor unions

• Massachusetts Nurses Association

Organizations

• Brand New Congress
• Democratic Socialists of America – Berkshire County chapter
• Humanity Forward
• Justice Democrats
• LGBTQ Victory Fund
• Make Room
• Massachusetts Peace Action
• Our Revolution Massachusetts
• Progressive Democrats of America
• Sunrise Movement
• Working Families Party

Governors

• Charlie Baker, governor of Massachusetts (2015–present) (Republican)

U.S. representatives

• Barney Frank, former U.S. representative (MA-4) (1984–2013)
• John Lewis, former U.S. representative (GA-5) (1987–2020) (deceased)
• John Olver, former U.S. representative (1991–2013)
• Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House (CA-12) (1987–present)

State legislators

• William "Smitty" Pignatelli, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 4th Berkshire District

Labor unions

• AFL–CIO Massachusetts
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees – Council 93
• American Federation of Teachers
• Carpenters Local 336
• National Education Association
• Service Employees International Union – Massachusetts State Council

Organizations

• BOLD PAC
• Brady Campaign
• Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI) PAC
• Equality PAC
• Human Rights Campaign
• J Street PAC
• NARAL Pro-Choice America
• Planned Parenthood

Newspapers and other media

• The Berkshire Eagle

Polling

Debate

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Withdrawn

• John Cain, businessman and former Navy officer

General election

Predictions

Results

District 2

The 2nd congressional district is in central Massachusetts and includes Worcester. The incumbent was Democrat Jim McGovern, who was reelected with 67.1% of the vote in 2018.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jim McGovern, incumbent U.S. representative

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Tracy Lovvorn, healthcare operations manager and nominee for Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district in 2018

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 3

The 3rd district is based in northeastern and central Massachusetts, and includes the cities of Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill. The incumbent was Democrat Lori Trahan, who was elected with 62.0% of the vote in 2018.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Lori Trahan, incumbent U.S. representative

Declined

• Dan Koh, Andover selectman, former chief of staff to Boston mayor Marty Walsh, and candidate for Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district in 2018

Endorsements

Federal officials

• Ayanna Pressley, U.S. representative (MA-07)
• Elizabeth Warren, U.S. senator from Massachusetts

Organizations

• J Street PAC
• NARAL Pro-Choice America
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 4

The 4th congressional district is mostly in southern Massachusetts and includes Brookline, the southwestern suburbs of Boston, and northern Bristol County. The incumbent was Democrat Joe Kennedy III, who was reelected with 97.7% of the vote in 2018 without major-party opposition. On September 21, 2019, Kennedy announced that he would not seek reelection, instead challenging incumbent U.S. Senator Ed Markey in the Democratic primary for the 2020 United States Senate election in Massachusetts.

The open seat attracted 12 candidates to file for the primary. On September 4, the Associated Press called the race for Jake Auchincloss, who won with 34,971 votes, a 1.4% margin over Jesse Mermell. Auchincloss went on to defeat Republican Julie Hall in the general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jake Auchincloss, Newton city councilor, U.S. Marine veteran, and former Republican political organizer for Governor Charlie Baker's 2014 campaign

Eliminated in primary

• Becky Grossman, Newton city councilor
• Alan Khazei, co-founder and former CEO of City Year and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010
• Ihssane Leckey, former Wall Street regulator
• Natalia Linos, epidemiologist and executive director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University
• Jesse Mermell, former Brookline select boardmember and former aide to former governor Deval Patrick
• Ben Sigel, attorney and former president of the Hispanic National Bar Association

Withdrew

• David Cavell, Assistant Attorney General of Massachusetts and former aide to President Barack Obama (withdrew on August 13 and endorsed Mermell) (remained on ballot)
• Nick Matthew, former public school teacher and nonprofit activist (endorsed Leckey)
• Herb Robinson, engineer[citation needed]
• Thomas Shack, former Massachusetts State Comptroller (endorsed Cavell, then Khazei)
• Chris Zannetos, tech entrepreneur (withdrew on August 26 and endorsed Mermell) (remained on ballot)

Declined

• Chris Dempsey, former policy director for Joe Kennedy III's election campaign in 2012
• Paul Feeney, state senator
• Deb Goldberg, Massachusetts State Treasurer
• Jay Gonzalez, former state secretary of administration and finance and nominee for governor of Massachusetts in 2018
• Patricia Haddad, state representative
• Joe Kennedy III, incumbent U.S. representative (ran for U.S. Senate)
• Scott W. Lang, former mayor of New Bedford
• Marc Pacheco, state senator
• Becca Rausch, state senator
• Tommy Vitolo, state representative
• Setti Warren, former mayor of Newton
• Josh Zakim, former Boston city councilor

