# 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts

The 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts were held on November 2, 2010, to determine who would represent the state of Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives. Massachusetts has ten seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 112th Congress from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013. All current representatives are member of the Democratic Party and none of the ten faced major party opposition in 2008.

## Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– |
| | Democratic | 1,335,738 | 60.05% | 10 | — |
| | Republican | 808,305 | 36.34% | 0 | — |
| | Independents | 80,212 | 3.61% | 0 | — |
| Totals | Totals | 2,224,255 | 100.00% | 10 | — |

### By district

Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts by district:
| District | Democratic | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Others | Others | Total | Total | Result |
| District | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Result |
| District 1 | 128,011 | 60.00% | 74,418 | 34.88% | 10,935 | 5.12% | 213,364 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 2 | 122,751 | 57.33% | 91,209 | 42.60% | 164 | 1.80% | 214,124 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 3 | 122,708 | 56.46% | 85,124 | 39.16% | 9,520 | 4.38% | 217,352 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 4 | 126,194 | 53.90% | 101,517 | 43.36% | 6,416 | 2.74% | 234,127 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 5 | 122,858 | 54.84% | 94,646 | 42.25% | 6,525 | 2.91% | 224,029 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 6 | 142,732 | 56.85% | 107,930 | 42.99% | 419 | 0.17% | 251,081 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 7 | 145,696 | 66.42% | 73,467 | 33.49% | 194 | 0.09% | 219,357 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 8 | 134,974 | 98.05% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,686 | 1.95% | 137,660 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 9 | 157,071 | 68.30% | 59,965 | 26.08% | 12,928 | 5.62% | 229,964 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 10 | 132,743 | 46.87% | 120,029 | 42.38% | 30,425 | 10.74% | 283,197 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| Total | 1,335,738 | 60.05% | 808,305 | 36.34% | 80,212 | 3.61% | 2,224,255 | 100.0% | |
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vte :

## District 1

Massachusetts's 1st congressional district covers roughly the northwest half of the state. It has been represented by Democrat John Olver since June 1991.
Massachusetts's 1st congressional district election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Olver (incumbent) | 127,474 | 60.1 |
| | Republican | Bill Gunn | 73,952 | 34.8 |
| | Independent | Michael Engel | 10,841 | 5.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 212,267 | 100 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |

## District 2

Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district lies in the south-central part of the state. It has been represented by Democrat Richard Neal since 1989.
The Republican Party nominee is Tom Wesley, who defeated Jay Fleitman in the September primary. Democrat Neal has not faced a Republican challenger since 1996.
Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard Neal (incumbent) | 122,547 | 57.3 |
| | Republican | Tom Wesley | 91,181 | 42.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 213,728 | 100 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |

## District 3

Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district lies in the central and southeastern part of the state. It has been represented by Democrat Jim McGovern since 1997.
Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim McGovern (incumbent) | 122,357 | 56.5 |
| | Republican | Marty Lamb | 84,972 | 39.2 |
| | Independent | Patrick Barron | 9,304 | 4.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 216,633 | 100 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |

## District 4

Massachusetts's 4th congressional district lies in the southern part of the state, including the South Coast region. It has been represented by Democrat Barney Frank since 1981. CQ Politics had forecast the race as 'Safe Democrat'. Rachel Brown, famous for comparing health care reform to a Nazi in front of Frank during a 2009 Town Hall meeting, ran unsuccessfully against Frank in the Democratic primary, losing 39,974 to 10,289. Sean Bielat, a technology executive from Brookline, won the Republican primary to challenge Frank, defeating Earl Sholley, the Republican Nominee from Norfolk in 2008, by a vote of 11,797 to 7,782.

