Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District

Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District

Incumbent

Richard Neal

Assumed office: January 3, 2013

Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Richard Neal (D).

As of the 2020 Census, Massachusetts representatives represented an average of 781,497 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 728,849 residents.

Elections

2024

See also: Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District election, 2024

Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (September 3 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1

Incumbent Richard Neal defeated Nadia Milleron in the general election for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Neal (D)	62.4	223,325
		Nadia Milleron (Unenrolled)	37.3	133,552
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	1,181

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 358,058
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Anthony Celata (No Party Affiliation)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1

Incumbent Richard Neal advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1 on September 3, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Neal	99.1	56,364
		Other/Write-in votes	0.9	528

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 56,892
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

No Republican candidates ran in the primary.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Chase Walker (R)

2022

See also: Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1

Incumbent Richard Neal defeated Dean James Martilli in the general election for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Neal (D)	61.5	157,635
		Dean James Martilli (R)	38.4	98,386
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	378

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 256,399
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1

Incumbent Richard Neal advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1 on September 6, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Neal	99.2	71,928
		Other/Write-in votes	0.8	606

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 72,534
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1

Dean James Martilli advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1 on September 6, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dean James Martilli	99.2	23,256
		Other/Write-in votes	0.8	194

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 23,450
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Louis Marino (R)

2020

See also: Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1

Incumbent Richard Neal defeated Alex Morse and Frederick Mayock in the general election for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Neal (D)	96.5	275,376
		Alex Morse (D) (Write-in)	0.4	1,274
		Frederick Mayock (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Other/Write-in votes	3.0	8,682

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 285,332
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1

Incumbent Richard Neal defeated Alex Morse in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1 on September 1, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Neal	58.6	84,092
		Alex Morse	41.2	59,110
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	191

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 143,393
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• John Cain (R)

2018

See also: Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1

Incumbent Richard Neal won election in the general election for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Neal (D)	97.6	211,790
		Other/Write-in votes	2.4	5,110

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 216,900
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1

Incumbent Richard Neal defeated Tahirah Amatul-Wadud in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Massachusetts District 1 on September 4, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Neal	70.7	49,696
		Tahirah Amatul-Wadud	29.3	20,565

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 70,261
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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2016

See also: Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Richard Neal (D) defeated Thomas Simmons (L) and Frederick Mayock (I) in the general election on November 8, 2016. No candidate faced a primary opponent in September.

U.S. House, Massachusetts District 1 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Richard Neal Incumbent	73.3%	235,803
	Independent	Frederick Mayock	17.9%	57,504
	Libertarian	Thomas Simmons	8.6%	27,511
	N/A	Write-in	0.2%	721
Total Votes				321,539
Source: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth

2014

See also: Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District elections, 2014

The 1st Congressional District of Massachusetts held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Richard Neal (D) won an uncontested general election.

U.S. House, Massachusetts District 1 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Richard Neal Incumbent	73.8%	167,612
	Write-in	Other	1.5%	3,498
	Blank	None	24.6%	55,965
Total Votes				227,075
Source: Massachusetts Secretary of State Official Results

General election candidates

• Richard Neal - Incumbent a

September 9, 2014, primary results
Democratic Primary

• Richard Neal - Incumbent a

2012

See also: Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District elections, 2012

The 1st Congressional District of Massachusetts held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent John Olver retired which led to 2nd District incumbent Richard Neal (D) winning the 1st District seat in an unopposed race.

U.S. House, Massachusetts District 1 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Richard Neal Incumbent	77.8%	261,936
	N/A	All Others	1.2%	4,197
	N/A	Blank Votes	20.9%	70,422
Total Votes				336,555
Source: Massachusetts Secretary of State "Return of Votes"

2010
On November 2, 2010, John Olver won re-election to the United States House. He defeated William L. Gunn, Jr. (R) and Michael Engel (I) in the general election.

U.S. House, Massachusetts District 1 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	John Olver incumbent	60%	128,011
	Republican	William L. Gunn, Jr.	34.9%	74,418
	Independent	Michael Engel	5.1%	10,880
	N/A	All Others	0%	55
Total Votes				213,364

2008
On November 4, 2008, John Olver won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Nathan A. Bech (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, Massachusetts District 1 General Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	John Olver incumbent	69.7%	215,696
	Republican	Nathan A. Bech	25.9%	80,067
	N/A	Blank/Scattering	0.1%	336
	N/A	All Others	4.4%	13,518
Total Votes				309,617

2006
On November 7, 2006, John Olver won re-election to the United States House. He defeated William H. Szych (Unenrolled) in the general election.