Endorsements

U.S. senators

• Ed Markey, U.S. senator from Massachusetts (2013–present)
• Elizabeth Warren, U.S. senator from Massachusetts (2013–present)

U.S. representatives

• Joe Kennedy III, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 4th congressional district

State executives

• James E. Timilty, treasurer of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, member of the Massachusetts Senate from the Bristol and Norfolk district

State legislators

• Carole Fiola, state representative
• Patricia Haddad, state representative and Speaker pro Tempore of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
• Paul Schmid, state representative

Organizations

• Serve America
• VoteVets

Labor unions

• Massachusetts AFL–CIO
• National Association of Government Employees (NAGE)
• Teamsters Local 25

Newspapers and other media

• The Boston Globe
• The Sun Chronicle

Members of U.S. cabinet

• Julian Castro, United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2014–2017), mayor of San Antonio, Texas (2009–2014), member of the San Antonio City Council from the 7th district (2001–2005)

Members of U.S. Congress

• Ro Khanna, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 17th congressional district

State executives

• Steve Grossman, Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts (2011–2015), national chair of the Democratic National Committee (1997–1999), chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party (1991–1993)

State legislators

• Ruth Balser, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
• Bill Bowles, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 2nd Bristol District (2009–2011)
• Cynthia Stone Creem, majority leader of the Massachusetts Senate (2018–present), member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 1st Middlesex and Norfolk district (1999–present), member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council (1995–1999)
• Louis Kafka, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 8th Norfolk District (1991–present)
• Kay Khan, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1995–present)
• David Linsky, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 5th Middlesex District
• Joan Menard, member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 1st Bristol and Plymouth District (2000–2011), chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party (1993–2000), member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 5th Bristol District (1979–2000)
• Michael Rodrigues, member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 1st Bristol and Plymouth district (2011–present) and member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 8th Bristol district (1996–2011)
• Alan Silvia, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 7th Bristol District (2013–present)

Local officials

• Marian Ryan, district attorney of Middlesex County, Massachusetts (2013–present)

Organizations

• Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
• Newton Firefighters Associations Local 863
• The Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts (PFFM)

Members of U.S. cabinet

• Arne Duncan, former U.S. secretary of education (2009–2015)
• Michèle Flournoy, former U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy (2009–2012)
• Leon Panetta, former secretary of defense
• Susan Rice, former U.S. national security advisor (2013–2017), U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (2009–2013), and U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs (1997–2001)

U.S. senators

• Michael Bennet, U.S. senator from Colorado
• Gary Hart, former U.S. special envoy for Northern Ireland (2014–2017) and U.S. senator (D-CO) (1975–1987) and 1984 and 1988 Democratic presidential candidate

Members of U.S. Congress

• Jamie Raskin, U.S. representative (MD-08) and Congressional Progressive Caucus vice chair

State legislators

• Marc Pacheco, state senator, former state Senate president pro tempore (2015–2019), Democratic candidate in 2001 MA-09 special election, and former state representative (1989–1993)
• William "Smitty" Pignatelli, state representative
• Jeffrey Roy, state representative

Local officials

• Mitch Landrieu, Mayor of New Orleans (2010–2018) and Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana (2004–2010)

Organizations

• Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC)
• National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Action

Individuals

• Cornell William Brooks, former NAACP president
• Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Harvard business professor
• Gen. (Ret.) Stanley A. McChrystal, former ISAF and USFOR-A commander (2009–2010)

Members of U.S. Congress

• Ilhan Omar, U.S. representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district

State legislators

• Nika Elugardo, state representative

Organizations

• Brand New Congress
• Jewish Voice for Peace Action
• Massachusetts Peace Action
• People's Policy Project
• United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1445

Individuals

• Cori Bush, politician, registered nurse, pastor, activist from Saint Louis, Missouri, and Democratic nominee for Missouri's 1st congressional district
• Brianna Westbrook, Arizona Democratic Party vice chair and executive committee member

Individuals

• Mary T. Bassett, former Commissioner of Health of the City of New York
• R. Nicholas Burns, former undersecretary of state for political affairs
• Sheldon Glashow, Nobel Prize-winning physicist
• Frank Hu, professor, Harvard School of Public Health

Members of U.S. Congress

• Ayanna Pressley, U.S. representative (MA-07)

State executives

• Suzanne Bump, state auditor
• Maura Healey, attorney general

State legislators

• Julian Cyr, state senator
• Carol Doherty, state representative
• Carolyn Dykema, state representative
• Paul Feeney, state senator
• Denise Garlick, state representative
• Jim Hawkins, state representative
• Becca Rausch, state senator
• Frank Smizik, former state representative

