United States Senate election in Massachusetts, 2008
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The 2008 Massachusetts U.S. Senate election will take place on November 4, 2008. Democrat John F. Kerry, the incumbent since 1985, is one of the most prominent politicians in the United States, having been the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for President of the United States in the 2004 election. Nonetheless, Senator Kerry has historically attracted strong Republican challengers, including two former Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman, Ray Shamie in 1984 and Jim Rappaport in 1990, and former Governor of Massachusetts William Weld in 1996.
Kerry had explored the possibility of seeking the Democratic nomination for President once again in 2008, a circumstance which prompted many of Massachusetts's all-Democratic House delegation, including Marty Meehan, Ed Markey and Stephen Lynch, to declare that they would run in the Democratic primary for Senate should Kerry not seek reelection. However, on January 24, 2007, Kerry announced that he would run for reelection to the United States Senate and not for the Presidency. A December 23, 2007, poll indicated his approval rating at 52%, with 43% disapproving.[1]
Massachusetts will hold primary elections on September 16, 2008.[2] Unlike in 2002, when Kerry was reelected against only third-party opposition, the Democratic nominee will face a Republican opponent in 2008. Any Republican challenger would face very long odds against the Democratic nominee, especially since whoever wins the Republican presidential nomination is not likely to seriously contest this overwhelmingly Democratic state. Massachusetts has not elected a Republican Senator since Edward Brooke in 1972 and has not sent any Republican to Congress since incumbents Peter Torkildsen and Peter Blute were defeated in 1996.
Contents |
[edit] Candidates
[edit] Announced
[edit] Democrats
- Sen. John Kerry, incumbent
- Edward O'Reilly, Attorney and Former Gloucester City Councilor[3]
At the 2008-06-07 state convention, O'Reilly received 22.5% of the vote, thereby granting him a spot on the September primary ballot. Kerry, received the vast majority of votes, however, granting him the convention's endorsement.[4]
[edit] Republicans
- Jeff Beatty - President of Total Security. Ran for Congress in 2006. From Harwich[5]
- Jim Ogonowski - Former Air Force Lt. Colonel and 2007 Congressional candidate. He failed to qualify due to insufficient ballot signatures.
[edit] Socialist Workers
- William Estrada - Communist Political Organizer[6]
[edit] Polling
[edit] General Election
| Source | Date | Beatty (R) | Kerry (D) |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2008 | 25% | 63% | |
| April 25, 2008 | 30% | 55% | |
| Zogby International | August 8, 2007 | 23% | 58% |
| Source | Date | Ogonowski (R) | Kerry (D) |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2008 | 29% | 63% | |
| Rasmussen Reports | April 25, 2008 | 31% | 53% |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- John Kerry not running for President
- GOP ready to pounce on vulnerable poll
- Senator Kerry's SurveyUSA Job Approval Ratings
- 7News/Suffolk University, Mass. Statewide Likely Voters
[edit] External links
Democrats
Republicans
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|---|---|---|
| General | 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 | |
| State | State Senate | 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 |
| State House | 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 | |
| Governor | 1982 (Dukakis), 1986 (Dukakis), 1990 (Weld), 1994 (Weld), 1998 (Cellucci), 2002 (Romney), 2006 (Patrick), 2010 | |
| Council | 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 | |
| Federal | U.S. Senate | Class 1: 1964 (T. Kennedy), 1970 (T. Kennedy), 1976 (T. Kennedy), 1982 (T. Kennedy), 1988 (T. Kennedy), 1994 (T. Kennedy), 2000 (T. Kennedy), 2006 (T. Kennedy), 2012 Class 2: 1936 (Lodge), …, 1966 (Brooke), 1972 (Brooke), 1978 (Tsongas), 1984 (Kerry), 1990 (Kerry), 1996 (Kerry), 2002 (Kerry), 2008 |
| U.S. House | 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007 (5th), 2008 | |
| President | 2000, 2004, 2008 (D prim), (R prim) | |
