Closest U.S. Senate elections in Massachusetts
The closest U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts history was in 1920, a margin of 0.84 points. Henry C. Lodge beat William A. Gatson, 414,130 to 406,776. Next closest are 1954 (1.5 points) and 1924 (1.6 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Massachusetts has held, special elections included, see the Massachusetts U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Massachusetts history?
The Massachusetts Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1920, 0.84 points. Henry C. Lodge beat William A. Gatson, 414,130 to 406,776. The next closest were 1954 (1.5 points) and 1924 (1.6 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for Massachusetts’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Massachusetts Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first Massachusetts election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1920 | Henry C. Lodge R def. William A. Gatson D | 414,130 – 406,776 | 0.84 points |
| 2 | 1954 | Leverett Saltonstall R def. Foster Furcolo D | 956,605 – 927,899 | 1.5 points |
| 3 | 1924 | Frederick H. Gillett R def. David I. Walsh D | 566,188 – 547,600 | 1.6 points |
| 4 | 1952 | John F. Kennedy D def. Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. R | 1,211,984 – 1,141,247 | 3.0 points |
| 5 | 1918 | David I. Walsh D def. John W. Weeks R | 207,478 – 188,287 | 4.6 points |
| 6 | 1942 | Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. R def. Joseph E. Casey D | 721,239 – 641,042 | 5.8 points |
| 7 | 1916 | Henry C. Lodge R def. John F. Fitzgerald D | 267,177 – 234,238 | 6.4 points |
| 8 | 1948 | Leverett Saltonstall R def. John F. Fitzgerald D | 1,088,475 – 954,398 | 6.5 points |
| 9 | 1996 | John Kerry D def. Bill Weld R | 1,334,135 – 1,143,120 | 7.5 points |
| 10 | 2012 | Elizabeth Ann Warren D def. Scott P. Brown R | 1,696,346 – 1,458,048 | 7.5 points |
| 11 | 1936 | Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. R def. James M. Curley D | 875,160 – 739,751 | 7.5 points |
| 12 | 1928 | David I. Walsh D def. Benjamin L. Young R | 818,055 – 693,563 | 8.2 points |
| 13 | 1930 | Marcus A. Coolidge D def. William M. Butler R | 651,939 – 539,226 | 9.3 points |
| 14 | 1984 | John Kerry D def. Raymond Shamie R | 1,393,150 – 1,136,913 | 10.1 points |
| 15 | 1978 | Paul E. Tsongas D def. Edward W. Brooke R | 1,093,283 – 890,584 | 10.2 points |
| 16 | 1960 | Leverett Saltonstall R def. Thomas J. O'Connor D | 1,358,556 – 1,050,725 | 12.7 points |
| 17 | 1940 | David I. Walsh D def. Henry Parkman R | 1,088,838 – 838,122 | 12.8 points |
| 18 | 1990 | John Kerry D def. Jim Rappaport R | 1,321,712 – 992,917 | 13.6 points |
| 19 | 1994 | Edward M. Kennedy D def. Mitt Romney R | 1,265,997 – 894,000 | 17.1 points |
| 20 | 2024 | Elizabeth Ann Warren D def. John Deaton R | 2,041,668 – 1,365,440 | 19.3 points |
| 21 | 1946 | Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. R def. David I. Walsh D | 989,736 – 660,200 | 19.8 points |
| 22 | 1966 | Edward W. Brooke R def. Endicott Peabody D | 1,213,473 – 774,761 | 21.9 points |
| 23 | 1934 | David I. Walsh D def. Robert M. Washburn R | 852,776 – 536,692 | 22.0 points |
| 24 | 1982 | Edward M. Kennedy D def. Raymond Shamie R | 1,247,084 – 784,602 | 22.6 points |
| 25 | 2014 | Edward J. Markey D def. Brian J. Herr R | 1,289,944 – 791,950 | 22.8 points |