Local legislators

• Ritchie Torres, New York City Councilor and 2020 Democratic nominee for New York's 15th congressional district

Individuals

• Joshua Boger, founder of Vertex Pharmaceuticals
• Jeff Bussgang, venture capitalist
• Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, founders of Ben & Jerry's ice cream
• Stephen Kaufer, founder and CEO of Tripadvisor
• Barbara F. Lee, philanthropist
• Shannon Liss-Riordan, labor attorney and former candidate for US Senate
• Quentin Palfrey, 2018 Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor
• Diane Patrick, former first lady of Massachusetts
• Dan Rivera, Mayor of Lawrence

Organizations

• Coalition for Social Justice
• Make Room
• NARAL Pro-Choice America
• National Women's Political Caucus
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Labor unions

• Carmen's Union Local 589
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Councils 35 and 12
• Massachusetts Nurses Association
• Massachusetts State Council of Machinists
• Massachusetts Teachers Association
• SEIU Massachusetts State Council
• United Auto Workers Region 9A

Members of U.S. Congress

• Tony Cárdenas, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 29th district (2013–present), member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 6th district (2003–2013), member of the California State Assembly from the 39th district (1996–2002)

State executives

• Nellie Gorbea, Secretary of State of Rhode Island (2015–present)

Organizations

• CHC Bold PAC

Polling

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Julie Hall, former Attleboro city councilor

Eliminated in primary

• David Rosa, U.S. Army veteran

Declined

• Shawn Dooley, state representative
• Shaunna O'Connell, mayor of Taunton and former state representative
• Keiko Orrall, former state representative

Endorsements

Labor unions

• Massachusetts Fraternal Order of Police

Organizations

• Massachusetts Republican Party

State executives

• Charlie Baker, governor of Massachusetts (2015–present)

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 5

The 5th congressional district contains Boston's northern and western suburbs, including Malden and Framingham. The incumbent was Democrat Katherine Clark, who was reelected with 75.9% of the vote in 2018.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Katherine Clark, incumbent U.S. representative

Withdrawn

• Raffaele DePalma, demographic analyst

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Caroline Colarusso, Stoneham selectwoman

Notable Individuals

• Mike Eruzione, American former ice hockey player

Labor Unions

• New England Police Benevolent Association

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 6

The 6th district is based in northeastern Massachusetts, and contains most of Essex County, including the North Shore and Cape Ann. The incumbent was Democrat Seth Moulton, who was reelected with 65.2% of the vote in 2018. Moulton was a candidate for the Democratic presidential primary in 2020, and said that he had "no intention of giving up his seat in the House." He won his district's primary with the most votes ever recorded in a House primary election in Massachusetts history.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Seth Moulton, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary

• Jamie Zahlaway Belsito, Massachusetts PPD commissioner and Salem State University trustee
• Angus McQuilken, gun control advocate

Withdrawn

• Nathaniel Mulcahy, scientist

Declined

• Kim Driscoll, mayor of Salem
• Lori Ehrlich, state representative
• Terrence Kennedy, member of the 6th district of the Massachusetts Governor's Council
• Barbara L'Italien, former state senator and candidate for Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district in 2018
• John F. Tierney, former U.S. representative
• Paul Tucker, state representative

Endorsements

Organizations

• Alliance for Retired Americans
• Animal Wellness Action
• Bay State Stonewall Democrats
• Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence
• Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
• Democratic Majority for Israel PAC
• Giffords
• Human Rights Campaign
• J Street PAC
• NARAL Pro-Choice America
• National Iranian American Council
• New Politics
• Newton Action Alliance
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund
• Veterans for Responsible Leadership
• Voter Protection Project
• VoteVets

Unions

• International Union of Electrical Workers–Communications Workers of America Local 201
• Massachusetts AFL–CIO
• Massachusetts & Northern New England Laborers' District Council
• Massachusetts Building Trades Council
• Teamsters Local 25

Newspapers

• The Daily Item (Lynn)
• The Lowell Sun (Lowell)

Individuals

• Donna D. Holaday, mayor of Newburyport
• Nathaniel Mulcahy, withdrawn 6th district candidate

Organizations

• Massachusetts Peace Action

Newspapers and other media

• North of Boston Media Group
• Wicked Local

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John Paul Moran, businessman

Primary results

Independents

Candidates

Declared

• Christopher Fisher, carpenter

General election

Predictions

Results

District 7

The 7th district is in eastern Massachusetts, including roughly three-fourths of Boston and a few of its northern and southern suburbs. The incumbent was Democrat Ayanna Pressley, who defeated ten-term incumbent Mike Capuano in the 2018 primary election and ran against write-in votes only in the general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Ayanna Pressley, incumbent U.S. Representative

Endorsements

U.S. senators

• Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator from Vermont (Independent)

Organizations

• Democracy for America
• Justice Democrats
• League of Conservation Voters Action Fund
• MoveOn
• NARAL Pro-Choice America
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund
• Sierra Club

Primary results

Republican primary

In order to qualify for the general election ballot, a write-in candidate must receive at least 2,000 votes.

