Massachusetts Overview




Redistricting Process: The General Court of Massachusetts (the legislature) is responsible for congressional redistricting. The process must begin before the first January after Census Day (April 1, 2010).  The governor has the power of veto over any plan passed by the legislature.



Governor: Democrat Deval Patrick



Legislature: Democrats control both chambers.



Number of Congressional Seats in 2011: 9 (-1 since 2010)


2011 Ideal District Population: 727,514



Current District by District Politics and Demographics






1st District- Democrat John Olver



2010 Congressional Results: Olver 60%



2008 Congressional Results: Olver 73%



2006 Congressional Results: Olver 76%



2004 Congressional Results: Olver (Unopposed)



2008 Presidential Results: McCain 33% Obama 64%



2004 Presidential Results: Bush 35% Kerry 63%



District Population: 644,956



Over/Under Populated by: 82,558 (Massachusetts is losing a seat)



White Population: 549,635



African-American Population: 13,608



Hispanic Population: 55,147 









2nd District- Democrat Richard Neal




2010 Congressional Results: Neal 57%



2008 Congressional Results: Neal (Unopposed)



2006 Congressional Results: Neal (Unopposed)



2004 Congressional Results: Neal (Unopposed)



2008 Presidential Results: McCain 39% Obama 59%



2004 Presidential Results: Bush 40% Kerry 59%



District Population: 661,045



Over/Under Populated by: 66,469 (Massachusetts is losing a seat)



White Population: 509,768



African-American Population: 37,350



Hispanic Population: 87,453









3rd District- Democrat Jim McGovern




2010 Congressional Results: McGovern 57%



2008 Congressional Results: McGovern (Unopposed)



2006 Congressional Results: McGovern (Unopposed)



2004 Congressional Results: McGovern 71%



2008 Presidential Results: McCain 39% Obama 58%



2004 Presidential Results: Bush 40% Kerry 59%



District Population: 664,919



Over/Under Populated by: 62,595 (Massachusetts is losing a seat)



White Population: 527,411



African-American Population: 26,951



Hispanic Population: 58,932









4th District- Democrat Barney Frank




2010 Congressional Results: Frank 54%



2008 Congressional Results: Frank 68%



2006 Congressional Results: Frank (Unopposed)



2004 Congressional Results: Frank 78%



2008 Presidential Results: McCain 34% Obama 63%



2004 Presidential Results: Bush 33% Kerry 65%



District Population: 656,083



Over/Under Populated by: 71,431 (Massachusetts is losing a seat)



White Population: 549,239



African-American Population: 18,720



Hispanic Population: 34,109





5th District- Democrat Niki Tsongas




2010 Congressional Results: Tsongas 55%



2008 Congressional Results: Tsongas (Unopposed)



2006 Congressional Results: Martin Meehan (D) (Unopposed)



2004 Congressional Results: Meehan (D) 67%



2008 Presidential Results: McCain 39% Obama 59%



2004 Presidential Results: Bush 41% Kerry 57%



District Population: 662,269



Over/Under Populated by: 65,245 (Massachusetts is losing a seat)



White Population: 478,916



African-American Population: 16,810



Hispanic Population: 103,099









6th District- Democrat John Tierney




2010 Congressional Results: Tierney 57%



2008 Congressional Results: Tierney 70%



2006 Congressional Results: Tierney 70%



2004 Congressional Results: Tierney 70%



2008 Presidential Results: McCain 40% Obama 57%



2004 Presidential Results: Bush 41% Kerry 58%



District Population: 650,161



Over/Under Populated by: 77,353 (Massachusetts is losing a seat)



White Population: 549,144



African-American Population: 16,745



Hispanic Population: 50,345









7th District- Democrat Edward Markey




2010 Congressional Results: Markey 66%



2008 Congressional Results: Markey 76%



2006 Congressional Results: Markey (Unopposed)



2004 Congressional Results: Markey 74%



2008 Presidential Results: McCain 33% Obama 65%



2004 Presidential Results: Bush 33% Kerry 66%



District Population: 648,162



Over/Under Populated by: 79,352 (Massachusetts is losing a seat)



White Population: 474,054



African-American Population: 34,997



Hispanic Population: 57,019





8th District- Democrat Mike Capuano




2010 Congressional Results: Capuano (Unopposed)



2008 Congressional Results: Capuano (Unopposed)



2006 Congressional Results: Capuano 91%



2004 Congressional Results: Capuano (Unopposed)



2008 Presidential Results: McCain 14% Obama 84%



2004 Presidential Results: Bush 19% Kerry 79%



District Population: 660,414



Over/Under Populated by: 67,100 (Massachusetts is losing a seat)



White Population: 309,410



African-American Population: 131,014



Hispanic Population: 124,286









9th District- Democrat Stephen Lynch




2010 Congressional Results: Lynch 69%



2008 Congressional Results: Lynch (Unopposed)



2006 Congressional Results: Lynch 78%



2004 Congressional Results: Lynch (Unopposed)



2008 Presidential Results: McCain 38% Obama 60%



2004 Presidential Results: Bush 36% Kerry 63%



District Population: 650,381



Over/Under Populated by: 77,133 (Massachusetts is losing a seat)



White Population: 463,698



African-American Population: 82,070



Hispanic Population: 43,054









10th District- Democrat Bill Keating



2010 Congressional Results: Keating 47%



2008 Congressional Results: Bill Delahunt (D) (Unopposed)



2006 Congressional Results: Delahunt (D) 64%



2004 Congressional Results: Delahunt (D) 66%



2008 Presidential Results: McCain 43% Obama 55%



2004 Presidential Results: Bush 43% Kerry 56%



District Population: 649,239



Over/Under Populated by: 78,275 (Massachusetts is losing a seat)



White Population: 573,525



African-American Population: 13,428



Hispanic Population: 14,210


See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 10th District.


*In some browsers, the link to the 2010 Census page may link to a table of demographics for several states as opposed to the districts for the specific state.  If this occurs, click the “Back to Search” link at the top of the page and then click on the arrow next to “Geographies” in the left column.  Select “All Congressional Districts within Massachusetts” and then close the box.  Click on the link for “Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age and Housing Occupancy: 2010” and the correct table should appear.


Redistricting Process taken from Rose Institute study “Redistricting in America.”