Massachusetts 2020 elections U.S. Senate • U.S. House • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Special state legislative • Local judges • State ballot measures • Municipal • Recalls • How to run for office

2021→ ←2019
2020 State Legislative Special Elections
Special election information
Breakdown •Historical data •Elections by date
Special elections by state
Alabama •Alaska •Arkansas •California Connecticut •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii Illinois •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota Mississippi •New Hampshire •New Jersey New York •Oklahoma •Oregon Pennsylvania •Rhode Island South Carolina •Texas Virginia •Washington
Special elections by territory
Puerto Rico
Other 2020 election coverage
Filing deadlines •Statewide elections State legislative elections Gubernatorial elections •Ballot measures

In 2020, five special elections were called to fill vacant seats in theMassachusetts General Court.Click here to read more about the special elections.

Senate special elections called:

• Second Hampden & Hampshire District: May 19
• Plymouth & Barnstable District: May 19

House special elections called:

• Thirty-second Middlesex District: March 3
• Thirty-seventh Middlesex District: June 2
• Third Bristol District: June 2

How vacancies are filled in Massachusetts

See also:How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in theMassachusetts General Court, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. The election must be held on the next regularly scheduled date on the election calendar.^[1] Local governments that conduct special elections can receive reimbursement from the state treasurer's office for costs incurred.^[2][3]

See sources:Massachusetts Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54, § 141 andMassachusetts Const. Amend. Art. 24

About the legislature

TheMassachusetts General Court is abicameral body composed of theMassachusetts State Senate, with 40 members, and theMassachusetts House of Representatives, with 160 members. The boxes below show the partisan composition of both chambers directly before and after the November 2018 general election. For the most up-to-date numbers on partisan composition in this legislature, seehere (Senate) andhere (House).

Special elections

Click [show] to the right of the district name for more information:

March 3, 2020

Massachusetts House of Representatives Thirty-second Middlesex District

See also:Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2020 A special election for theThirty-second Middlesex District of theMassachusetts House of Representatives took place on March 3, 2020. A primary was held on February 4, 2020. The filing deadline for candidates was December 31, 2019.[4] The seat became vacant on November 18, 2019, whenPaul Brodeur (D) was sworn in as mayor of Melrose.[5] General election Special general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 32nd Middlesex District Kate Lipper-Garabedian defeatedBrandon Reid in the special general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 32nd Middlesex District on March 3, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D)   81.2   10,832 Brandon Reid (R)    18.5   2,464   Other/Write-in votes   0.4   52 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 13,348 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. Democratic primary election Special Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 32nd Middlesex District Kate Lipper-Garabedian defeatedAnn McGonigle Santos andMathew Helman in the special Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 32nd Middlesex District on February 4, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ Kate Lipper-Garabedian   67.9   2,580 Submit photo Ann McGonigle Santos   22.8   867 Submit photo Mathew Helman   9.0   342   Other/Write-in votes   0.3   12 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 3,801 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. Republican primary election Special Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 32nd Middlesex District Brandon Reid advanced from the special Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 32nd Middlesex District on February 4, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ Brandon Reid (Write-in)    57.8   156   Other/Write-in votes   42.2   114 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 270 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

March 31, 2020

Editor's note: The special elections originally scheduled on March 31, 2020, were moved amid concerns about thecoronavirus pandemic: state Senate elections were rescheduled for May 19, 2020, and state House elections were rescheduled for June 2, 2020.^[6]

May 19, 2020

Massachusetts State Senate Second Hampden & Hampshire District

See also:Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2020 A special election for theSecond Hampden & Hampshire District of theMassachusetts State Senate took place on May 19, 2020. This special election was originally scheduled on March 31, 2020, but was moved to May 19 amid concerns about thecoronavirus pandemic.[7] A primary was held on March 3, 2020. The filing deadline for candidates was January 21, 2020.[8] The special election was called afterDonald Humason Jr. (R) announced his resignation, effective January 6, 2020, to become the mayor of Westfield. General election Special general election for Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical) John Velis defeatedJohn Cain in the special general election for Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical) on May 19, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ John Velis (D)   64.2   10,089 Submit photo John Cain (R)   35.8   5,620   Other/Write-in votes   0.1   10 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 15,719 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. Democratic primary election Special Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical) John Velis advanced from the special Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical) on March 3, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ John Velis   99.1   20,848   Other/Write-in votes   0.9   181 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 21,029 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. Republican primary election Special Republican primary for Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical) John Cain advanced from the special Republican primary for Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical) on March 3, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ Submit photo John Cain   98.2   5,586   Other/Write-in votes   1.8   104 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 5,690 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth & Barnstable District

See also:Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2020 A special election for theSecond Hampden & Hampshire District of theMassachusetts State Senate took place on May 19, 2020. This special election was originally scheduled on March 31, 2020, but was moved to May 19 amid concerns about thecoronavirus pandemic.[9] A primary was held on March 3, 2020. The filing deadline for candidates was January 21, 2020.[10] The seat became vacant on November 29, 2019, whenVinny deMacedo (R) resigned to take a job in higher education.[11] General election Special general election for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Barnstable District Susan Moran defeatedJames McMahon in the special general election for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Barnstable District on May 19, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ Susan Moran (D)   56.2   11,587 James McMahon (R)    43.7   9,010   Other/Write-in votes   0.2   35 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 20,632 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. Democratic primary election Special Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Barnstable District Susan Moran defeatedJohn Mahoney Jr.,Thomas Moakley,Rebecca Coletta, andStephen Michael Palmer in the special Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Barnstable District on March 3, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ Susan Moran   27.0   8,894 John Mahoney Jr.   26.2   8,636 Thomas Moakley   20.6   6,806 Rebecca Coletta   20.3   6,701 Stephen Michael Palmer   5.9   1,936 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 32,973 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. Withdrawn or disqualified candidates Jack Stanton (D) Republican primary election Special Republican primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Barnstable District James McMahon defeatedJesse Brown in the special Republican primary for Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Barnstable District on March 3, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ James McMahon    56.1   8,288 Jesse Brown   43.9   6,495 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 14,783 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

June 2, 2020

Massachusetts House of Representatives Thirty-seventh Middlesex District

See also:Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2020 A special election for theThirty-seventh Middlesex District of theMassachusetts House of Representatives took place on June 2, 2020. This special election was originally scheduled on March 31, 2020, but was moved to June 2 amid concerns about thecoronavirus pandemic.[12] A primary was held on March 3, 2020. The filing deadline for candidates was January 21, 2020.[13] The seat became vacant on January 8, 2020, whenJennifer Benson (D) resigned to take a job as president of the Alliance for Business Leadership.[13] General election Special general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 37th Middlesex District Danillo Sena defeatedCatherine Clark in the special general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 37th Middlesex District on June 2, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ Danillo Sena (D)   73.9   4,246 Submit photo Catherine Clark (R)    25.6   1,474   Other/Write-in votes   0.5   28 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 5,748 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. Democratic primary election Special Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 37th Middlesex District Danillo Sena defeatedDina Samfield in the special Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 37th Middlesex District on March 3, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ Danillo Sena   57.2   5,484 Submit photo Dina Samfield   42.5   4,081   Other/Write-in votes   0.3   30 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 9,595 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. Republican primary election Special Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 37th Middlesex District Catherine Clark defeatedMalena Chastain in the special Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 37th Middlesex District on March 3, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ Submit photo Catherine Clark    55.6   1,368 Malena Chastain    44.0   1,084   Other/Write-in votes   0.4   9 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 2,461 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Massachusetts House of Representatives Third Bristol District

See also:Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2020 A special election forMassachusetts House of RepresentativesThird Bristol District took place on June 2, 2020. This special election was originally scheduled on March 31, 2020, but was moved to June 2 amid concerns about thecoronavirus pandemic.[14] A special primary election took place on March 3, 2020. The candidate filing deadline was January 28, 2020.[15] The seat became vacant after RepresentativeShaunna O'Connell (R) resigned on January 6, 2020, after being elected mayor ofTaunton, Massachusetts. General election Special general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 3rd Bristol District Carol Doherty defeatedKelly Dooner in the special general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 3rd Bristol District on June 2, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ Carol Doherty (D)   57.0   2,195 Kelly Dooner (R)   42.8   1,646   Other/Write-in votes   0.2   9 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 3,850 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. Democratic primary election Special Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 3rd Bristol District Carol Doherty defeatedMuzammil Nazir in the special Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 3rd Bristol District on March 3, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ Carol Doherty   84.3   4,228 Submit photo Muzammil Nazir   15.3   766   Other/Write-in votes   0.4   20 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 5,014 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. Republican primary election Special Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 3rd Bristol District Kelly Dooner advanced from the special Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 3rd Bristol District on March 3, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ Kelly Dooner   98.8   1,614   Other/Write-in votes   1.2   19 There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 1,633 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Historical data

There were 723 state legislative special elections that took place from 2010 to 2019. Massachusetts held 40 special elections during the same time period; tied for fourth-most of any state. Four special elections were held each year on average. The largest number of special elections in Massachusetts took place in2013 when eight special elections were held.

The table below details how many state legislative special elections were held in a state in a given year.

Special elections throughout the country

See also:State legislative special elections, 2020

In 2020, 55state legislative special elections were held in 26 states. Four special elections were canceled inNew York due to the coronavirus pandemic. Between 2011 and 2019, an average of 77 special elections took place each year.

Breakdown of 2020 special elections

In 2020, special elections for state legislative positions were held for the following reasons:

• 23 due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
• 5 due to a resignation related to criminal charges^[16]
• 18 due to retirement
• 13 due to the death of the incumbent

Impact of special elections on partisan composition

The partisan breakdown for the special elections was as follows:

• 21Democratic seats
• 38Republican seats

The table below details how many seats changed parties as the result of a special election in 2020. The number on the left reflects how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the number on the right shows how many vacant seats each party won in the special elections. In elections between 2011 and 2019, either the Democratic Party or Republican Party saw an average net gain of four seats across the country. Between 2018 and 2019, Democrats had a net gain of six seats.

Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not the total number of vacant seats.

Flipped seats

In 2020, eight seats flipped as a result of state legislative special elections.

Seats flipped from D to R

• Kentucky House of Representatives District 99 (February 25)

Seats flipped from R to D

• New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 24 District (March 10)
• Massachusetts State Senate Second Hampden & Hampshire District (May 19)
• Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth & Barnstable District (May 19)
• Massachusetts House of Representatives Third Bristol District (June 2)
• Kentucky State Senate District 26 (June 23)
• South Carolina House of Representatives District 115 (August 11)
• Oregon State Senate District 10 (November 3)

See also

• State legislative special elections, 2020
• State legislative special elections, 2019
• State legislative special elections, 2018
• State legislative special elections, 2017
• State legislative special elections, 2016
• Massachusetts General Court

Footnotes

v • e State legislatures Legislatures Alabama (H,S) ·Alaska (H,S) ·Arizona (H,S) ·Arkansas (H,S) ·California (A,S) ·Colorado (H,S) ·Connecticut (H,S) ·Delaware (H,S) ·Florida (H,S) ·Georgia (H,S) ·Hawaii (H,S) ·Idaho (H,S) ·Illinois (H,S) ·Indiana (H,S) ·Iowa (H,S) ·Kansas (H,S) ·Kentucky (H,S) ·Louisiana (H,S) ·Maine (H,S) ·Maryland (H,S) ·Massachusetts (H,S) ·Michigan (H,S) ·Minnesota (H,S) ·Mississippi (H,S) ·Missouri (H,S) ·Montana (H,S) ·Nebraska ·Nevada (A,S) ·New Hampshire (H,S) ·New Jersey (GA,S) ·New Mexico (H,S) ·New York (A,S) ·North Carolina (H,S) ·North Dakota (H,S) ·Ohio (H,S) ·Oklahoma (H,S) ·Oregon (H,S) ·Pennsylvania (H,S) ·Rhode Island (H,S) ·South Carolina (H,S) ·South Dakota (H,S) ·Tennessee (H,S) ·Texas (H,S) ·Utah (H,S) ·Vermont (H,S) ·Virginia (H,S) ·Washington (H,S) ·West Virginia (H,S) ·Wisconsin (A,S) ·Wyoming (H,S) 2026 State legislative elections (2026) •State legislative special elections (2026) • Primary dates and filing requirements •2026 Session Dates 2025 State legislative elections (2025) •State legislative special elections (2025) •Primary dates and filing requirements •2025 Session Dates 2024 State legislative elections (2024) •State legislative special elections (2024) •Primary dates and filing requirements •2024 Session Dates 2023 State legislative elections (2023) •State legislative special elections (2023) •Primary dates and filing requirements •2023 Session Dates Historical elections 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 •2018 •2017 •2016 •2015 •2014 •2013 •2012 •2011 •2010 •2009 •2008 •2007 •2006 •2005 •2004 •2003 •2002 •2001 •2000 Features of state legislatures How vacancies are filled in state legislatures •States with a full-time legislature •State legislatures with term limits •Comparison of state legislative salaries •When state legislators assume office after a general election •Population represented by state legislators •State constitutional articles governing state legislatures •State legislative sessions •Resign-to-run law •State legislature candidate requirements by state •Official names of state legislatures •State legislative chambers that use multi-member districts •Factors Affecting Competitiveness in State Legislative Elections State senates Length of terms of state senators •State senators •Partisan composition of state senates •State senators sorted by year first elected State houses Length of terms of state representatives •State representatives •Partisan composition of state houses •State representatives sorted by year first elected Leadership positions President of the Senate •President Pro Tempore •Senate Majority Leader •Senate Minority Leader •House Majority Leader •House Minority Leader •State Speaker of the House

	v • e State ofMassachusetts Boston (capital)
Elections	What's on my ballot? |Elections in 2025 |How to vote |How to run for office |Ballot measures
Government	Who represents me? |U.S. President |U.S. Congress |Federal courts |State executives |State legislature |State and local courts |Counties |Cities |School districts |Public policy