Massachusetts's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in eastern Massachusetts. The district is represented by Katherine Clark. Massachusetts congressional redistricting after the 2010 census has changed the borders of the district starting with the elections of 2012, with the new 3rd district largely taking the place of the old 5th.[3] The 5th district covers many of the communities represented in the old 7th district. Its current municipalities are Arlington, Ashland, Belmont, parts of Cambridge, Framingham, Holliston, Lexington, Lincoln, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Natick, Revere, Sherborn, Southborough, Stoneham, parts of Sudbury, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Weston, Winchester, Winthrop, and Woburn, which are primarily found in Middlesex as well as Suffolk and Worcester Counties.[4] As of 2010, the population of the 5th congressional district was 727,515. On July 15, 2013, Ed Markey resigned from the seat to become the junior Senator from Massachusetts. On December 10, 2013, Democrat Katherine Clark won a special election to fill the seat for the remainder of the 113th Congress.[5] She was sworn into office on December 12, 2013 and serves as the Assistant Speaker of the United States House of Representatives for the 117th Congress.
Massachusetts's 5th congressional district | |||
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() District boundaries | |||
Representative |
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Population (2021) | 781,372 | ||
Median household income | $115,385[1] | ||
Ethnicity |
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Cook PVI | D+23[2] |
The district has been in Democratic hands without interruption since 1975. Before Paul Tsongas' victory that year, it had only elected three Democrats in its entire existence and had been in Republican hands since 1895.
It was one of the more moderate districts in heavily Democratic Massachusetts before redistricting in 2013. In state races, it supported Republican candidates for Governor William Weld, Paul Celluci, and Mitt Romney. In the 2007 special election to replace Marty Meehan, Republican candidate Jim Ogonowski ran an unexpectedly strong race, ultimately losing 51-45%.
Year | Office | Result |
---|---|---|
2000 | President | Gore 57 - 36% |
2004 | President | Kerry 57 - 41% |
2008 | President | Obama 66 - 32% |
2012 | President | Obama 65 - 33% |
2016 | President | Clinton 69 - 25% |
2020 | President | Biden 72 - 25% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Chester G. Atkins (incumbent) | 110,232 | 49.85 | ||
Republican | John MacGovern | 101,017 | 45.68 | ||
Other | 9,891 | 4.47 | |||
Turnout | 221,140 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Marty Meehan | 133,844 | 52.17 | +2.32 | |
Republican | Paul W. Cronin | 96,206 | 37.50 | -8.18 | |
Independent | Mary Farinelli | 19,077 | 7.44 | +7.44 | |
Independent | David E. Coleman | 7,214 | 2.81 | +2.81 | |
Write-in | 223 | 0.09 | -4.38 | ||
Turnout | 256,564 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing | +2.32 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Marty Meehan (incumbent) | 140,725 | 69.83 | +17.66 | |
Republican | David E. Coleman | 60,734 | 30.14 | -7.36 | |
Write-in | 65 | 0.03 | -0.06 | ||
Turnout | 201,524 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing | +17.66 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Marty Meehan (incumbent) | 183,429 | 99.08 | +29.25 | |
Republican | Unopposed | -30.14 | |||
Write-in | 1,708 | 0.92 | +0.89 | ||
Turnout | 185,137 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing | +29.25 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Marty Meehan (incumbent) | 127,418 | 70.70 | -28.38 | |
Republican | David E. Coleman | 52,725 | 29.25 | +29.25 | |
Write-in | 87 | 0.05 | -0.87 | ||
Turnout | 180,230 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing | -28.38 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Marty Meehan (incumbent) | 199,601 | 98.02 | +27.32 | |
Republican | Unopposed | -29.25 | |||
Write-in | 4,040 | 1.98 | +1.93 | ||
Turnout | 203,641 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing | +27.32 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Marty Meehan (incumbent) | 122,562 | 60.15 | -37.87 | |
Republican | Charles McCarthy | 69,337 | 34.03 | +34.03 | |
Libertarian | Ilana Freedman | 11,729 | 5.76 | +5.76 | |
Write-in | 149 | 0.07 | -1.91 | ||
Turnout | 203,777 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing | -37.87 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Marty Meehan (incumbent) | 179,652 | 66.99 | +6.84 | |
Republican | Thomas Tierney | 88,232 | 32.90 | -1.13 | |
Write-in | 305 | 0.11 | +0.04 | ||
Turnout | 268,189 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing | +6.84 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Marty Meehan (incumbent) | 159,120 | 98.98 | +31.99 | |
Republican | Unopposed | -32.90 | |||
Write-in | 3,152 | 1.02 | +0.91 | ||
Turnout | 216,832 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing | +31.99 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Niki Tsongas | 54,363 | 51.32 | -47.66 | |
Republican | Jim Ogonowski | 47,770 | 45.10 | +45.10 | |
Independent | Patrick Murphy | 2,170 | 2.05 | +2.05 | |
Independent | Kurt Hayes | 1,125 | 1.06 | +1.06 | |
Constitution | Kevin Thompson | 494 | 0.47 | +0.47 | |
Turnout | 105,922 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing | -47.66 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Niki Tsongas (incumbent) | 225,947 | 98.71 | +37.39 | |
Republican | Unopposed | -45.10 | |||
All Others | 2,960 | 1.29 | -2.29 | ||
