Massachusetts State Legislative Special Elections, 2016

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Six seats were vacated in the Massachusetts State Legislature in 2016. All six seats were filled through special elections.

Vacancies filled[edit]

State House Twelfth Essex: The seat was vacant following Leah Cole's (R) resignation on September 28, 2015.

State House Ninth Plymouth: The seat was vacant following Michael Brady's (D) election to the state Senate on November 3, 2015.

State House Third Worcester: The seat was vacant following Stephen DiNatale's (D) election to be the Mayor of Fitchburg in the November 2015 general election.

State Senate Plymouth & Norfolk: The seat was vacant following Robert Hedlund's (R) election to mayor of Weymouth in 2015.

State Senate First Suffolk & Middlesex: The seat was vacant following Anthony Petruccelli's (D) resignation on January 21, 2016.

State House Tenth Essex: The seat was vacant following Robert Fennell's (D) resignation on February 24, 2016.^[1]

Breakdown of 2016 special elections[edit]

Across the country in 2016, special elections for state legislative positions were held for a variety of reasons:

23 were due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
11 were due to a retirement
11 were due to the incumbent accepting another job
12 were due to a death
4 were due to a conviction
3 were due to filling a remaining term
1 was due to an expulsion

The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:

37 Democratic seats
28 Republican seats

Partisan Change from Special Elections
Party		As of Vacancy	After Special Election
	Democratic Party	37	39
	Republican Party	28	24
	Independent	0	2
Total		65	65

Note: The table above reflected information for elections that were held—not total vacant seats.

How vacancies are filled[edit]

If there is a vacancy in the Massachusetts 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.^[2] Local governments that conduct special elections can receive reimbursement from the state treasurer's office for costs incurred.^[3]^[4]

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

Special elections[edit]

March 1, 2016[edit]

☑ Massachusetts House of Representatives Twelfth Essex District

See also: Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2016

A special election for the position of Massachusetts House of Representatives Twelfth Essex District was called for March 1. A primary election took place on February 2. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 29, 2015.^[5]

The seat was vacant following Leah Cole's (R) resignation on September 28, 2015. She resigned to focus on her nursing career.^[6]

Thomas Walsh defeated James Moutsoulas and Craig Welton in the Democratic primary. Stephanie Peach defeated Jaclyn Corriveau in the Republican primary. Christopher Gallagher ran as an unenrolled candidate.^[7] Walsh defeated Peach and Gallagher in the special election.^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12]

**Massachusetts House of Representatives, Twelfth Essex District, Special Election, 2016**
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Thomas Walsh	57.8%	7,138
	Republican	Stephanie Peach	37.6%	4,644
	Unenrolled	Christopher Gallagher	4.7%	576
Total Votes				12,358

**Massachusetts House of Representatives, Twelfth Essex District, Special Election Democratic Primary, 2016**
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Thomas Walsh	62.7%	1,672
James Moutsoulas	20.1%	537
Craig Welton	17.2%	459
Total Votes		2,668

**Massachusetts House of Representatives, Twelfth Essex District, Special Election Republican Primary, 2016**
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Stephanie Peach	55.4%	568
Jaclyn Corriveau	44.6%	458
Total Votes		1,026

February 2 Democratic primary candidates:

February 2 Republican primary candidates:

March 1 Special election candidates:

Thomas Walsh

Stephanie Peach

Christopher Gallagher (unenrolled)

☑ Massachusetts House of Representatives Ninth Plymouth District

See also: Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2016

A special election for the position of Massachusetts House of Representatives Ninth Plymouth District was called for March 1. A primary election took place on February 2. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 29, 2015.^[13]

The seat was vacant following Michael Brady's (D) election to the state Senate on November 3, 2015.

Gerry Cassidy defeated Shaynah Barnes and Shirley Asack in the Democratic primary.^[14] Cassidy was unopposed in the special election.^[15]^[16]^[17]

**Massachusetts House of Representatives, Ninth Plymouth District Democratic Primary, 2016**
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Gerry Cassidy	45.5%	880
Shirley Asack	27.3%	527
Shaynah Barnes	27.2%	526
Total Votes		1,933

February 2 Democratic primary candidates:

March 1 Special election candidates:

Gerry Cassidy

☑ Massachusetts House of Representatives Third Worcester District

See also: Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2016

A special election for the position of Massachusetts House of Representatives Third Worcester District was called for March 1. A primary election took place on February 2. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 29, 2015.^[18]

The seat was vacant following Stephen DiNatale's (D) election to be the Mayor of Fitchburg in the November 2015 general election.

