2024 Election Recap

November 7, 2024

- By The MAR Legal Team

With more than three million votes cast statewide in Massachusetts, here are some highlights and results from across the state: 

U.S. House of Representatives and Senate 

  • Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren won her election against Republican challenger John Deaton, securing her third six-year term. 
  • In the House, Representatives Jake Auchincloss, Ayanna Pressley, Stephen Lynch, Bill Keating, Richard Neal, Jim McGovern, Lori Trahan, Seth Moulton, and Minority Whip Katherine Clark all secured victory in their elections. 

State Legislature 

  • Democrats will continue to hold supermajorities in both chambers. 
  • In the Senate, there will be 35 Democrats and five Republicans. 
  • For the House, if current results hold, Democrats will lead with 134 members, and there will be 25 Republicans and one independent. 
  • Most state legislative candidates went into Tuesday’s election uncontested, though there were a handful of competitive districts: 
  • In the First Plymouth House district race, Democrat Michelle Badger defeated Republican challenger Jesse Brown, a seat previously held by Republican Mathew Muratore. 
  • There may be a recount in the Eighth Plymouth House district to replace Republican Representative Angelo D’Emilia. Currently, Democrat Dennis Gallagher leads Republican Sandra Wright by 178 votes, about three-quarters of a percentage point, in unofficial remarks. If the vote count stays the same, Gallagher has said she will seek a recount. 
  • Current Democratic state Representative Dylan Fernandes beat Mathew Muratore in the race to represent the Plymouth & Barnstable Senate district. 
  • Republicans appear poised to make a net gain in the Senate and will retain its minority makeup in the House: 
  • In the Senate, for the Third Bristol and Plymouth Senate district, Republican Kelly Dooner has beat Democratic Challenger Joseph Pacheco. Her victory will flip a district held for more than three decades by retiring Democrat Senator Marc Pacheco (who has no relation to the candidate trying to succeed him). 
  • Representative Patricia Haddad, Democrat, lost her 12th reelection bid to GOP challenger Justin Thurber in the Fifth Bristol district. 
  • In the Sixth Plymouth House district, Republican Ken Sweezy claimed victory over Democratic Candidate Rebecca Coletta in the race to replace former Democratic Representative Josh Cutler.

 

Statewide Ballot Questions: 

  • Question 1 – More than 71% of Massachusetts voters to choose to give the state Auditor the authority to audit the state Legislature. 
  • Question 2 – 59% of voters approved the ballot question that would end MCAS as a high school graduation requirement. 
  • Question 3 – By the closest margin of all the ballot questions, 54% of voters agreed to allow Uber and Lyft drivers in Massachusetts to be able to negotiate wages, benefits and working conditions, under a ballot question. 
  • Question 4 – 57% of voters rejected the proposal to legalizing five psychedelic substances and a regulatory framework for psychedelic therapy centers. 
  • Question 5 – BY a vote of 64% to 36%, voters rejected the proposal to raise the minimum hourly wage for tipped workers from $6.75 to $15 and allow restaurants to share tips with back-of-house staff.