Massachusetts's 8th congressional district U.S. House district for Massachusetts
Massachusetts's 8th congressional district Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative Population (2023) 791,775[ 1] Median household income $114,053[ 1] Ethnicity Cook PVI D+15[ 2]
Massachusetts's 8th congressional district is located in eastern Massachusetts , including part of Boston . It is represented by Democrat Stephen Lynch . For one congressional term (1791–1793), it served as the home district of the District of Maine . The district boundaries were significantly changed, as of the elections of 2012, due to redistricting after the 2010 census, with the old 8th district largely being shifted to the new 7th district.[ 3] The new 8th district comprises many of the communities of the old 9th district, as well as some easternmost Norfolk County communities and northernmost Plymouth County communities of the old 10th district.
This district has the distinction of being the only one ever represented by someone who had previously served as president of the United States , as John Quincy Adams held this office after leaving the presidency from 1843 until his death in 1848.
Election results from presidential races
Cities and towns in the district
Bristol County (1)
Easton
Norfolk County (12)
Avon , Braintree , Canton , Dedham , Holbrook , Milton (part; also 7th ), Norwood , Quincy , Stoughton , Walpole , Westwood , Weymouth
Plymouth County (7)
Abington , Brockton , East Bridgewater , Hingham , Hull , West Bridgewater , Whitman
Suffolk County (1)
Boston (part; also 7th )
List of members representing the district
Representative
Party
Years
Cong ress
Electoral history
District location
District created March 4, 1789
Jonathan Grout (Lunenburg )
Anti-Administration
March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1791
1st
Elected in 1788 . Redistricted to the 7th district and lost re-election.
1789–1793 Worcester County
Vacant
March 4, 1791 – April 4, 1791
2nd
George Thatcher (Biddeford )
Pro-Administration
April 4, 1791 – March 3, 1793
Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected late in 1791 .Redistricted to the 4th district .
District inactive
March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795
3rd
Fisher Ames (Dedham )
Federalist
March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1797
4th
Redistricted from the 1st district and re-elected in 1794 . Retired.
1795–1803 "1st Middle district"
Harrison Gray Otis (Boston )
Federalist
March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1801
5th 6th
Elected in 1796 .Re-elected in 1798 . Retired.
William Eustis (Boston )
Democratic-Republican
March 4, 1801 – March 3, 1803
7th
Elected in 1800 .Redistricted to the 1st district .
Lemuel Williams (New Bedford )
Federalist
March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805
8th
Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1802 . Lost re-election.
1803–1815 "Barnstable district"
Isaiah L. Green (Barnstable )
Democratic-Republican
March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1809
9th 10th
Elected in 1804 .Re-elected in 1806 . Retired.
Gideon Gardner (Nantucket )
Democratic-Republican
March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1811
11th
Elected in 1808 . Retired.
Isaiah L. Green (Barnstable )
Democratic-Republican
March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1813
12th
Elected in 1810 . Lost re-election.
John Reed Jr. (Yarmouth )
Federalist
March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1815
13th
Elected in 1812 .Redistricted to the 9th district .
William Baylies (Bridgewater )
Federalist
March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1817
14th
Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1814 . Retired.
1815–1823 "Plymouth district"
Zabdiel Sampson (Plymouth )
Democratic-Republican
March 4, 1817 – July 26, 1820
15th 16th
Elected in 1817 on the second ballot . Resigned to become collector of customs in Plymouth .
Vacant
July 26, 1820 – November 24, 1820
16th
Aaron Hobart (Hanover )
Democratic-Republican
November 24, 1820 – March 3, 1823
16th 17th
Elected in 1820 . Later elected on the second ballot to finish Sampson's term and seated December 18, 1820.Redistricted to the 11th district .
Samuel Lathrop (West Springfield )
Adams-Clay Federalist
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825
18th 19th
Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1822 .Re-elected in 1825 on the third ballot .[data missing ]
1823–1833 "Hampden district"
Anti-Jacksonian
March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827
Isaac C. Bates (Northampton )
Anti-Jacksonian
March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1835
20th 21st 22nd 23rd
Elected in 1827 on the third ballot .Re-elected in 1828 .Re-elected in 1830 .Re-elected in 1833 . Retired.
1833–1843 [data missing ]
William B. Calhoun (Springfield )
Anti-Jacksonian
March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837
24th 25th 26th 27th
Elected in 1834 .Re-elected in 1836 .Re-elected in 1838 .Re-elected in 1840 . Retired.
Whig
March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1843
John Quincy Adams (Quincy )
Whig
March 4, 1843 – February 23, 1848
28th 29th 30th
Redistricted from the 12th district and re-elected in 1842 .Re-elected in 1844 .Re-elected in 1846 . Died.
