The 2008 congressional elections in Massachusetts were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who will represent the U.S. state of Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; whoever is elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.
Massachusetts has ten seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Its 2007-2008 congressional delegation consisted of ten Democrats. This remains unchanged, and CQ Politics had forecasted all districts safe for its Democratic incumbent.
United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 2008[1]
Party
Votes
Percentage
Seats
+/–
Democratic
2,245,778
86.21%
10
+1.36%
Republican
318,461
12.22%
0
+1.90%
Independents
40,875
1.57%
0
-3.25%
Totals
2,605,114
100.00%
10
—
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. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Massachusetts's 1st congressional district election, 2008
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
John Olver (inc.)
215,696
72.85
Republican
Nathan A. Bech
80,067
27.04
Write-ins
336
0.11
Total votes
296,099
100.00
Democratichold
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. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district election, 2008
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Richard Neal (inc.)
234,369
98.47
Write-ins
3,631
1.53
Total votes
238,000
100.00
Democratichold
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. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district election, 2008
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Jim McGovern (inc.)
227,619
98.49
Write-ins
3,488
1.51
Total votes
231,107
100.00
Democratichold
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 forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Massachusetts's 4th congressional district election, 2008
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Barney Frank (inc.)
203,032
67.95
Republican
Earl Henry Sholley
75,571
25.29
Independent
Susan Allen
19,848
6.64
Write-ins
337
0.11
Total votes
298,788
100.00
Democratichold
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 October, 2007. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Massachusetts's 5th congressional district election, 2008
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Niki Tsongas (inc.)
225,947
98.71
Write-ins
2,960
1.29
Total votes
228,907
100.00
Democratichold
District 6[]
Massachusetts's 6th congressional district covers the north-east corner of the state. It has been represented by Democrat John Tierney since 1997. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Massachusetts's 6th congressional district election, 2008
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
John Tierney (inc.)
226,216
70.40
Republican
Richard A. Baker
94,845
29.52
Write-ins
251
0.08
Total votes
321,312
100.00
Democratichold
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. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Massachusetts's 7th congressional district election, 2008
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Ed Markey (inc.)
212,304
75.64
Republican
John Cunningham
67,978
24.22
Write-ins
400
0.14
Total votes
280,682
100.00
Democratichold
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. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Massachusetts's 8th congressional district election, 2008
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Mike Capuano (inc.)
185,530
98.55
Write-ins
2,722
1.45
Total votes
188,252
100.00
Democratichold
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'.
Massachusetts's 9th congressional district election, 2008
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Stephen Lynch (inc.)
242,166
98.72
Write-ins
3,128
1.28
Total votes
245,294
100.00
Democratichold
District 10[]
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. It has been represented by Democrat Bill Delahunt since 1997. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Massachusetts's 9th congressional district election, 2008