The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the nine U.S. representatives from the state of Massachusetts, a loss of one seat following the 2010 census,, to be codified at for service in the 113th Congress from January 3, 2013, to January 3, 2015. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. The candidate elected in each of the state's congressional districts was a member the Democratic Party.
Primary elections were held on September 6, 2012. This primary was on a Thursday, which is rare in Massachusetts, and it was moved from Tuesday, September 18, 2012, because of a conflicting religious holiday.
Overview United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 2012Massachusetts House Election Results 2012 - Map, District Results, Live Updates - POLITICO.comPartyVotesPercentageSeats+/– Democratic 1,544,103 66.04% 9 -1 Republican 693,624 29.67% 0 — Libertarian 16,668 0.71% 0 — Independents 83,580 3.57% 0 — Totals 2,337,975 100.00% 9 -1
District 1
Democrat Richard Neal, who has represented the 2nd district since 1989, was redistricted into the 1st district. He ran for re-election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Richard Neal, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Andrea F. Nuciforo Jr., Middle Berkshire Register of Deeds and former state senator Bill Shein, writer
Primary results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call, November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal BallCrystal Ball , November 5, 2012 NY TimesHouse Race Ratings, The New York Times, November 4, 2012RCP, November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 2
Since 1991, Democrat John Olver, has represented the 1st district, most of which remains in the proposed new 1st district. He was to have been redistricted to the 2nd district, except that he announced his retirement two weeks before the new districts were proposed.
Democrat Jim McGovern, who was redistricted from the 3rd district, ran for re-election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jim McGovern, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary William Feegbeh
Declined John Olver, incumbent U.S. Representative Dennis Rosa, state representative
Primary results
Republican primary Declined Gregg Lisciotti, real estate developer Dean Mazzarella, Mayor of Leominster
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 3
Democrat Niki Tsongas, who was redistricted from the 5th district, ran for re-election. She was unopposed in the primary.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Niki Tsongas, incumbent U.S. Representative
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jon Golnik, business consultant and nominee for the 5th district in 2010
Eliminated in primary Tom Weaver, businessman and candidate for the 5th district in 2010
Primary results
General election Polling Pollsource Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror NikiTsongas (D) JonGolnik (R) UndecidedStinson (R-Golnik)Stinson (R-Golnik) September 16, 2012 549 ± 4.0% 52% 45% 3%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 4
Democrat Barney Frank, who has represented the 4th district since 1981, retired rather than run for re-election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Joseph Kennedy III, Middlesex County assistant district attorney
Eliminated in primary Rachel Brown, LaRouche activist and candidate for this seat in 2010 Herb Robinson, software engineer
Withdrawn Paul Heroux, businessman
Declined Ruth Balser, state representative Michael Burstein, author and member of the Brookline Town Meeting Cynthia Creem, state senator William A. Flanagan, Mayor of Fall River Barney Frank, incumbent U.S. Representative Deborah Goldberg, former chair of the Brookline Board of Selectmen Alan Khazei, co-founder of the City Year non-profit Jesse Mermell, Brookline Selectwoman Marc Pacheco, state senator Michael P. Ross, Boston City Councilor James Segel, former state representative David Simas, former policy adviser to Governor Deval Patrick Sam Sutter, Bristol County district attorney James E. Timilty, state senator Setti Warren, mayor of Newton Mike Rodrigues, state senator James Vallee, state representative
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Sean Bielat, technology executive and nominee for this seat in 2010
Eliminated in primary Elizabeth Childs, psychiatrist and member of the Brookline School Committee David Steinhof, dentist
Declined Jay Barrows, state representative Brian Herr, former Hopkinton Selectman Richard J. Ross, state senator Tom Wesley, businessman and nominee for the 2nd district in 2010
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Polling Pollsource Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JosephKennedy III (D) SeanBielat (R) Other UndecidedUMass Lowell/Boston HeraldUMass Lowell/Boston Herald February 2–8, 2012 408 ± 6.4% 60% 28% 4% 7%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 5
Democrat Ed Markey was redistricted from the 7th district, having represented it since 1976.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Ed Markey, incumbent U.S. Representative
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tom Tierney, consulting actuary
Eliminated in primary Frank John Addivinola Jr., attorney Jeff Semon, financial consultant
Withdrawn Gerry Dembrowski, physician and nominee for the 7th district in 2010
Primary results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 6
At the time of the election, Democrat John F. Tierney had represented the 6th district since 1997. Daniel Fishman, a Libertarian candidate, who has never run for office before also ran. Veteran and military commentator Seth Moulton considered running in the general election as an independent, but decided against it in July 2012, citing the short time frame left for him to mount a serious campaign.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee John F. Tierney, incumbent U.S. Representative
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Richard R. Tisei, former Minority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2010
Withdrawn Bill Hudak, Tea Party-endorsed lawyer and candidate for this seat in 2010 but withdrew on January 23, 2012, to pursue "a business opportunity".
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Debates Complete video of debate, October 10, 2012
Polling Pollsource Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnTierney (D) RichardTisei (R) DanielFishman (L) UndecidedBoston Globe/UNHBoston Globe/UNH September 21–27, 2012 371 ± 5.1% 31% 37% 2% 30%North Star Opinion Research (R-YG Action)North Star Opinion Research (R-YG Action) September 25–26, 2012 400 ± 4.9% 37% 45% — 18%MassINC/WBURMassINC/WBUR September 8–10, 2012 401 ± 4.9% 46% 34% 7% 11%McLaughlin (R-Tisei)McLaughlin (R-Tisei) May 2–3, 2012 400 ± 4.9% 33% 40% — 27%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 7
In the redistricting Act, this district became a majority-minority district, increasing its reach over several minority precincts near Boston. Democrat Mike Capuano, who was redistricted from the 8th district, having represented it since 1999, ran for re-election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Mike Capuano, incumbent U.S. Representative
Primary results
Independents Karla Romero, founding President and CEO of the non-profit Mass Appeal International and a former Miss USA contestant
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 8
Democrat Stephen Lynch, who was redistricted from the old 9th district, ran in the 8th district.
Democrat William R. Keating, who was redistricted from the old , announced that he would move to Cape Cod, and run there, putting him in the new 9th district (most of which includes his incumbent district) instead of competing against Lynch.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Stephen Lynch, incumbent U.S. Representative
Declined William R. Keating, incumbent U.S. Representative
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Joe Selvaggi, US Navy veteran of the first Gulf War and small business owner
Eliminated in primary Matias Temperley, Iraq War veteran and student
Primary results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 9
There was no incumbent currently residing in this district, but incumbent Democrat William R. Keating, who has represented most of the district for the last two years when it was the , has a summer home there. As discussed above, he moved to the 9th District. Bristol County
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee William R. Keating, incumbent
Eliminated in primary Sam Sutter, Bristol County District Attorney
Declined Mark Montigny, state senator William A. Flanagan, Mayor of Fall River Scott W. Lang, former mayor of New Bedford Therese Murray, President of the Massachusetts Senate Robert O'Leary, former state senator
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Christopher Sheldon, businessman
Eliminated in primary Adam Chaprales, former Sandwich Selectman
Declined Timothy Cruz, Plymouth County District Attorney Vinny deMacedo, state representative Thomas Hodgson, Bristol County Sheriff Jeff Perry, former state representative 2010 Republican nominee for Massachusetts' 10th congressional district will not run.
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
See also United States Senate election in Massachusetts, 2012
References
External links Elections Division of the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Massachusetts U.S. House from OurCampaigns.com Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in Massachusetts from OpenSecrets Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation Local politics at The Boston Herald