### Polling

| Poll Source | Dates administered | Barney Frank (D) | Sean Bielat (R) | Undecided |
| Boston Globe/UNH | October 17–22, 2010 | 46% | 33% | - |
| WPRI/Fleming | October 14–17, 2010 | 49% | 37% | 12% |
| Kiley & Co. | October 13–14, 2010 | 56% | 37% | - |
| OnMessage Inc. | September 15–16, 2010 | 48% | 38% | - |
Massachusetts's 4th congressional district election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Barney Frank (incumbent) | 125,823 | 53.9 |
| | Republican | Sean Bielat | 101,315 | 43.4 |
| | Independent | Susan Allen | 3,430 | 1.5 |
| | Independent | Donald Jordan | 2,871 | 1.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 233,439 | 100 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |

## District 5

Massachusetts's 5th congressional district lies in the north-east part of the state. It has been represented by Democrat Niki Tsongas since she won a special election on October 16, 2007, upon the resignation of Marty Meehan (D).
Massachusetts's 5th congressional district election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Niki Tsongas (incumbent) | 122,676 | 54.9 |
| | Republican | Jon Golnik | 94,501 | 42.3 |
| | Independent | Dale Brown | 4,376 | 2.0 |
| | Independent | Bob Clark | 1,986 | 0.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 223,539 | 100 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |

## District 6

Massachusetts's 6th congressional district covers the north-east corner of the state. At the time of the election it had been represented by Democrat John F. Tierney since 1997.
Massachusetts's 6th congressional district election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John F. Tierney (incumbent) | 142,456 | 56.9 |
| | Republican | Bill Hudak | 107,739 | 43.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 250,195 | 100 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |

## District 7

Massachusetts's 7th congressional district lies in the eastern part of the state, including some Boston suburbs. It has been represented by Democrat Edward J. Markey since 1976.
Massachusetts's 7th congressional district election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edward J. Markey (incumbent) | 141,364 | 65.9 |
| | Republican | Gerry Dembrowski | 73,006 | 34.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 214,370 | 100 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |

## District 8

Massachusetts's 8th congressional district lies in the eastern part of the state, including part of Boston and the immediately adjacent cities of Cambridge, Somerville, and Chelsea. It has been represented by Democrat Mike Capuano since 1999. Capuano ran unopposed.

## District 9

Massachusetts's 9th congressional district lies in the eastern part of the state, including part of Boston and some of its southern suburbs. It has been represented by Democrat Stephen Lynch since October 2001. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
In response to Lynch's vote against health care reform, Needham selectwoman Harmony Wu announced she was considering a run against Lynch in the Democratic Primary, but announced on April 7, 2010, that she decided not to run. On April 22 Mac D'Alessandro, the New England political director of SEIU, announced his intention to challenge Lynch. Polling has indicated that Lynch is vulnerable to such a challenge.
Massachusetts's 9th congressional district election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Stephen Lynch (incumbent) | 156,079 | 68.1 |
| | Republican | Vemon Harrison | 60,120 | 26.2 |
| | Independent | Philip Dunkelbarger | 12,833 | 5.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 229,032 | 100 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |

## District 10

This was an open seat. Candidates were Democratic nominee William R. Keating, Republican nominee Jeff Perry, and Independents Maryanne Lewis and Jim Sheets.
Massachusetts's 10th congressional district covers the south-east part of the state, including parts of the South Shore and all of Cape Cod and The Islands. Democrat Bill Delahunt, who has represented the seat since 1997, announced in March 2010 that he did not plan to run for re-election. The Boston Globe, on April 30, 2010, reported that Democratic State Senator Robert O'Leary would announce his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the seat on the day following. Joseph P. Kennedy III was considered a likely Democratic contender, but he chose not to run. It was reported in the Boston Globe, that District Attorney of Norfolk County William R. Keating also sought the Democratic nomination for the seat.
Republican Joe Malone, who ran against Ted Kennedy in 1988 and served as state treasurer from 1991 to 1999, unsuccessfully ran for the seat. Republican State Representative Jeff Perry also ran. Despite a movement to draft him into running, Republican State Senator Bob Hedlund decided not to enter this race. Ray Kasperowicz of Cohasset had also filed to run as a Republican, but also lost in the primary.
Malone received a donation from US-Cuba Democracy PAC. Perry received donations from the Sandwich and Nantucket Republican Town Committees, the Cape Cod Republican Club, as well as other PACs such as the committee to Elect Greer Swiston and the Cummings Committee.