Turnout | 302,397 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing | +37.39 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Niki Tsongas (incumbent) | 122,858 | 54.84 | -43.87 | |
Republican | Jonathan A. Golnik | 94,646 | 42.25 | +42.25 | |
Independent | Dale E. Brown | 4,387 | 1.96 | +1.96 | |
Independent | Robert M. Clark | 1,991 | 0.89 | +0.89 | |
All Others | 147 | 0.07 | -1.22 | ||
Turnout | 229,647 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing | -43.87 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Ed Markey (incumbent) | 257,490 | 75.5 | |
Republican | Tom Tierney | 82,944 | 24.3 | |
N/A | Write-ins | 675 | 0.2 | |
Total votes | 341,109 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Katherine Clark (Incumbent) | 285,606 | 98.6 | |
N/A | Write-ins | 4,201 | 1.4 | |
Total votes | 289,807 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Katherine Clark (incumbent) | 236,243 | 75.9 | |
Republican | John Hugo | 74,856 | 24.0 | |
Write-in | 225 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 311,324 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Katherine Clark (incumbent) | 294,427 | 74.3 | |
Republican | Caroline Colarusso | 101,351 | 25.6 | |
Write-in | 405 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 396,183 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold |
Member (District home) |
Party | Years ↑ | Cong ress |
Electoral history | District location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() George Partridge (Duxbury) |
Pro-Administration | March 4, 1789 – August 14, 1790 |
1st | Elected in 1788. Resigned. |
1789–1793 Barnstable County and Plymouth County |
Vacant | August 15, 1790 – March 3, 1791 |
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Shearjashub Bourne (Boston) |
Pro-Administration | March 4, 1791 – March 3, 1793 |
2nd | Elected in 1790. Redistricted to the 3rd district. | |
District unused | March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795 |
3rd | |||
Nathaniel Freeman Jr. (Sandwich) |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1799 |
4th 5th |
Elected in 1794. Re-elected in 1796. Retired. |
1795–1803 "1st Southern district" |
Lemuel Williams (New Bedford) |
Federalist | March 4, 1799 – March 3, 1803 |
6th 7th |
Elected in 1799. Re-elected in 1800. Redistricted to the 8th district. | |
Thomas Dwight (Springfield) |
Federalist | March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805 |
8th | Elected in 1802. Retired. |
1803–1823 "Hampshire South district" |
William Ely (Springfield) |
Federalist | March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1815 |
9th 10th 11th 12th 13th |
Elected in 1804. Re-elected in 1806. Re-elected in 1808. Re-elected in 1810. Re-elected in 1812. Retired. | |
![]() Elijah H. Mills (Northampton) |
Federalist | March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1819 |
14th 15th |
Elected in 1814. Re-elected in 1816. Lost re-election. | |
Samuel Lathrop (West Springfield) |
Federalist | March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1823 |
16th 17th |
Elected in 1819 on the second ballot. Re-elected in 1820. Redistricted to the 8th district. | |
Jonas Sibley (Sutton) |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 |
18th | Elected in 1823 on the second ballot. Lost re-election. |
1823–1833 "Worcester South district" |
![]() John Davis (Worcester) |
Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – January 14, 1834 |
19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd |
Elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1826. Re-elected in 1828. Re-elected in 1830. Re-elected in 1833. Resigned to become Governor of Massachusetts. | |
1833–1843 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
Vacant | January 15, 1834 – February 16, 1834 |
23rd | |||
![]() Levi Lincoln Jr. (Worcester) |
Anti-Jacksonian | February 17, 1834 – March 3, 1837 |
23rd 24th 25th 26th |
Elected to finish Davis's term. Re-elected later in 1834. Re-elected in 1836. Re-elected in 1838. Re-elected in 1840. Resigned to become Collector of the Port of Boston. | |
Whig | March 4, 1837 – March 16, 1841 | ||||
Vacant | March 17, 1841 – May 2, 1841 |
27th | |||
![]() Charles Hudson (Westminster) |
Whig | May 3, 1841 – March 3, 1849 |
27th 28th 29th 30th |
Elected to finish Lincoln's term. Re-elected late in 1843. Re-elected in 1844. Re-elected in 1846. Lost re-election. | |
1843–1853 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
![]() Charles Allen (Worcester) |
Free Soil | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853 |
31st 32nd |
Elected late in 1849.[11] Re-elected late in 1851.[12] Retired. | |
![]() William Appleton (Boston) |
Whig | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 |
33rd | Redistricted from the 1st district and re-elected in 1852. Lost re-election. |
1853–1863 [data unknown/missing] |
![]() Anson Burlingame (Boston) |
American | March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857 |
34th 35th 36th |
Elected in 1854. Re-elected in 1856. Re-elected in 1858. Lost re-election. | |
Republican | March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861 | ||||
![]() William Appleton (Boston) |
Constitutional Unionist | March 4, 1861 – September 27, 1861 |
37th | Elected in 1860. Resigned because of failing health. | |
Vacant | September 28, 1861 – December 1, 1861 |
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![]() Samuel Hooper[13] (Boston) |
Republican | December 2, 1861 – March 3, 1863 |
Elected to finish Appleton's term. Redistricted to the 4th district. | ||
![]() John B. Alley (Lynn) |
Republican | March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1867 |
38th 39th |
Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864. [data unknown/missing] |
