List of United States senators from Massachusetts

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Current delegation
Warren
Elizabeth Warren (D)
Markey
Ed Markey (D)

Below is a chronological listing of the United States senators from Massachusetts. According to the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution adopted in 1913, U.S. senators are popularly elected for a six-year term. Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms begin on January 3, about two months after the vote. Before 1914 and the enforcement of the Seventeenth Amendment, the state's U.S. senators were chosen by the Massachusetts General Court, and before 1935, their terms began March 4. The current senators are Democrats Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.

Mid-term vacancy appointment processes

Through the 20th century, mid-term vacancies were filled with the Governor's appointee, with the appointment expiring at the next biennial state election. In 2004, the Democratic-controlled state legislature changed the vacancy-filling process, mandating that a special election occur, which removed the Governor's appointment power. This statute was enacted over the veto by the governor, Mitt Romney. The leadership of the Massachusetts legislature at the time was concerned that the Republican governor Mitt Romney would appoint a Republican if Democratic Senator John Kerry were elected President of the United States in the 2004 election.[1][2][3][4] Generally, the law requires a special election within 145 to 160 days from the date of the filing of a Senate resignation. The law contemplates resignations that become effective some period of time after the filing of the resignation, so long as the election occurs after effective date of the resignation.[5]

While terminally ill with brain cancer, Ted Kennedy requested that the Massachusetts legislature change the law to allow an interim appointment. Kennedy died shortly thereafter, and the legislature quickly passed a bill providing for an interim appointment.[6] On September 24, 2009, Governor Patrick signed the bill and appointed Paul G. Kirk, who had previously served as one of Kennedy's congressional aides and as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

List of senators

Class 1

Class 1 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that were elected for only one Congress in the first elections of 1788/1789, and the seat was contested again for the 2nd, 5th, and every three Congresses (six years) thereafter. The seat in recent years has been contested in 2006, 2012, and 2018, with a special election in 2010. The next election will be in 2024.

C

Class 2

Class 2 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that were elected for the first two United States Congresses in the first election of 1788/1789, and the seat was next contested again for the 3rd, 6th, and every three Congresses (six years) thereafter. The seat in recent years has been contested in 2002, 2008, and 2014, with a special election taking place in 2013. The next election will be in 2020.

# Senator Party Dates in office Electoral history T T Electoral history Dates in office Party Senator #
1
Tristram Dalton 		Pro-
Admin. 		March 4, 1789 –
March 3, 1791 		Elected in 1788.

Lost re-election. 		1 1st 1 Elected in 1788. March 4, 1789 –
June 1, 1796 		Pro-
Admin.
Caleb Strong 		1
2
George Cabot 		Pro-
Admin. 		March 4, 1791 –
June 9, 1796 		Elected in 1790.

Resigned. 		2 2nd
3rd 2 Re-elected in 1793.

Resigned.
Federalist 4th Federalist
Vacant June 9, 1796 –
June 11, 1796 		Vacant Vacant June 1, 1796 –
June 11, 1796 		Vacant
3
Benjamin Goodhue 		Federalist June 11, 1796 –
November 8, 1800 		Elected to finish Cabot's term. Elected to finish Strong's term.

Retired to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. 		June 11, 1796 –
March 3, 1799 		Federalist
Theodore Sedgwick 		2
Also elected to full term in 1796.

Resigned. 		3 5th
6th 3 Elected June 14, 1798.[7]

Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of War. 		March 4, 1799 –
May 30, 1800 		Federalist
Samuel Dexter 		3
Vacant May 31, 1800 –
June 5, 1800 		Vacant
Elected to finish Dexter's term.[8]

Resigned. 		June 6, 1800 –
March 2, 1803 		Federalist
Dwight Foster 		4
Vacant November 8, 1800 –
November 14, 1800 		Vacant
4
Jonathan Mason 		Federalist November 14, 1800 –
March 3, 1803 		Elected to finish Goodhue's term.
7th
Vacant March 2, 1803 –
March 3, 1803 		Vacant
5
John Quincy Adams 		Federalist March 4, 1803 –
June 8, 1808 		Elected February 7, 1803.[9]

Resigned, having broken with the Federalist Party and lost re-election to the next term. 		4 8th Elected to finish Foster's term. March 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1811 		Federalist
Timothy Pickering 		5
9th 4 Re-elected February 6, 1805.[10]

Lost re-election.
10th
6
James Lloyd 		Federalist June 9, 1808 –
May 1, 1813 		Elected to finish Adams's term, having already been elected to the next term.
Elected June 2, 1808.[11]

Resigned. 		5 11th
12th 5 The State Senate deadlocked in the 1810 election. March 4, 1811 –
June 28, 1811 		Vacant
Elected June 6, 1811 to finish the vacant term.

Unknown if retired or lost re-election. 		June 29, 1811 –
March 3, 1817 		Democratic-
Republican
Joseph Bradley Varnum 		6
13th
Vacant May 1, 1813 –
May 5, 1813 		Vacant
7
Christopher Gore 		Federalist May 5, 1813 –
May 30, 1816 		Appointed to finish Lloyd's term.
Elected to full term in 1815.

Resigned, unhappy with the politics of Washington and suffering from poor health. 		6 14th
Vacant May 31, 1816 –
June 11, 1816 		Vacant
8 Eli P. Ashmun Federalist June 12, 1816 –
May 10, 1818 		Elected to finish Gore's term.

Resigned.
15th 6 Elected June 12, 1816.

Resigned to run for Mayor of Boston. 		March 4, 1817 –
May 30, 1822 		Federalist
Harrison Gray Otis 		7
Vacant May 11, 1818 –
June 4, 1818 		Vacant
9
Prentiss Mellen 		Federalist June 5, 1818 –
May 15, 1820 		Elected to finish Ashmun's term.

Resigned to become Chief Justice of Maine.
16th
Vacant May 16, 1820 –
June 12, 1820 		Vacant
10
Elijah H. Mills 		Federalist June 12, 1820 –
March 3, 1827 		Elected to finish Mellen's term.
Re-elected in 1820.

Lost re-election in 1826. 		7 17th
Vacant May 30, 1822 –
June 5, 1822 		Vacant
Elected to finish Otis's term. June 5, 1822 –
May 23, 1826 		Federalist
James Lloyd 		8
Adams-Clay
Federalist 		18th 7 Re-elected in 1822.

Resigned. 		Adams-Clay
Federalist
Anti-
Jacksonian 		19th Anti-
Jacksonian
Vacant May 23, 1826 –
May 31, 1826 		Vacant
Elected to finish Lloyd's term. May 31, 1826 –
March 3, 1835 		Anti-Jacksonian
Nathaniel Silsbee 		9
Vacant March 4, 1827 –
June 8, 1827 		Vacant 8 20th
11
Daniel Webster 		Anti-Jacksonian June 8, 1827 –
February 22, 1841 		Elected late in 1827.
21st 8 Re-elected in 1828.

Retired.
22nd
Re-elected in 1833. 9 23rd
24th 9 Elected in 1835.

Resigned to become Governor of Massachusetts. 		March 4, 1835 –
January 5, 1841 		Anti-
Jacksonian
John Davis 		10
Whig 25th Whig
Re-elected in 1839.

Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of State. 		10 26th
Vacant January 5, 1841 –
January 13, 1841 		Vacant
Elected to finish Davis's term. January 13, 1841 –
March 16, 1845 		Whig
Isaac C. Bates 		11
12
Rufus Choate 		Whig February 23, 1841 –
March 3, 1845 		Elected to finish Webster's term.

Retired.
27th 10 Elected to full term in 1841.

Died.
28th
13
Daniel Webster 		Whig March 4, 1845 –
July 22, 1850 		Elected in 1845.

Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of State again. 		11 29th
Vacant March 16, 1845 –
March 24, 1845 		Vacant
Elected to finish Bates's term. March 24, 1845 –
March 3, 1853 		Whig
John Davis 		12
30th 11 Re-elected in 1847.

Retired.
31st
Vacant July 23, 1850 –
July 30, 1850 		Vacant
14
Robert Charles Winthrop 		Whig July 30, 1850 –
February 1, 1851 		Appointed to continue Webster's term.

Lost election to finish Webster's term.
15
Robert Rantoul Jr. 		Democratic February 1, 1851 –
March 3, 1851 		Elected to finish Webster's term.

Retired.
Vacant March 4, 1851 –
April 24, 1851 		In 1851, Democrats gained control of the Massachusetts General Court in coalition with the Free Soilers. However, the legislature deadlocked on who should succeed Daniel Webster. Democrats refused to vote for Charles Sumner (the Free Soilers' choice). Sumner was eventually elected late. 12 32nd
16
Charles Sumner 		Free Soil April 24, 1851 –
March 11, 1874
33rd 12 Elected in 1853.

Resigned. 		March 4, 1853 –
June 1, 1854 		Whig
Edward Everett 		13
Vacant June 1, 1854 –
June 3, 1854 		Vacant
Appointed to continue Everett's term.

Successor was elected. 		June 3, 1854 –
January 31, 1855 		Whig
Julius Rockwell 		14
Elected to finish Everett's term. January 31, 1855 –
March 3, 1873 		Free Soil
Henry Wilson 		15
34th Republican
Republican Re-elected in 1857. 13 35th
36th 13 Re-elected in 1859.
37th
Re-elected in 1863. 14 38th
39th 14 Re-elected in 1865.
40th
Re-elected in 1869.

Died. 		15 41st
42nd 15 Re-elected in 1871.

Resigned to become the Vice President of the United States.
Liberal Republican 43rd Vacant March 3, 1873 –
March 17, 1873 		Vacant
Elected to finish Wilson's term.

Lost renomination. 		March 17, 1873 –
March 3, 1877 		Republican
George S. Boutwell 		16
Vacant March 12, 1874 –
April 16, 1874 		Vacant
17
William B. Washburn 		Republican April 17, 1874 –
March 3, 1875 		Elected to finish Sumner's term.

Retired.
18
Henry L. Dawes 		Republican March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1893 		Elected in 1875. 16 44th
45th 16 Elected in 1877. March 4, 1877 –
September 30, 1904 		Republican
George Frisbie Hoar 		17
46th
Re-elected in 1881. 17 47th
48th 17 Re-elected in 1883.
49th
Re-elected in 1887.

Retired. 		18 50th
51st 18 Re-elected in 1889.
52nd
19
Henry Cabot Lodge 		Republican March 4, 1893 –
November 9, 1924 		Elected in 1893. 19 53rd
54th 19 Re-elected in 1895.
55th
Re-elected in 1899. 20 56th
57th 20 Re-elected in 1901.

Died.
58th
Vacant September 30, 1904 –
October 12, 1904 		Vacant
Appointed to continue Hoar's term.

Elected January 18, 1905 to finish Hoar's term.[12] 		October 12, 1904 –
March 3, 1913 		Republican
Winthrop M. Crane 		18
Re-elected January 18, 1905.[12] 21 59th
60th 21 Re-elected in 1907.

Retired.
61st
Re-elected in January 1911. 22 62nd
63rd 22 Elected January 14, 1913.

Lost re-election. 		March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1919 		Republican
John W. Weeks 		19
64th
Re-elected in 1916. 23 65th
66th 23 Elected in 1918.

Lost re-election. 		March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1925 		Democratic
David I. Walsh 		20
67th
Re-elected in 1922.

Died. 		24 68th
Vacant November 9, 1924 –
November 13, 1924 		Vacant
20
William M. Butler 		Republican November 13, 1924 –
December 6, 1926 		Appointed to continue Lodge's term.

Lost election to finish Lodge's term.
69th 24 Elected in 1924.

Retired. 		March 4, 1925 –
March 3, 1931 		Republican
Frederick H. Gillett 		21
21
David I. Walsh 		Democratic December 6, 1926 –
January 3, 1947 		Elected to finish Lodge's term.
70th
Re-elected in 1928. 25 71st
72nd 25 Elected in 1930.

Retired. 		March 4, 1931 –
January 3, 1937 		Democratic
Marcus A. Coolidge 		22
73rd
Re-elected in 1934. 26 74th
75th 26 Elected in 1936. January 3, 1937 –
February 3, 1944 		Republican
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. 		23
76th
Re-elected in 1940.

Lost re-election. 		27 77th
78th 27 Re-elected in 1942.

Resigned to return to active duty in the U.S. Army.
Vacant February 4, 1944 –
February 7, 1944 		Vacant
Appointed to continue Lodge's term.

Did not run for election to finish the term. 		February 8, 1944 –
December 19, 1944 		Republican
Sinclair Weeks 		24
Elected November 7, 1944 to finish Lodge's term.

Didn't take seat until January 4, 1945, as he wanted to remain Governor of Massachusetts. However, he was duly elected and qualified as senator. 		December 19, 1944 –
January 3, 1967 		Republican
Leverett Saltonstall 		25
79th
22
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. 		Republican January 3, 1947 –
January 3, 1953 		Elected in 1946.

Lost re-election. 		28 80th
81st 28 Re-elected in 1948.
82nd
23 John F. Kennedy Democratic January 3, 1953 –
December 22, 1960 		Elected in 1952. 29 83rd
84th 29 Re-elected in 1954.
85th
Re-elected in 1958.

Resigned to become the President of the United States. 		30 86th
Vacant December 22, 1960 –
December 27, 1960 		Vacant
24
Benjamin Smith 		Democratic December 27, 1960 –
November 7, 1962 		Appointed to continue John Kennedy's term.

Did not run for election to finish the term.
87th 30 Re-elected in 1960.

Retired.
25
Ted Kennedy 		Democratic November 7, 1962 –
August 25, 2009 		Elected to finish his brother's term.
88th
Re-elected in 1964. 31 89th
90th 31 Elected in 1966. January 3, 1967 –
January 3, 1979 		Republican
Edward Brooke 		26
91st
Re-elected in 1970. 32 92nd
93rd 32 Re-elected in 1972.

Lost re-election.
94th
Re-elected in 1976. 33 95th
96th 33 Elected in 1978.

Retired, then resigned early to give successor preferential seniority. 		January 3, 1979 –
January 2, 1985 		Democratic
Paul Tsongas 		27
97th
Re-elected in 1982. 34 98th
Appointed early to finish Tsongas's term, having already been elected to the next term. January 2, 1985 –
February 1, 2013 		Democratic
John Kerry 		28
99th 34 Elected in 1984.
100th
Re-elected in 1988. 35 101st
102nd 35 Re-elected in 1990.
103rd
Re-elected in 1994. 36 104th
105th 36 Re-elected in 1996.
106th
Re-elected in 2000. 37 107th
108th 37 Re-elected in 2002.
109th
Re-elected in 2006.

Died. 		38 110th
111th 38 Re-elected in 2008.

Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of State.
Vacant August 25, 2009 –
September 24, 2009 		Vacant
26
Paul G. Kirk 		Democratic September 24, 2009 –
February 4, 2010 		Appointed to continue Ted Kennedy's term.

Did not run for election to finish the term.[13]
27
Scott Brown 		Republican February 4, 2010 –
January 3, 2013 		Elected to finish Ted Kennedy's term.

Lost re-election.
112th
28
Elizabeth Warren 		Democratic January 3, 2013 –
Present 		Elected in 2012. 39 113th
Appointed to continue Kerry's term.