U.S. House, Massachusetts District 1 General Election, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	John Olver incumbent	71.9%	158,057
	Unenrolled	William H. Szych	22.1%	48,574
	N/A	Blank/Scattering	5.9%	13,048
	N/A	Other	0.1%	253
Total Votes				219,932

2004
On November 2, 2004, John Olver won re-election to the United States House. He ran unopposed in the general election.

U.S. House, Massachusetts District 1 General Election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	John Olver incumbent	77.7%	229,465
	N/A	All Others	0.8%	2,282
	N/A	Blank/Scattering	21.5%	63,461
Total Votes				295,208

2002
On November 5, 2002, John Olver won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Matthew W. Kinnaman (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, Massachusetts District 1 General Election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	John Olver incumbent	65%	137,841
	Republican	Matthew W. Kinnaman	31.1%	66,061
	N/A	Other	0.1%	117
	N/A	Blank/Scattering	3.9%	8,197
Total Votes				212,216

2000
On November 7, 2000, John Olver won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Peter J. Abair (R) and Robert L. Potvin (Unenrolled) in the general election.

U.S. House, Massachusetts District 1 General Election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	John Olver incumbent	65.3%	169,375
	Republican	Peter J. Abair	28.4%	73,580
	Unenrolled	Robert L. Potvin	2%	5,157
	N/A	Other	0%	89
	N/A	Blank/Scattering	4.3%	11,099
Total Votes				259,300

Redistricting

2020-2021

See also: Redistricting in Massachusetts after the 2020 census

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed the state’s new congressional maps into law on November 22, 2021. Both chambers of the legislature approved the new maps on November 17, 2021. The state House approved the plan by a vote of 151-8 with 127 Democrats, 23 Republicans, and one independent voting in favor and six Republicans and two Democrats voting against. The state Senate approved the new congressional maps 26-13, with 24 Democrats and two Republicans voting in favor and 12 Democrats and one Republican opposed. In the previous redistricting cycle, Massachusetts adopted its congressional map almost ten years ago to the day—on Nov. 21, 2011. This map took effect for Massachusetts’ 2022 congressional elections.

As Nik DeCosta-Klipa wrote at Boston.com after the legislature approved the maps, "unlike the partisan redistricting fights happening across much of the country, the map has been an argument among Democrats in reliably-blue Massachusetts. While the proposal does not dramatically alter the general contours of the state’s nine Democrat-held House districts...some of the tweaks around the edges have elicited vocal — to some, surprising — outcry." State Sen. Will Brownsberger (D), chair of the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting, said that he was unhappy that some members objected to the new maps. He said, "It’s always my goal to assure that every single senator is satisfied with the results of the redistricting process."

How does redistricting in Massachusetts work? In Massachusetts, congressional and state legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature. The lines drawn by the state legislature are subject to veto by the governor.

State statutes require that state legislative district boundaries be contiguous and "reasonably preserve counties, towns, and cities intact, where otherwise possible." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.

Massachusetts District 1
until January 2, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Massachusetts District 1
starting January 3, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

2010-2011

This is the 1st Congressional District of Massachusetts after the 2001 redistricting process.

See also: Redistricting in Massachusetts after the 2010 census

In 2011, the Massachusetts State Legislature re-drew the congressional districts based on updated population information from the 2010 census.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

2024

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+9. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 9 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Massachusetts' 1st the 135th most Democratic district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have defeated Donald Trump (R) 59.8%-38.2%.

2022

Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+9. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 9 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Massachusetts' 1st the 135th most Democratic district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 59.8% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 38.2%.

2018

Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+12. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 12 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District the 109th most Democratic nationally.

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.22. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.22 points toward that party.

See also

• Redistricting in Massachusetts
• Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District election, 2024
• Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District election, 2022
• Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District election, 2020
• Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District election, 2018

External links

• GovTrack District 1

Footnotes

[show]

Massachusetts' current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Edward Markey (D)

Elizabeth Warren (D)

Representatives

District 1

Richard Neal (D)

District 2

Jim McGovern (D)

District 3

Lori Trahan (D)

District 4

Jake Auchincloss (D)

District 5

Katherine Clark (D)

District 6

Seth Moulton (D)

District 7

Ayanna Pressley (D)

District 8

Stephen Lynch (D)

District 9

Bill Keating (D)

Democratic Party (11)