Massachusetts's 4th congressional district

"MA-4" redirects here. MA-4 may also refer to Mercury-Atlas 4, a test flight of Project Mercury.

Massachusetts's 4th congressional district
Current Representative		Joseph P. Kennedy III (D–Brookline)
Cook PVI	D+11

Massachusetts's 4th congressional district is mostly in southern Massachusetts and includes the South Coast region. It is represented by Joseph P. Kennedy III.

The district covers much of the area included in the 10th district before the 1982 redistricting. In prior years, the district stretched from Brookline to Fitchburg. The shape of the district underwent some changes effective from the elections of 2012, after Massachusetts congressional redistricting to reflect the 2010 census. Most of Plymouth County and the South Coast are included in the new 9th district. The new 4th district has expanded westward to include towns along the Rhode Island border that had been in the old 3rd district.

For a very brief time (1793-95) it served the District of Maine.

Cities and towns currently in the district

In Bristol County:

Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Easton, Fall River: Ward 4, Precinct C; Ward 5, Precinct B1 and C; Ward 6, Precinct C1; and Wards 7, 8, and 9, Freetown, Mansfield, North Attleboro, Norton, Raynham: Precincts 1A, 2A, 3, and 4, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, and Taunton.

In Middlesex County:

Sherborn, and Newton.

In Norfolk County:

Bellingham: Precincts 1, 2, 3, and 4, Brookline, Dover, Foxborough, Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Needham, Norfolk, Plainville, Sharon, Wellesley, and Wrentham.

In Plymouth County:

Lakeville.

In Worcester County:

Hopedale, and Milford.

Cities and towns in the district from 2003 to 2013

The district from 2003 to 2013

In Bristol County:

Acushnet, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Fairhaven, Fall River: Ward 4, Precinct C; Ward 5, Precinct C; Ward 6, Precinct A; Ward 7; Ward 8, Precincts A-C; Ward 9, Freetown, Mansfield, New Bedford, Norton, Raynham, Taunton, Westport.

In Middlesex County:

Newton, Sherborn.

In Norfolk County:

Brookline, Dover, Foxborough, Millis, Norfolk, Sharon, Wellesley.

In Plymouth County:

Halifax, Lakeville, Marion, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Rochester, Wareham.