Did not run for election to finish the term.[14] 		February 1, 2013 –
July 16, 2013 		Democratic
Mo Cowan 		29
Elected to finish Kerry's term. July 16, 2013 –
Present 		Democratic
Ed Markey 		30
114th 39 Re-elected in 2014.
115th
Re-elected in 2018. 40 116th
117th 40 To be determined in the 2020 election.
118th
To be determined in the 2024 election. 41 119th
# Senator Party Years in office Electoral history T C T Electoral history Years in office Party Senator #
Class 1 Class 2

Living former senators

As of December 2019, there are four living former U.S. senators from Massachusetts. The most recent senator to die was Edward Brooke (served 1967–1979) who died on January 3, 2015. The most recently serving senator to die was Ted Kennedy (served 1962–2009), who died in office on August 25, 2009.

Senator Class Term of office Date of birth (and age)
John Kerry 2 January 2, 1985 – February 1, 2013 (1943-12-11) December 11, 1943 (age 80)
Paul G. Kirk 1 September 24, 2009 – February 4, 2010 (1938-01-18) January 18, 1938 (age 86)
Scott Brown 1 February 4, 2010 – January 3, 2013 (1959-09-12) September 12, 1959 (age 64)
Mo Cowan 2 February 1, 2013 – July 16, 2013 (1969-04-04) April 4, 1969 (age 55)

See also

References

  1. ^ Belluck, Pam (June 25, 2004). "Massachusetts Politicians Fight Over a Kerry Victory". New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  2. ^ Zezima, Katie (July 2, 2004). "National Briefing: Massachusetts: Senate Approves Interim-Appointment Bill". New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  3. ^ Greenberger, Scott S. (July 31, 2004). "Romney veto overridden: Governor can no longer fill vacancies in the US Senate". Boston Globe. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  4. ^ Anderson, Rob (July 16, 2004). "Devil in the Details: After Kerry, The Deluge". The American Prospect. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  5. ^ "Chapter 236 of the Acts of 2004". Acts of 2004 (Session Laws). The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. July 30, 2004. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  6. ^ Viser, Matt (September 23, 2009). "Legislature gives final approval to bill to fill Kennedy seat". The Boston Globe. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
  7. ^ "Massachusetts 1798 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Connecticut Gazette (New London, CT). June 20, 1798.
  8. ^ "Massachusetts 1800 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 25, 2018., citing Hampshire Gazette (Northhampton). June 11, 1800. The Kentucky Gazette (Lexington, KY). July 3, 1800.
  9. ^ "Massachusetts 1803 U.S. Senate, Ballot 4". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 30, 2018., citing Columbian Centinel. Massachusetts Federalist (Boston, MA). February 5, 1803. The Independent Chronicle (Boston, MA). February 7, 1803. Columbian Centinel. Massachusetts Federalist (Boston, MA). February 9, 1803. Hampshire Gazette (Northampton, MA). February 9, 1803. Boston Gazette (Boston, MA). February 10, 1803. Republican Star or Eastern Shore General Advertiser (Easton, MD). March 1, 1803. Frederick-Town Herald (Fredericktown, MD). March 5, 1803.
  10. ^ "Massachusetts 1805 U.S. Senate, Ballot 3". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 29, 2018., citing The Providence Phoenix (Providence, RI). February 9, 1805.
  11. ^ "Massachusetts 1808 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 3, 2018., citing The Pittsfield Sun (Pittsfield, MA). June 11, 1808.
  12. ^ a b The World Almanac and Encyclopedia 1906. New York: The Press Publishing Co. New York World. 1905. p. 108.
  13. ^ "Paul Kirk officially appointed state's interim senator". September 25, 2009. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  14. ^ Battenfeld, Joe; Chabot, Hillary; Cassidy, Chris (January 30, 2013). "Gov names adviser Mo Cowan to interim Senate post". Boston Herald. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
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