Candidates

Nominee

• Rayla Campbell (write-in), occupational zoning activist

Eliminated in Primary

• Rachel Miselman (write-in)

Primary results

Independent challenger

Pressley faced an independent challenge from Roy Owens, a perennial candidate. His professional resume included work as a pastor educator, Department of Public Welfare social worker, and Massachusetts Department of Corrections employee. Owens has held a reputation for being right-wing and anti-LGBTQ.

General election

Predictions

Results

District 8

The 8th district includes South Boston and the southern Boston metro area. The incumbent was Democrat Stephen F. Lynch, who was reelected with 98.4% of the vote in 2018 without major-party opposition.

Democratic primary

In the Democratic primary, lawyer and ten-term incumbent Lynch defeated progressive challenger Robbie Goldstein, a medical doctor with expertise in infectious diseases and transgender healthcare. Several weeks before the primary, the Boston Globe noted the "stark contrast" between the candidates on several key issues, particularly healthcare and police reform. A proponent of Medicare for All, Goldstein ran on a platform of expanding healthcare access during a campaign overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lynch, who remains one of only three Democrats in the House who voted against the Affordable Care Act in 2009, advocates reforming the current market-based healthcare system. In the context of nationwide protests against police brutality and killing of unarmed black citizens, Lynch stated his support for efforts to modify qualified immunity for police officers, while Goldstein advocated ending qualified immunity outright.

Goldstein's campaign also highlighted differences between the two candidates on LGBTQ issues and reproductive rights. In the past, Lynch has identified as pro-life, a position he now deems too extreme.

Several Democratic primary challengers over the years have called Lynch too moderate to serve Massachusetts's electorate. In 2010, Lynch responded, "Calling me the least liberal member from Massachusetts is like calling me the slowest Kenyan in the Boston Marathon. It's all relative."

Candidates

Nominee

• Stephen F. Lynch, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary

• Robbie Goldstein, infectious diseases physician at Massachusetts General Hospital

Withdrawn

• Mohammad Dar, physician (endorsed Goldstein)
• Brianna Wu, video game developer and candidate for Massachusetts's 8th congressional district in 2018

Endorsements

State officials

• Julian Cyr, state senator from the Cape and Islands district
• Nika Elugardo, state representative from the 15th Suffolk district

Individuals

• Shannon Liss-Riordan, labor attorney and former candidate for US Senate
• Bob Massie, co-founder of the Global Reporting Initiative, former executive director of Ceres, former president of the New Economy Coalition, ordained Episcopal minister, nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts in 1994, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012, and candidate for Governor of Massachusetts in 2018
• Quentin Palfrey, lawyer and policymaker
• Andrew Yang, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate

Organizations

• Humanity Forward
• Indivisible
• Make Room
• Moms Demand Action
• Our Revolution – Massachusetts Chapter
• Peace Action
• Peace Action – Massachusetts Chapter
• Sunrise Movement – Blue Hills chapter
• Sunrise Movement – Boston chapter

Polling

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 9

The 9th district encompasses Cape Cod and the South Shore, and extends westward into New Bedford, part of Fall River, and surrounding suburbs. The incumbent was Democrat Bill Keating, who was reelected with 59.4% of the vote in 2018.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Bill Keating, incumbent U.S. representative

Withdrawn

• Mark Sylvia, former undersecretary for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Declined

• Joe Rull, Norwell town selectman

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Helen Brady, nominee for Massachusetts State Auditor in 2018

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

See also

• 2020 Massachusetts general election

Notes

Partisan clients

External links

• Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association, , Voting & Elections Toolkits
• , Vote.org, Oakland, CA
• . (state affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
• at Ballotpedia

Official campaign websites for 1st district candidates

Official campaign websites for 2nd district candidates

Official campaign websites for 3rd district candidates

Official campaign websites for 4th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 5th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 6th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 7th district candidates

• September 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine

Official campaign websites for 8th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 9th district candidates