Massachusetts 2016 Election Results

Massachusetts held its general election on November 8, 2016, deciding 200 legislative seats. No chamber changed party control.

Highlights

• Incumbents put on a strong showing, and the Legislature returned at 125-35 in the House and 34-6 in the Senate, leaving Gov. Charlie Baker (R) facing Democratic supermajorities in both chambers.
• Baker's biggest loss of the night came on the ballot, not in the Legislature. Voters rejected Question 2, which would have allowed more charter schools each year, by about 24 points. Baker campaigned in favor of it, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh opposed it, and the fight was by far the most expensive ballot campaign in state history.
• The only legislative seat to change party in November was the open 2nd Barnstable House seat on Cape Cod, where William Crocker Jr. (R) beat Aaron S. Kanzer (D) by about 10 points. Democrats won all three open Senate seats, including the Cape and Islands seat, where Julian Cyr (D) beat Anthony E. Schiavi (R).
• Voters passed 2 of the 4 questions. Question 4 legalized marijuana for adults 21 and older. In late December, lawmakers meeting in lightly attended informal sessions pushed the first retail licenses back to July 2018. Question 3, which passed easily, bans the sale of pork, veal, and eggs from animals kept in cramped confinement starting in 2022. Question 1, which would have authorized a second slots parlor, failed alongside Question 2.
• Of the 200 legislative races, 141 had only one candidate on the ballot, and no incumbent lost in November. The closest finish was in 1st Plymouth, where Mathew Muratore (R) held on by about 400 votes over John Mahoney (D).

Legislature

• House (160 seats): 123 D, 34 R, 3 other or vacant before the election, 125 D, 35 R after; control stayed with Democrats.
• Senate (40 seats): 33 D, 5 R, 2 other or vacant before the election, 34 D, 6 R after; control stayed with Democrats.

Legislative races

Ballot measures