Stephan Hay defeated Kimatra Maxwell and Joseph Byrne in the Democratic primary.^[19] Dean Tran (write-in) defeated write-in candidate Stephen P. Sandrelli in the Republican primary. Hay defeated Tran in the special election.^[20]^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24]

**Massachusetts House of Representatives, Third Worcester District, Special Election, 2016**
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Stephan Hay	50.7%	4,613
	Republican	Dean Tran	49.3%	4,488
Total Votes				9,101

**Massachusetts House of Representatives, Third Worcester District Democratic Primary, 2016**
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Stephan Hay	61.7%	1,153
Joseph Byrne	17.9%	334
Kimatra Maxwell	17.1%	320
Dean Tran (Write-In)	3.3%	62
Stephen P. Sandrelli (Write-In)	0%	0
Total Votes		1,869

**Massachusetts House of Representatives, Third Worcester District Republican Primary, 2016**
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Dean Tran (Write-In)	98.9%	747
Stephen P. Sandrelli (Write-In)	1.1%	8
Total Votes		755

February 2 Democratic primary candidates:

February 2 Republican primary candidates:

Dean Tran a

March 1 Special election candidates:

Stephan Hay

Dean Tran

May 10, 2016[edit]

☑ Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth & Norfolk District

See also: Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2016

A special election for the position of Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Norfolk District was called for May 10. A primary election took place on April 12.^[25] The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 8, 2016.^[26]

The seat was vacant following Robert Hedlund's (R) election to mayor of Weymouth in 2015.^[27]

Joan Meschino defeated Paul Gannon in the Democratic primary. Patrick O'Connor defeated Stephen Gill in the Republican primary.^[28]^[29] Meschino was defeated by O'Connor in the special election.^[30]^[31]^[32]

**Massachusetts State Senate, Plymouth and Norfolk District Democratic Primary, 2016**
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Joan Meschino	60.5%	3,714
Paul Gannon	38%	2,337
Patrick O'Connor (Write-in)	1%	60
All Others	0.3%	20
Blank Votes	0.2%	11
Total Votes		6,142

**Massachusetts State Senate, Plymouth and Norfolk District Republican Primary, 2016**
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Patrick O'Connor	85%	3,706
Stephen Gill	14.2%	618
All Others	0.6%	26
Blank Votes	0.2%	9
Total Votes		4,359

April 12 Democratic primary candidates:

April 12 Republican primary candidates:

May 10 Special election candidates:

Joan Meschino

Patrick O'Connor

☑ Massachusetts State Senate First Suffolk & Middlesex District

See also: Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2016

A special election for the position of Massachusetts State Senate First Suffolk and Middlesex District was called for May 10. A primary election took place on April 12. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 8, 2016.^[33]

The seat was vacant following Anthony Petruccelli's (D) resignation on January 21, 2016.^[34]

Joseph Boncore defeated Lydia Marie Edwards, Diana Hwang, Jay Livingstone, Steven Morabito, Dan Rizzo, and Paul Rogers in the Democratic primary.^[35]^[36]^[37] Boncore was unopposed in the special election.

**Massachusetts State Senate, First Suffolk and Middlesex District Democratic Primary, 2016**
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Joseph Boncore	25.7%	4,013
Dan Rizzo	23.2%	3,628
Jay Livingstone	18%	2,813
Lydia Marie Edwards	14.6%	2,280
Diana Hwang	13.3%	2,085
Steven Morabito	3.9%	607
Paul Rogers	1.1%	175
All Others	0.1%	19
Blank Votes	0.1%	9
Total Votes		15,629

April 12 Democratic primary candidates:

May 10 Special election candidates:

Joseph A. Boncore

☑ Massachusetts House of Representatives Tenth Essex District

See also: Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2016

A special election for the position of Massachusetts House of Representatives Tenth Essex District was called for May 10. A primary election took place on April 12. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 8, 2016.^[38]

