McGovern, Neal cruise to reelection as Dems maintain hold on state’s Congressional delegation

Voters arrive at a polling place to cast their ballots, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Waltham, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Voters arrive at a polling place to cast their ballots, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Waltham, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Steven Senne

FILE - U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Jan. 10, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FILE - U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Jan. 10, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) Alex Brandon

In this Sept. 2024 photo provided by Jerry Calixte, Independent Nadia Milleron, a candidate for the U.S. House, stands for a photograph, in Springfield, Mass. (Jerry Calixte/Milleron Campaign via AP)

In this Sept. 2024 photo provided by Jerry Calixte, Independent Nadia Milleron, a candidate for the U.S. House, stands for a photograph, in Springfield, Mass. (Jerry Calixte/Milleron Campaign via AP) Jerry Calixte

FILE - U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., addresses colleagues at the Capitol in Washington, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., addresses colleagues at the Capitol in Washington, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) J. Scott Applewhite

In this Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024 photo provided by Mark A. Wilmot, Cornelius Shea, candidate for the U.S. House from the Massachusetts 2nd Congressional District, stands for a photograph, in Shrewsbury, Mass. (Mark A. Wilmot via AP)

In this Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024 photo provided by Mark A. Wilmot, Cornelius Shea, candidate for the U.S. House from the Massachusetts 2nd Congressional District, stands for a photograph, in Shrewsbury, Mass. (Mark A. Wilmot via AP) Mark A. Wilmot

FILE - U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, May 22, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

FILE - U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, May 22, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) Carolyn Kaster

Republican Robert Burke, who is challenging Democrat U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch in the 8th Congressional District, poses outside the Statehouse, Oct. 8, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steve LeBlanc)

Republican Robert Burke, who is challenging Democrat U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch in the 8th Congressional District, poses outside the Statehouse, Oct. 8, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steve LeBlanc) Steve LeBlanc

FILE — Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., speaks to a reporter on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

FILE — Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., speaks to a reporter on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) Andrew Harnik

In an undated photo provided by Susan Sullivan, Republican Dan Sullivan, candidate for the U.S. House for the Massachusetts 9th Congressional District, stands for a portrait in New Bedford, Mass. (Susan Sullivan via AP)

In an undated photo provided by Susan Sullivan, Republican Dan Sullivan, candidate for the U.S. House for the Massachusetts 9th Congressional District, stands for a portrait in New Bedford, Mass. (Susan Sullivan via AP) Susan Sullivan

By STEVE LeBLANC

Associated Press

Published: 11-06-2024 8:09 AM

Modified: 11-06-2024 9:10 AM


BOSTON — U.S. Reps. James McGovern and Richard Neal easily won reelection on Tuesday, as Massachusetts Democrats maintained their hold on the state’s Congressional delegation.

In addition to McGovern and Neal, two other incumbents fended off Republican and independent challengers and the remaining five coasted to two-year terms without opponents.

Republicans and independents have had a tough time winning seats in Congress in the heavily Democratic state. No Republican has been elected to the U.S. House in Massachusetts in nearly three decades.

The five Democrats who ran unopposed: Jake Auchincloss, Katherine Clark, Seth Moulton, Ayanna Pressley and Lori Trahan.

Neal won the 1st Congressional District by defeating independent Nadia Milleron to capture his 19th term.

Neal was first elected to Congress in 1988 to represent the 1st Congressional District, the state’s largest in the western and central regions. He’s the top Democrat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

Neal has said that his priorities include “fairer taxes, affordable and accessible health care, taking on climate change, preserving Social Security, and more.”

Milleron, the niece of consumer advocate Ralph Nader, said she was driven to run for Congress after her daughter’s 2019 death in the second Boeing 737 Max crash, in Ethiopia. Milleron pushed for passage of a 2020 law requiring the Federal Aviation Administration to change how it certifies new planes.

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McGovern, meanwhile, won the 2nd Congressional District by defeating a challenge from independent Cornelius Shea.

Throughout his tenure in Congress, McGovern, who was first elected to Congress in 1996, has cast himself as an advocate for human rights, including in China’s Tibet, campaign finance reform and social justice.

McGovern has also been a vigorous critic of the Republican Party under former President Donald Trump.

Shea, a 20-year Marine veteran, worked for AT&T before becoming a public school teacher in Worcester. In a campaign statement, he listed illegal immigration, drug overdoses, terrorism and health care costs as his top concerns.

Other races

Democrat Stephen Lynch was reelected to the U.S. House seat he’s held for more than two decades, brushing back an effort by Republican Robert Burke to unseat him.

Lynch has held the state’s 8th Congressional District, which includes parts of Boston, since he was elected following the death of Rep. Joseph Moakley in 2001.

The former ironworker is a member of the Financial Services Committee and serves as the top Democrat on the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion.

Burke, who describes himself as an amateur journalist and videographer, had said he was reaching out to independent, Democratic and Republican voters tired of what he called the “Kamala-Lynch open border.” In a campaign statement, he said state money spent on migrants should have gone “to help our kids, our roads, our schools, and our veterans.”

Democrat Bill Keating won reelection to the U.S. House, overcoming a challenge from Republican Dan Sullivan.

Keating, who was first elected to the House in 2010, represents the state’s 9th Congressional District, which includes the state’s South Shore, South Coast, Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Keating currently serves on the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Armed Services.

Keating has pressed for federal funding to help replace the two bridges spanning the Cape Cod Canal. He’s also pushed legislation that would fund care for stranded turtles that wash up on Cape Cod and elsewhere.

Sullivan, a nurse, had said he could bring a fresh perspective to Washington, Sullivan said he supports prosecuting drug dealers while providing addicts with treatment programs. He also backs securing borders, enforcing immigration laws and prioritizing legal immigration for those with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills.