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]

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


Special elections[edit]

March 1, 2016[edit]



May 10, 2016[edit]



See also[edit]

  • State legislative special elections, 2016
  • State legislative special elections, 2015
  • Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2014
  • Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2010
  • Massachusetts State Legislature
  • Massachusetts state legislative special elections: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

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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