The seat was vacant following Robert Fennell's (D) resignation on February 24, 2016.^[39]

Dan Cahill was unopposed in the Democratic primary. He was also unchallenged in the special election.^[40]^[41]^[42]

April 12 Democratic primary candidates:

Dan Cahill a

May 10 Special election candidates:

Dan Cahill

Footnotes[edit]

[1] Itemlive.com, "State says farewell to Fennell," February 25, 2016

[2] Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 50, Section 6A)

[3] Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 3: Section 10A)

[4] Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 54: Section 141)

[5] Peabody Patch, "Dates Set for State Rep. Special Election," accessed October 22, 2015

[6] salemnews.com, "Peabody state rep Leah Cole resigning," accessed September 21, 2015

[7] Patch.com, "Six Candidates Seek State Rep Seat," accessed January 5, 2016

[8] masslive.com, "Democrats sweep three House special elections," accessed March 2, 2016

[9] The Salem News, "Walsh and Peach win primaries," accessed February 3, 2016

[10] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special General Election," accessed March 28, 2016

[11] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Democratic Primary," accessed March 28, 2016

[12] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Republican Primary," accessed March 28, 2016

[13] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Special State Election-Ninth Plymouth Representative District*," accessed November 20, 2015

[14] The Enterprise, "3 Brockton Democrats in race for 9th Plymouth state representative seat," accessed January 13, 2016

[15] masslive.com, "Democrats sweep three House special elections," accessed March 2, 2016

[16] NewBostonPost, "Cassidy wins Brockton primary, fields narrowed in Fitchburg, Peabody," accessed February 3, 2016

[17] William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Democratic Primary," accessed March 28, 2016

[18] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Special State Election- Third Worcester Representative District*," accessed November 20, 2015

[19] Sentinel and Enterprise, "Kimatra Maxwell is aiming to be a 'social worker at state level'," accessed January 13, 2016

[20] masslive.com, "Democrats sweep three House special elections," accessed March 2, 2016

[21] NewBostonPost, "Cassidy wins Brockton primary, fields narrowed in Fitchburg, Peabody," accessed February 3, 2016

[22] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Democratic Primary," accessed March 28, 2016

[23] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Republican Primary," accessed March 28, 2016

[24] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special General Election," accessed March 28, 2016

[25] wwlp.com, "Senate plans pair of special elections on may 10th," accessed January 13, 2016

[26] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Special State Election- Plymouth and Norfolk Senate District*," accessed January 25, 2016

[27] Wicked Local, "Weymouth Mayor-elect Hedlund resigns Senate seat," December 24, 2015

[28] bostonherald.com, "Joseph Boncore winner of  vacated  Senate seat," accessed April 13, 2016

[29] The Patriot Ledger, "Four candidates make it to primary ballots for South Shore state Senate seat," accessed March 9, 2016

[30] patch.com, "Weymouth Town Council President Patrick O'Connor Wins State Senate Election," accessed May 11, 2016

[31] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Democratic Primary," accessed September 7, 2016

[32] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Republican Primary," accessed September 7, 2016

[33] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Special State Election- First Suffolk and Middlesex Senate District*," accessed January 25, 2016

[34] wwlp.com, "Senate plans pair of special elections on may 10th," accessed January 13, 2016

[35] bostonherald.com, "Joseph Boncore winner of  vacated  Senate seat," accessed April 13, 2016

[36] Boston Globe, "Political Happy Hour: March 8, 2016," accessed March 9, 2016

[37] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Democratic Primary," accessed September 7, 2016

[38] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Special State Election- Tenth Essex Representative District*," accessed March 2, 2016

[39] Itemlive.com, "State says farewell to Fennell," February 25, 2016

[40] bostonherald.com, "Joseph Boncore winner of  vacated  Senate seat," accessed April 13, 2016

[41] Item Live, "Cahill flying solo in special race," accessed March 9, 2016

[42] Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Democratic Primary," accessed September 7, 2016

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Massachusetts State Legislative Special Elections, 2016

Contents

Vacancies filled[edit]

Breakdown of 2016 special elections[edit]

How vacancies are filled[edit]

Special elections[edit]

March 1, 2016[edit]

May 10, 2016[edit]

See also[edit]

Footnotes[edit]