Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2012

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Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2012

Majority control • Campaign contributions

Qualifications • Term limits • Impact of Redistricting

State Legislative Election Results

List of candidates Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklink District • Bristol and Norfolk District • First Bristol and Plymouth District • Second Bristol and Plymouth District • Cape and Islands District • First Essex District • Second Essex District • First Essex and Middlesex District • Second Essex and Middlesex District • Third Essex and Middlesex District • Hampden District • First Hampden and Hampshire District • Second Hampden and Hampshire District • Hampshire and Franklin District • First Middlesex District • Second Middlesex District • Third Middlesex District • Fourth Middlesex District • Middlesex and Essex District • First Middlesex and Norfolk District • Second Middlesex and Norfolk District • Middlesex and Worcester District • Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex District • Norfolk and Plymouth District • Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District • Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth District • Plymouth and Barnstable District • First Plymouth and Bristol District • Second Plymouth and Bristol District • Plymouth and Norfolk District • First Suffolk District • Second Suffolk District • First Suffolk and Middlesex District • Second Suffolk and Middlesex District • Suffolk and Norfolk District • First Worcester District • Second Worcester District • Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin District • Worcester and Middlesex District • Worcester and Norfolk Worcester District

Massachusetts State Senate • 2012 Massachusetts House Elections

Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate were held in Massachusetts on November 6, 2012. A total of 40 seats were up for election.

The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was June 5, 2012. The primary Election Day was September 6, 2012.

See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2012 and State legislative elections, 2012

Majority control

See also: Partisan composition of state senates

Heading into the November 6 election, the Democratic Party held the majority in the Massachusetts State Senate:

Massachusetts State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	35	36
	Republican Party	4	4
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		40	40

Incumbents retiring

Two incumbents did not run for re-election in 2012. Those incumbents were:

Name	Party	Current Office
Frederick Berry	Democratic	Second Essex District
Susan Fargo	Democratic	Third Middlesex District

Campaign contributions

See also: State-by-state comparison of donations to state senate campaigns

This chart shows how many candidates ran for state senate in Massachusetts in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.

Year	Number of candidates	Total contributions
2010	93	$8,982,549
2008	56	$7,993,572
2006	68	$7,948,867
2004	81	$12,267,971
2002	62	$6,996,755

In 2010, the candidates running for state senate raised a total of $8,982,549 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were:

Donor	Amount
Massachusetts Democratic Party	$400,290
Wolf, Daniel A	$262,839
Rudnick, Charles S	$154,577
Spadafora, Craig	$80,600
Dahlberg, Eric	$42,491
Moore, Richard T	$41,433
Wilson Jr., John	$36,000
Addivinola Jr., Frank J	$32,511
Silberstein, Debra	$30,000
Didomenico, Salvador N	$27,400

Qualifications

Article LXXI of the Massachusetts Constitution states: Every representative, for one year at least immediately preceding his election, shall have been an inhabitant of the district for which he is chosen and shall cease to represent such district when he shall cease to be an inhabitant of the commonwealth.

Impact of redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, the state legislature has jurisdiction over state and Congressional redistricting.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Massachusetts's population increased from 6.35 million to 6.55 million between 2000 and 2010. The highest population densities were near Boston and in the eastern portion of the state. The population increase amounted to 3.1 percent over the past decade, which was well below the national average population increase of 9.7 percent. As a result of this slower rate of growth, Massachusetts lost one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, falling from 10 to 9 seats.

The final approved maps increased the number of minority-majority districts in the State Senate from two to three. With the new district lines, State Senator Patricia Jehlen (D) would no longer represent all of Winchester because part of the town was added to a district represented by Katherine Clark (D) at the time.

List of candidates

Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Benjamin Downing a Incumbent Downing first assumed office in 2007

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Benjamin Downing: 64,679

Bristol and Norfolk District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• James Timilty a Incumbent Timilty first assumed office in 2004

September 6 GOP primary:

• Jeffrey Robert Bailey a

November 6 General election candidates:

James Timilty: 47,333

Jeffrey Robert Bailey: 28,354

First Bristol and Plymouth District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Michael J. Rodrigues: 9,401 a Incumbent Rodrigues first assumed office in 2011
• David P. Meade, Jr.: 2,925

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Michael J. Rodrigues: 53,169

Second Bristol and Plymouth District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Mark C. Montigny a Incumbent Montigny first assumed office in 1993

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Mark C. Montigny: 55,059

Cape and Islands District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Daniel A. Wolf a Incumbent Wolf first assumed office in 2011

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Daniel A. Wolf: 80,236

First Essex District

Note: The First Essex District is a new district with no incumbent.

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Timothy J. Coco: 3,274
• Kathleen A. O'Connor Ives: 4,071 a
• William M. Manzi, III: 3,283

September 6 GOP primary:

• Sam S. Meas: 1,947
• Shaun Toohey: 3,936 a

November 6 General election candidates:

Kathleen A. O'Connor Ives: 36,405

Shaun Toohey: 26,654

James M. Kelcourse: 3,358

Paul A. Magliocchetti: 12,870

Second Essex District

Note: Incumbent Frederick Berry (D) did not seek re-election.

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Edward J. Carroll: 311
• Joan B. Lovely: 7,452 a
• Mary-Ellen Manning: 2,615
• John P. Slattery: 4,422

September 6 GOP primary:

• Richard A. Jolitz a

November 6 General election candidates:

Joan B. Lovely: 56,088

Richard A. Jolitz: 23,185

Third Essex District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Thomas M. McGee a Incumbent McGee first assumed office in 2002

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Thomas M. McGee: 56,936

First Essex and Middlesex District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• No Democratic candidates filed for this district.

September 6 GOP primary:

• Bruce Tarr a Incumbent Tarr first assumed office in 1995

November 6 General election candidates:

Bruce Tarr: 78,836

Second Essex and Middlesex District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Barry R. Finegold a Incumbent Finegold first assumed office in 2011

September 6 GOP primary:

• Paul Adams: 2,655 a
• Alex J. Vispoli: 2,558

November 6 General election candidates:

Barry R. Finegold: 44,394

Paul Adams: 23,716

Hampden District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• James T. Welch: 6,244 a Incumbent Welch first assumed office in 2011
• Melvin A. Edwards: 3,936

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

James T. Welch: 44,180

First Hampden and Hampshire District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Gale D. Candaras a Incumbent Candaras first assumed office in 2007

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Gale D. Candaras: 59,213

Second Hampden and Hampshire District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• No Democratic candidates filed for this district.

September 6 GOP primary:

• Michael R. Knapik a Incumbent Knapik first assumed office in 1994

November 6 General election candidates:

Michael R. Knapik: 54,649

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Stanley Rosenberg a Incumbent Rosenberg first assumed office in 1991

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Stanley Rosenberg: 66,072

First Middlesex District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Eileen M. Donoghue a Incumbent Donoghue first assumed office in 2011

September 6 GOP primary:

• James J. Buba a

November 6 General election candidates:

Eileen M. Donoghue: 44,177

James J. Buba: 17,884

Second Middlesex District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Patricia D. Jehlen a Incumbent Jehlen first assumed office in 2005

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Patricia D. Jehlen: 66,267

Third Middlesex District

Note: Incumbent Susan Fargo (D) did not seek re-election.

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Mike Barrett: 5,199 a
• Alexander Buck: 1,728
• Mara Dolan: 2,048
• Joe Kearns Goodwin: 4,819
• Joseph Mullin: 904

September 6 GOP primary:

• Sandi Martinez: 3,301 a
• Greg Howes: 2,304

November 6 General election candidates:

Mike Barrett: 49,213

Sandi Martinez: 32,003

Fourth Middlesex District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Kenneth J. Donnelly a Incumbent Donnelly first assumed office in 2009

September 6 GOP primary:

• Gerry Dembrowski a

November 6 General election candidates:

Kenneth J. Donnelly: 56,100

Gerry Dembrowski: 26,210

Fifth Middlesex District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Katherine M. Clark a Incumbent Clark first assumed office in 2011

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Katherine M. Clark: 58,256

First Middlesex and Norfolk District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Cynthia Stone Creem a Incumbent Creem first assumed office in 1999

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Cynthia Stone Creem: 61,397

Second Middlesex and Norfolk District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Karen E. Spilka a Incumbent Spilka first assumed office in 2004

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Karen E. Spilka: 57,863

Middlesex and Suffolk District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Sal N. DiDomenico a Incumbent DiDomenico first assumed office in 2010

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Sal N. DiDomenico: 47,586

Middlesex and Worcester District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• James B. Eldridge a Incumbent Eldridge first assumed office in 2009

September 6 GOP primary:

• Dean J. Cavaretta a

November 6 General election candidates:

James B. Eldridge: 52,922

Dean J. Cavaretta: 28,797

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• No Democratic candidates filed.

September 6 GOP primary:

• Richard J. Ross a Incumbent Ross first assumed office in 2010

November 6 General election candidates:

Richard J. Ross: 60,885

Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Brian A. Joyce a Incumbent Joyce first assumed office in 1998

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Brian A. Joyce: 64,019

Norfolk and Plymouth District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• John F. Keenan a Incumbent Keenan first assumed office in 2011

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

John F. Keenan: 56,518

Norfolk and Suffolk District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Michael F. Rush a Incumbent Rush first assumed office in 2011

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Michael F. Rush: 60,699

Plymouth and Barnstable District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Therese Murray: 9,176 a Incumbent Murray first assumed office in 1993
• Stephen Michael Palmer: 1,400

September 6 GOP primary:

• Thomas F. Keyes a

November 6 General election candidates:

Therese Murray: 49,723

Thomas F. Keyes: 35,776

First Plymouth and Bristol District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Marc R. Pacheco a Incumbent Pacheco first assumed office in 1993

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Marc R. Pacheco: 61,506

Second Plymouth and Bristol District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Thomas P. Kennedy a Incumbent Kennedy first assumed office in 2009

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Thomas P. Kennedy: 53,717

Plymouth and Norfolk District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Genevieve S. Davis: 4,033 a
• Steve May: 1,498

September 6 GOP primary:

• Robert Hedlund a Incumbent Hedlund first assumed office in 1990

November 6 General election candidates:

Genevieve S. Davis: 28,579

Robert Hedlund: 61,686

First Suffolk District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Jack Hart a Incumbent Hart first assumed office in 2002

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Jack Hart: 54,191

Second Suffolk District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Sonia Rosa Chang-Diaz: 8,904 a Incumbent Chang-Diaz first assumed office in 2009
• Roy Owens: 1,773

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Sonia Rosa Chang-Diaz: 54,886

First Suffolk and Middlesex District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Anthony W. Petruccelli a Incumbent Petruccelli first assumed office in 2007

September 6 GOP primary:

• Thomas J. Dooley, III a

November 6 General election candidates:

Anthony W. Petruccelli: 45,230

Thomas J. Dooley, III: 10,199

Second Suffolk and Middlesex District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• William N. Brownsberger a Incumbent Brownsberger first assumed office in 2012

September 6 GOP primary:

• Steven Aylward a

November 6 General election candidates:

William N. Brownsberger: 45,852

Steven Aylward: 14,190

First Worcester District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Harriette L. Chandler a Incumbent Chandler first assumed office in 2001

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Harriette L. Chandler: 53,477

Second Worcester District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Michael O. Moore a Incumbent Moore first assumed office in 2008

September 6 GOP primary:

• Stephen Simonian a

November 6 General election candidates:

Michael O. Moore: 48,609

Stephen Simonian: 22,949

Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Stephen M. Brewer a Incumbent Brewer first assumed office in 1997

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Stephen M. Brewer: 63,777

Worcester and Middlesex District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Jennifer L. Flanagan a Incumbent Flanagan first assumed office in 2008

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Jennifer L. Flanagan: 55,228

Worcester and Norfolk District

September 6 Democratic primary:

• Richard T. Moore a Incumbent Moore first assumed office in 1996

September 6 GOP primary:

• No Republican candidates filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Richard T. Moore: 59,561

See also

• Massachusetts State Senate
• Massachusetts State Legislature
• State legislative elections, 2012

External links

• Massachusetts Secretary of State - Democratic Primary Candidate List
• Massachusetts Secretary of State - Republican Primary Candidate List
• 2012 Massachusetts Secretary of State - Official 2012 Primary Results
• Massachusetts Secretary of State - 2012 General Election Candidates
• Massachusetts Secretary of State - Official 2012 General Election Results

Footnotes

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Current members of the Massachusetts State Senate

Senators

Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire District

Paul Mark (D)

Bristol and Norfolk District

Paul Feeney (D)

Cape and Islands District

Julian Cyr (D)

Hampden District

Adam Gomez (D)

Hampden and Hampshire District

John Velis (D)

Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester District

Jacob Oliveira (D)

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District

Jo Comerford (D)

Middlesex and Norfolk District

Karen Spilka (D)

Middlesex and Suffolk District

Sal DiDomenico (D)

Middlesex and Worcester District

James Eldridge (D)

Norfolk and Middlesex District

Cynthia Creem (D)

Norfolk and Plymouth District

John Keenan (D)

Norfolk and Suffolk District

Michael Rush (D)

Norfolk, Plymouth, and Bristol District

William Driscoll (D)

Norfolk, Worcester, and Middlesex District

Becca Rausch (D)

Plymouth and Barnstable District

Dylan Fernandes (D)

Suffolk and Middlesex District

William Brownsberger (D)

Worcester and Hampden District

Ryan Fattman (R)

Worcester and Hampshire District

Peter Durant (R)

Worcester and Middlesex District

John Cronin (D)

1st Bristol and Plymouth District

Michael Rodrigues (D)

1st Essex District

Pavel Payano (D)

1st Essex and Middlesex District

Bruce Tarr (R)

1st Middlesex District

Edward Kennedy (D)

1st Plymouth and Norfolk District

Patrick O'Connor (R)

1st Suffolk District

Nick Collins (D)

1st Worcester District

Robyn Kennedy (D)

2nd Bristol and Plymouth District

Mark Montigny (D)

2nd Essex District

Joan Lovely (D)

2nd Essex and Middlesex District

Barry Finegold (D)

2nd Middlesex District

Patricia Jehlen (D)

2nd Plymouth and Norfolk District

Michael Brady (D)

2nd Suffolk District

Liz Miranda (D)

2nd Worcester District

Michael Moore (D)

3rd Bristol and Plymouth District

Kelly Dooner (R)

3rd Essex District

Brendan Crighton (D)

3rd Middlesex District

Mike Barrett (D)

3rd Suffolk District

Lydia Edwards (D)

4th Middlesex District

Cindy Friedman (D)

5th Middlesex District

Jason Lewis (D)

Democratic Party (35)

Republican Party (5)