2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts were held on November 6, 2018, electing the nine U.S. representatives from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other offices, including a gubernatorial election, other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. The primary election for contested nominations was held on September 4, 2018.

On the night of the election, all nine races were declared in favor of the Democratic Party candidates. Seven seats went to incumbents seeking re-election: Richard Neal (1st District), Jim McGovern (2nd), Joseph Kennedy III (4th), Katherine Clark (5th), Seth Moulton (6th), Stephen F. Lynch (8th), and Bill Keating (9th). In the 7th District, Ayanna Pressley ran unopposed after defeating the incumbent in the primary election. In the 3rd District, where the incumbent did not seek re-election, Lori Trahan was declared the winner.

Statewide

By district

Results of the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts by district:

DistrictDemocraticRepublicanOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 211,790 97.64% 0 0.00% 5,110 2.36% 216,900 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 2 191,332 67.16% 93,391 32.78% 170 0.06% 284,893 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 3 173,175 62.00% 93,445 33.45% 12,707 4.55% 279,327 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 4 245,289 97.72% 0 0.00% 5,727 2.28% 251,016 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 5 236,243 75.88% 74,856 24.04% 225 0.07% 311,324 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 6 217,703 65.19% 104,798 31.38% 11,474 3.44% 333,975 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 7 216,557 98.25% 0 0.00% 3,852 1.75% 220,409 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 8 259,159 98.42% 0 0.00% 4,148 1.58% 263,307 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 9 192,347 59.38% 131,463 40.58% 118 0.04% 323,928 100.0% Democratic holdTotal 1,943,595 78.21% 497,953 20.04% 43,531 1.75% 2,485,079 100.0%

District 1

The 1st congressional district is located in western and Central Massachusetts. The largest Massachusetts district in area, it covers about 1/3 of the state and is more rural than the rest. It includes the state's highest point, Mount Greylock. The district includes the cities of Springfield, West Springfield, Pittsfield, Holyoke, and Westfield. The district had a PVI of D+12. The incumbent was Democrat Richard Neal, who had represented the district since 2013, and previously represented the 2nd district from 1989 to 2013. He was re-elected with 73% of the vote in 2016. For the fourth election cycle in a row, no Republicans filed to run in this district.

Democratic primary Debate + 2018 Massachusetts's 1st congressional district democratic primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic DemocraticKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Tahirah Amatul-Wadud Richard Neal1 August 30, 2018 League of Women Voters CD-1 WGBY-TV Carrie SaldoC-SPAN

Primary results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 5, 2018 Inside ElectionsNovember 5, 2018 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2018RCPNovember 5, 2018Daily KosNovember 5, 2018538November 7, 2018CNNOctober 31, 2018PoliticoNovember 2, 2018

Results

District 2

The 2nd congressional district is located in central Massachusetts. It contains the cities of Worcester, which is the second-largest city in New England after Boston, and Northampton in the Pioneer Valley. The district had a PVI of D+13. The incumbent was Democrat Jim McGovern, who had represented the district since 2013, and previously represented the 3rd district from 1997 to 2013. He was re-elected unopposed with 98% of the vote in 2016.

Democratic primary Primary results

Republican primary Primary results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 5, 2018 Inside ElectionsNovember 5, 2018 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2018RCPNovember 5, 2018Daily KosNovember 5, 2018538November 7, 2018CNNOctober 31, 2018PoliticoNovember 4, 2018

Results

District 3

The 3rd congressional district is located in northeastern and central Massachusetts. It contains the Merrimack valley including Lowell, Lawrence and Haverhill. The district had a PVI of D+9. The incumbent was Democrat Niki Tsongas, who had represented the district since 2013, and previously represented the 5th district from 2007 to 2013. She was re-elected with 69% of the vote in 2016.

Tsongas did not seek re-election in 2018. Democratic primary Candidates Declared Jeffrey Ballinger, labor organizer Alexandra Chandler, former Naval Intelligence officer Beej Das, president and CEO of Troca Hotels Rufus Gifford, former United States Ambassador to Denmark and financial director in Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign Leonard Golder, chairman of the Stow Democratic Town Committee and former Stow selectman Daniel Koh, former chief of staff to Boston mayor Marty Walsh Barbara L'Italien, state senator Bopha Malone, vice president of Enterprise Bank Juana Matias, state representative Lori Trahan, former chief of staff to Marty Meehan

Withdrawn Steve Kerrigan, former CEO of the DNC and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014 Patrick Littlefield, executive director of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Innovation Nadeem Mazen, Cambridge city councillor

Declined Jennifer Benson, state representative Stephen DiNatale, mayor of Fitchburg and former state representative (endorsed Gifford) Eileen Donoghue, state senator, former mayor of Lowell and candidate for MA-05 in 2007 Jamie Eldridge, state senator and candidate for MA-05 in 2007 Rodney Elliott, Lowell city councilor and former mayor of Lowell Barry Finegold, former state senator, candidate for MA-05 in 2007 and candidate for state treasurer in 2014 James Fiorentini, mayor of Haverhill (Endorsed Koh) Michael W. Gallagher, attorney and former Lowell School Committee member Ellen Murphy Meehan, hospital consultant and ex-wife of former congressman Martin Meehan David Nangle, state representative Steven Panagiotakos, former state senator Dan Rivera, mayor of Lawrence (endorsed Matias) Niki Tsongas, incumbent U.S. representative