### Polling

| Poll Source | Dates administered | Bill Keating (D) | Jeff Perry (R) | Undecided |
| Boston Globe/UNH | October 17–22, 2010 | 37% | 33% | 23% |
| NMB Research | October 20–21, 2010 | 43% | 45% | - |
| MassINC Polling Group | October 13–15, 2010 | 46% | 43% | 4% |
| NMB Research | October 6–7, 2010 | 42% | 44% | - |
Massachusetts's 10th congressional district election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | William R. Keating | 132,582 | 46.9 |
| | Republican | Jeff Perry | 119,820 | 42.4 |
| | Independent | Maryanne Lewis | 16,673 | 5.9 |
| | Independent | Jim Sheets | 10,438 | 3.7 |
| | Bring Home Troops | Joe Van Nes | 3,075 | 1.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 282,588 | 100 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |

## Campaign financing

District 1
Fundraising totals for Olver and Gunn are as of October 13, 2010. Totals for Engel are as of September 30. Source: Federal Election Commission
| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
| John Olver (D) | $819,402 | $842,892 | $79,980 | $0 |
| Bill Gunn (R) | $39,731 | $24,203 | $15,528 | $0 |
| Michael Engel (I) | $18,295 | $3,640 | $14,654 | $0 |
District 2
As of October 13, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission
| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
| Richard Neal (D) | $2,131,010 | $1,937,756 | $2,400,446 | $0 |
| Tom Wesley (R) | $123,203 | $86,455 | $1,660 | $0 |
District 3
As of October 13, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission
| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
| Jim McGovern (D) | $1,591,426 | $1,570,083 | $353,622 | $0 |
| Marty Lamb (R) | $98,331 | $60,089 | $38,242 | $27,200 |
District 4
As of October 13, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission
| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
| Barney Frank (D) | $3,001,877 | $2,525,757 | $649,561 | $0 |
| Sean Bielat (R) | $1,297,433 | $834,520 | $462,914 | $0 |
District 5
As of October 15, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission
| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
| Niki Tsongas (D) | $1,703,083 | $1,197,751 | $520,827 | $27,100 |
| Jon Golnik (R) | $300,652 | $232,044 | $68,608 | $105,000 |
| Dale Brown (I) | $3,459 | $3,515 | $-57 | $1,500 |
District 6
As of October 13, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission
| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
| John F. Tierney (D) | $766,196 | $611,356 | $1,437,451 | $0 |
| Bill Hudak (R) | $723,614 | $628,743 | $94,871 | $19,923 |
District 7
Totals for Markey are as of October 13; totals for Dembrowski are as of October September 30. Source: Federal Election Commission
| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
| Edward J. Markey (D) | $1,424,700 | $951,075 | $3,299,910 | $0 |
| Gerry Dembrowski (R) | $22,455 | $18,723 | $3,732 | $0 |
District 8
As of October 13, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission
| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
| Mike Capuano (D) | $822,047 | $1,894,452 | $91,474 | $48,250 |
| Frederick Golder (R) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
District 9
As of October 13, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission
| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
| Stephen Lynch (D) | $844,965 | $1,391,385 | $755,272 | $0 |
| Vernon McKinley Harrison (R) | $5,305 | $6,383 | $-1,078 | $2,207 |
District 10
As of October 13, 2010. Source: Federal Election Commission
| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
| William R. Keating (D) | $1,169,722 | $945,441 | $224,281 | $420 |
| Jeff Perry (R) | $948,634 | $714,930 | $233,703 | $0 |
| Maryanne Lewis (I) | $59,914 | $50,516 | $9,398 | $0 |
| Jim Sheets (I) | $47,940 | $34,437 | $13,502 | $0 |