Representatives

Representative	Party	Years	District home	Electoral history
Theodore Sedgwick	Pro- Administration	March 4, 1789 – March 4, 1793	Stockbridge	First elected in 1789 Redistricted to the 2nd district
Henry Dearborn	Anti- Administration	March 4, 1793 – March 4, 1795 (General ticket)	Gardiner, Maine	First elected in 1792 Redistricted to the 12th district
Peleg Wadsworth	Pro- Administration		Portland, Maine	First elected in 1792 Redistricted to the 13th district
George Thatcher	Pro- Administration		Biddeford, Maine	Redistricted from the 8th district Redistricted to the 14th district
Dwight Foster	Federalist	March 4, 1795 – June 6, 1800	Brookfield	Redistricted from the 2nd district Resigned
Vacant		June 6, 1800 – December 15, 1800
Levi Lincoln, Sr.	Democratic- Republican	December 15, 1800 – March 5, 1801		First elected to finish Foster's term Resigned to become U.S. Attorney General
Vacant		March 5, 1801 – August 24, 1801
Seth Hastings	Federalist	August 24, 1801 – March 4, 1803	Mendon	Elected to finish Lincoln's term Redistricted to the 10th district
Joseph Bradley Varnum	Democratic- Republican	March 4, 1803 – June 29, 1811	Dracut	Redistricted from the 9th district Resigned on election to U.S. Senate
Vacant		June 29, 1811 – November 4, 1811
William M. Richardson	Democratic- Republican	November 4, 1811 – April 18, 1814	Groton	First elected to finish Varnum's term Resigned to become U.S. Attorney
Vacant		April 18, 1814 – September 22, 1814
Samuel Dana	Democratic- Republican	September 22, 1814 – March 4, 1815	Groton	Elected to finish Richardson's term Lost re-election
Asahel Stearns	Federalist	March 4, 1815 – March 4, 1817	Charlestown	First elected in 1814 [Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
Timothy Fuller	Democratic- Republican	March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1823		First elected in 1816 [Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
	Adams-Clay Republican	March 4, 1823 – March 4, 1825
Edward Everett	Adams	March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829		First elected in 1824 Retired
Anti- Jackson	March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1835
Samuel Hoar	Anti- Jackson	March 4, 1835 – March 4, 1837	Concord	Elected in 1834 Lost re-election
William Parmenter	Democratic	March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1845	Cambridge	First elected in 1836 [Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
Benjamin Thompson	Whig	March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1847	Charlestown	Elected in 1844 Retired
John G. Palfrey	Whig	March 4, 1847 – March 4, 1849		Elected in 1846 Lost re-election
Vacant		March 4, 1849 – March 4, 1851
Benjamin Thompson	Whig	March 4, 1851 – September 24, 1852	Charlestown	Elected in 1850 Died
Vacant		September 25, 1852 – December 12, 1852
Lorenzo Sabine	Whig	December 13, 1852 – March 4, 1853	Framingham	Elected to finish Thompson's term Retired
Samuel H. Walley	Whig	March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1855		Elected in 1852 Lost re-election
Linus B. Comins	Know Nothing	March 4, 1855 – March 4, 1857	Roxbury	First elected in 1854 [Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
	Republican	March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1859
Alexander H. Rice	Republican	March 4, 1861 – March 4, 1863	Boston	First elected in 1860 Redistricted to the 3rd district
Samuel Hooper	Republican	March 4, 1863 – February 14, 1875		Redistricted from the 5th district Retired, but died before retirement
Vacant		February 15, 1875 – March 4, 1875
Rufus S. Frost	Republican	March 4, 1875 – July 28, 1876	Chelsea	Elected in 1874 Election challenged by successor
Josiah G. Abbott	Democratic	July 28, 1876 – March 4, 1877		Successfully challenged predecessor Lost re-election
Leopold Morse	Democratic	March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1883	Boston	First elected in 1876 Redistricted to 5th district
Patrick A. Collins	Democratic	March 4, 1883 – March 4, 1889	Boston	First elected in 1882 Retired
Joseph H. O'Neil	Democratic	March 4, 1889 – March 4, 1893	Boston	First elected in 1888 Redistricted to the 9th district
Lewis D. Apsley	Republican	March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897	Hudson	First elected in 1892 Retired
George W. Weymouth	Republican	March 4, 1897 – March 4, 1901	Fitchburg	First elected in 1896 Retired
Charles Q. Tirrell	Republican	March 4, 1901 – July 31, 1910	Natick	First elected in 1900 Died
Vacant		August 1, 1910 – November 7, 1910
John Joseph Mitchell	Democratic	November 8, 1910 – March 4, 1911	Marlborough	Elected to finish Tirrell's term Lost re-election
William H. Wilder	Republican	March 4, 1911 – March 4, 1913	Gardner	First elected in 1910 Redistricted to the 3rd district
Samuel Winslow	Republican	March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1925	Worcester	First elected in 1912 Retired
George R. Stobbs	Republican	March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1931	Worcester	First elected in 1924 Retired
Pehr G. Holmes	Republican	March 4, 1931 – January 3, 1947	Worcester	First elected in 1930 Lost re-election
Harold Donohue	Democratic	January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1973	Worcester	First elected in 1946 Redistricted to the 3rd district
Robert Drinan	Democratic	January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1981	Newton	Redistricted from the 3rd district Retired after Pope John Paul II ordered all priests to withdraw from electoral politics
Barney Frank	Democratic	January 3, 1981 – January 3, 2013	Newton	First elected in 1980 Retired in 2012
Joseph P. Kennedy III	Democratic	January 3, 2013 – Present	Brookline	First elected in 2012 Incumbent

Election results

2002

U.S. House election, 2002: Massachusetts, District 4
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Barney Frank	166,125	98.99	+ 24.09
	Write-in		1,691	1.01	+0.96
Turnout			167,816	100	-

2004

U.S. House election, 2004: Massachusetts, District 4
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Barney Frank	219,260	77.74	-21.25
	Independent	Chuck Morse	62,293	22.09	+ 22.09
	Write-in		486	0.17	- 0.84
Turnout			282,039	100	-

2006

U.S. House election, 2006: Massachusetts, District 4
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Barney Frank	176,513	98.48	+20.74
	Write-in		2730	1.52	+1.35
Turnout			179,243	100	-

2008

U.S. House election, 2008: Massachusetts, District 4
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Barney Frank	203,032	64.3	-34.18
	Republican	Earl Henry Sholley	75,571	23.9	+23.9
	Independent	Susan Allen	19,848	6.29	+6.29
	Write-in		337	0.11	-1.41
	Blank/Scattering		16,946	5.37	+5.37
Turnout			315,734	100	-

2010

U.S. House election, 2010: Massachusetts, District 4
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Barney Frank	126,194	53.9	-10.4
	Republican	Sean Bielat	101,517	43.4	+19.5
	Independent	Susan Allen	3,445	1.5	-4.79
	Independent	Donald Jordan	2,873	1.2	+1.2
Turnout			234,029	100	-

2012

U.S. House election, 2012: Massachusetts, District 4
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Joseph P. Kennedy III	219,499	61.1	+7.2
	Republican	Sean Bielat	129,243	36.0	-7.4
	Independent	David Rosa	10,674	2.9	+0.2
Turnout			356,416	100	-

References

• Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 
• Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 
• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

External links

Maps

• Map of Massachusetts's 4th Congressional District, via Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth

Election results

• CNN.com 2004 election results
• CNN.com 2006 election results
• US House of Representatives Clerk's Office, 2006 election results
• US House of Representatives Clerk's Office, 2008 election results
• Massachusetts U.S. Congress 2010 Election Results