Endorsements

Rady Mom, state representative David Nangle, state representative Steve Zanni, mayor of Methuen

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplessize Marginof error JeffBallinger AlexandraChandler BeejDas RufusGifford LeonardGolder DanKoh Barbara L'Italien BophaMalone JuanaMatias LoriTrahan Other UndecidedUMASS Lowell/Boston GlobeUMASS Lowell/Boston Globe August 14–21, 2018 553 ± 5.2% 2% 4% 2% 13% 1%19% 13%1%6%8% 6%4% Another candidate, 2% refused27%UMASS Lowell/Boston GlobeUMASS Lowell/Boston Globe April 11–17, 2018 490 ± 5.5%– 3% 0%11%–4% 7%2%4%5%6% Don Bradley 1%, Patrick Littlefield 1%<, Keith St. John 1%, Another candidate 2%, Refused 1%58%EMC ResearchEMC ResearchMarch 14–19, 2018500 ± 4.4%–––5%–8% 19%–4%5%4%55%

Primary results

Lori Trahan and Daniel Koh were separated by less than one half of one percent of the votes cast. Koh subsequently requested a recount, which confirmed Trahan's victory.

Republican primary Candidates Declared Rick Green, businessman

Declined Mary Burns, political activist and small business owner Scott Gunderson, retired Naval officer; dropped out Sheila Harrington, state representative Mark Hawke, mayor of Gardner Mike Kuenzler, businessman Beth Lindstrom, former aide to Mitt Romney (running for U.S. Senate) Salvatore Lupoli, businessman and founder and CEO of Sal's Pizza Ann Wofford, nominee in 2014 and 2016

Primary results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 5, 2018 Inside ElectionsNovember 5, 2018 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2018RCPNovember 5, 2018Daily KosNovember 5, 2018538November 7, 2018CNNOctober 31, 2018PoliticoNovember 4, 2018

Debates + 2018 Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district debates Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Republican IndependentKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Lori Trahan Rick Green Mike Mullen1 Oct. 18, 2018 Fitchburg State University Charlie SanamondYouTube 2 Oct. 29, 2018 University of Massachusetts LowellLowell Sun Chris ScottYouTube

Results

District 4

The 4th congressional district is located mostly in southern Massachusetts. It contains Bristol, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Worcester counties. The district had a PVI of D+9. The incumbent was Democrat Joe Kennedy III, who had represented the district since 2013. He was re-elected with 70% of the vote in 2016.

Kennedy was running for re-election. No Republicans filed to run. Democratic primary Primary results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 5, 2018 Inside ElectionsNovember 5, 2018 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2018RCPNovember 5, 2018Daily KosNovember 5, 2018538November 7, 2018CNNOctober 31, 2018PoliticoNovember 4, 2018

Results

District 5

The 5th congressional district is located in eastern Massachusetts. It contains Middlesex, Suffolk and Worcester counties. The district had a PVI of D+18. The incumbent was Democrat Katherine Clark, who had represented the district since winning a special election in 2013. She was re-elected unopposed with 99% of the vote in 2016.

Democratic primary Primary results

Republican primary John Hugo was a Republican candidate for the Massachusetts' 5th congressional district in Massachusetts who was running against Katherine Clark in the United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 2018. John Hugo was certified to appear on the ballot for the 2018 elections on May 17, 2018, to run against Katherine Clark.

Primary results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 5, 2018 Inside ElectionsNovember 5, 2018 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2018RCPNovember 5, 2018Daily KosNovember 5, 2018538November 7, 2018CNNOctober 31, 2018PoliticoNovember 4, 2018

Results

District 6

The 6th congressional district is located in northeastern Massachusetts. It contains most of Essex County, including the North Shore and Cape Ann. The district had a PVI of D+6. The incumbent was Democrat Seth Moulton, who had represented the district since 2015. He was re-elected unopposed with 98% of the vote in 2016.

Democratic primary Primary results

Republican primary Joseph Schneider was running for the Republican nomination.

Primary results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 5, 2018 Inside ElectionsNovember 5, 2018 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2018RCPNovember 5, 2018Daily KosNovember 5, 2018538November 7, 2018CNNOctober 31, 2018PoliticoNovember 4, 2018

Results

District 7

The 7th congressional district is located in eastern Massachusetts. It contains the northern three-quarters of the city of Boston, the city of Somerville and parts of the city of Cambridge. The district had a PVI of D+34. The incumbent was Democrat Mike Capuano, who had represented the district since 2013, and previously represented the 8th district from 1999 to 2013. He was re-elected unopposed with 99% of the vote in 2016.

In his bid for re-nomination by the Democratic Party, Capuano was defeated by Boston city councillor Ayanna Pressley. The primary victory was a surprise, as the last poll before the election showed Capuano with a significant lead, 48% to 35%. Part of the reason the polls may have been inaccurate was a surge in the number of primary voters. 24% of District 7 voters in the 2018 primary had not voted in the five previous primaries, and that percentage was disproportionately of Hispanic and Asian ethnicities.

Democratic primary Candidates Declared Mike Capuano, incumbent representative Ayanna Pressley, Boston city councillor

Declined Nadeem Mazen, Cambridge city councillor