1863–1873 [data unknown/missing] |
![]() Benjamin F. Butler[14] (Lowell) |
Republican | March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1873 |
40th 41st 42nd |
Elected in 1866. Re-elected in 1868. Re-elected in 1870. Redistricted to the 6th district. | |
![]() Daniel W. Gooch (Melrose) |
Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 |
43rd | Elected in 1872. Lost re-election. |
1873–1883 [data unknown/missing] |
![]() Nathaniel P. Banks[15] (Waltham) |
Independent | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 |
44th 45th |
Elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Lost renomination. | |
Republican | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879 | ||||
![]() Selwyn Z. Bowman[16] (Somerville) |
Republican | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1883 |
46th 47th |
Elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Lost re-election. | |
![]() Leopold Morse (Boston) |
Democratic | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 |
48th | Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1882. Retired. |
1883–1893 [data unknown/missing] |
![]() Edward D. Hayden (Woburn) |
Republican | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889 |
49th 50th |
Elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Retired. | |
![]() Nathaniel P. Banks (Waltham) |
Republican | March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1891 |
51st | Elected in 1888. Retired. | |
![]() Sherman Hoar (Concord) |
Democratic | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 |
52nd | Elected in 1890. Declined renomination. | |
![]() Moses T. Stevens (North Andover) |
Democratic | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 |
53rd | Redistricted from the 8th district and re-elected in 1892. [data unknown/missing] |
1893–1903 [data unknown/missing] |
![]() William S. Knox[17] (Lawrence) |
Republican | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1903 |
54th 55th 56th 57th |
Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Retired. | |
![]() Butler Ames[18] (Lowell) |
Republican | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1913 |
58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd |
Elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Retired. |
1903–1913 [data unknown/missing] |
![]() John Jacob Rogers (Lowell) |
Republican | March 4, 1913 – March 28, 1925 |
63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th |
Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Died. |
1913–1933 [data unknown/missing] |
Vacant | March 28, 1925 – June 30, 1925 |
69th | |||
![]() Edith Nourse Rogers[19] (Lowell) |
Republican | June 30, 1925 – September 10, 1960 |
69th 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th |
Elected to finish her husband's term. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Died. | |
1933–1943 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
1943–1953 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
1953–1963 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
Vacant | September 10, 1960 – January 3, 1961 |
86th | |||
![]() F. Bradford Morse[20] (Lowell) |
Republican | January 3, 1961 – May 1, 1972 |
87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd |
Elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Resigned to become U.N. Under Secretary General for Political and General Assembly Affairs. | |
1963–1973 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
Vacant | May 1, 1972 – January 3, 1973 |
92nd | |||
![]() Paul W. Cronin (Andover) |
Republican | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975 |
93rd | Elected in 1972. Lost re-election. |
1973–1983 [data unknown/missing] |
![]() Paul Tsongas (Lowell) |
Democratic | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1979 |
94th 95th |
Elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | |
![]() James Shannon (Lawrence) |
Democratic | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983 |
96th 97th 98th |
Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | |
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1985 |
1983–1993 [data unknown/missing] | ||||
![]() Chester G. Atkins[21] (Concord) |
Democratic | January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1993 |
99th 100th 101st 102nd |
Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Lost renomination. | |
![]() Marty Meehan (Lowell) |
Democratic | January 3, 1993 – July 1, 2007 |
103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th |
Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Resigned to become Chancellor of University of Massachusetts Lowell. |
1993–2003 [data unknown/missing] |
2003–2013 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
Vacant | July 1, 2007 – October 16, 2007 |
110th | |||
![]() Niki Tsongas (Lowell) |
Democratic | October 16, 2007 – January 3, 2013 |
110th 111th 112th |
Elected to finish Meehan's term. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Redistricted to the 3rd district. | |
![]() Ed Markey (Malden) |
Democratic | January 3, 2013 – July 15, 2013 |
113th | Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 2012. Resigned when elected U.S. senator. |
2013–present [data unknown/missing] |
Vacant | July 15, 2013 – December 10, 2013 |
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![]() Katherine Clark (Revere) |
Democratic | December 10, 2013 – Present |
113th 114th 115th 116th 117th |
Elected to finish Markey's term. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. | |
Member (District home) |
Party | Years ↑ | Cong ress |
Electoral history | District location |
Massachusetts's congressional districts | |
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