By Aniya Sumner
Boston University News Service
Tensions remained high on Election Day as many waited in anticipation for their states’ results in what may be one of the most consequential elections to date. In Massachusetts, residents received closure around 9 p.m. on Nov. 5 as the polls revealed what many anticipated — a Democratic win.
“I’ve been here since 1989 and I started voting in 1995, I know Massachusetts is always democratic. It’s a fact,” said Dr. Victor Ambila, a Massachusetts resident and professor at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology.
Despite residential voters prophesying that Massachusetts would inherently lean democratic, many still took to the polls to cast their ballots. The state recorded a 25.21% voter turnout for the presidential election, with close to five million people registering to vote and 1.2 million votes being cast, according to Secretary William Galvin.
Along with the presidential election, voters in the state had the opportunity to weigh in on a variety of initiatives that were reflected by the results of the U.S. Senate election, U.S. House election and local elections:
President
Winner: Kamala Harris, 2,045,690 votes
Runner Up: Donald Trump, 1,212,668 votes
U.S. Senate
Winner: Elizabeth Warren, 1,961,119 votes
Runner Up: John Deaton, 1,320,836 votes
U.S. House
District 1: Richard Neal (Dem)
District 2: James McGovern (Dem)
District 3: Lori Trahan (Dem)
District 4: Jake Auchincloss (Dem)
District 5: Katherine Clark (Dem)
District 6: Seth Moulton (Dem)
District 7: Ayanna Pressley (Dem)
District 8: Stephen Lynch (Dem)
District 9: Bill Keating (Dem)
Ballot Measures
Q1. Allows audits of the state Legislature.
Yes (71.4%)
No (28.6%)
Q2. Repeals requirement to pass a competency exam to graduate from high school.
Yes (58.9%)
No (41.1%)
Q3. Allows ride-hailing driver to form labor unions.
Yes (53.9%)
No (46.1%)
Q4. Legalizes certain psychedelic substances.
Yes (43.2%)
No (56.8%)
Q5. Raises the minimum wage for tipped workers.
Yes (36.0%)
No (64.0%)
Election results via The New York Times with >95% of all votes in.
While the outcome of other races still remain up in the air, Massachusetts has solidified itself as a reliably Democratic state, with most elections projected to retain the status quo in terms of party control and progressive policies.
“I’m happy with the Massachusetts results,” said Boston University student Ela Binatli. “It’s quite the same as previous years. It’s kind of predictable, but overall, I’m happy.”
As Massachusetts plays its recurring role of providing another handful of electoral votes for the Democratic Party (11), voters can now turn their attention to ballot initiatives and life-changing policies on a nationwide scale.