1843–1853 "All the towns in Norfolk County; Abington, North Bridgewater, Hingham, and Hull, in the County of Plymouth; and Brighton, Holliston, Natick, Newton, and Sherburne, in the County of Middlesex."[ 4]
Vacant
February 24, 1848 – April 2, 1848
30th
Horace Mann (West Newton )
Whig
April 3, 1848 – March 3, 1853
30th 31st 32nd
Elected to finish Adams's term .Re-elected later in 1848 .Re-elected in 1850 .[data missing ]
Tappan Wentworth (Lowell )
Whig
March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855
33rd
Elected in 1852 .[data missing ]
1853–1863 "The city of Lowell, and the towns of Acton, Ashby, Ashland, Bedford, Billerica, Boxborough, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Framingham, Groton, Hopkinton, Lincoln, Littleton, Marlborough, Natick, Pepperell, Shirley, Stow, Sudbury, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Wayland. Westford, and Weston, in the county of Middlesex; and the towns of Berlin, Bolton, Harvard, Lunenburg, Northborough, Southborough, and Westborough, in the county of Worcester."[ 5]
Chauncey L. Knapp (Lowell )
Know Nothing
March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857
34th 35th
Elected in 1854 .Re-elected in 1856 .[data missing ]
Republican
March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859
Charles R. Train [ 6] (Framingham )
Republican
March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1863
36th 37th
Elected in 1858 .Re-elected in 1860 .[data missing ]
John D. Baldwin (Worcester )
Republican
March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869
38th 39th 40th
Elected in 1862 .Re-elected in 1864 .Re-elected in 1866 .[data missing ]
1863–1873 [data missing ]
George F. Hoar [ 7] (Worcester )
Republican
March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873
41st 42nd
Elected in 1868 .Re-elected in 1870 .Redistricted to the 9th district .
John M. S. Williams (Cambridge )
Republican
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875
43rd
Elected in 1872 .[data missing ]
1873–1883 "Ashland, Wards 22, 23, 25, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Dedham, Dover, Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopkinton, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Sherborn, Southboro', Watertown, Wayland, and Weston."[ 8]
William W. Warren (Boston )
Democratic
March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877
44th
Elected in 1874 . Lost re-election.
William Claflin [ 9] (Newton )
Republican
March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1881
45th 46th
Elected in 1876 .Re-elected in 1878 . Retired.
John W. Candler (Brookline )
Republican
March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883
47th
Elected in 1880 .[data missing ]
William A. Russell (Lawrence )
Republican
March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885
48th
Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1882 .[data missing ]
1883–1893
Charles H. Allen (Lowell )
Republican
March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889
49th 50th
Elected in 1884 .Re-elected in 1886 . Retired.
Frederic T. Greenhalge (Lowell )
Republican
March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1891
51st
Elected in 1888 . Lost re-election.
Moses T. Stevens (North Andover )
Democratic
March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893
52nd
Elected in 1890 .Redistricted to the 5th district .
Samuel W. McCall [ 10] [ 11] (Winchester )
Republican
March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1913
53rd 54th 55th 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd
Elected in 1892 .Re-elected in 1894 .Re-elected in 1896 .Re-elected in 1898 .Re-elected in 1900 .Re-elected in 1902 .Re-elected in 1904 .Re-elected in 1906 .Re-elected in 1908 .Re-elected in 1910 .[data missing ]
1893–1903 Arlington, Boston (Wards 9, 10, 11), Cambridge, Medford, Somerville, Winchester.[ 12]
1903–1913 Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Medford, Somerville, Winchester, Woburn.[ 13]
Frederick Simpson Deitrick (Cambridge )
Democratic
March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915
63rd
Elected in 1912 .[data missing ]
1913–1933 Middlesex County: Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Lexington, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, Wakefield, Watertown, Winchester.[ 14] [ 15]
Frederick W. Dallinger (Cambridge )
Republican
March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1925
64th 65th 66th 67th 68th
Elected in 1914 .Re-elected in 1916 .Re-elected in 1918 .Re-elected in 1920 .Re-elected in 1922 .[data missing ]
Harry I. Thayer (Wakefield )
Republican
March 4, 1925 – March 10, 1926
69th
Elected in 1924 . Died.
Vacant
March 10, 1926 – November 2, 1926
Frederick W. Dallinger (Cambridge )
Republican
November 2, 1926 – October 1, 1932
69th 70th 71st 72nd
Elected to finish Thayer's term and elected to the next term .Re-elected in 1928 .Re-elected in 1930 . Resigned to become judge of United States Customs Court .
Vacant
October 1, 1932 – March 3, 1933
72nd
Arthur D. Healey [ 16] (Somerville )
Democratic
March 4, 1933 – August 3, 1942
73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th
Elected in 1932 .Re-elected in 1934 .Re-elected in 1936 .Re-elected in 1938 .Re-elected in 1940 . Resigned to become judge of US District Court for Massachusetts .
1933–1943 Cambridge (Wards 2, 3), Everett, Malden, Medford, Somerville.[ 13]
Vacant
August 3, 1942 – January 3, 1943
77th
Angier Goodwin (Melrose )
Republican
January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1955
78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd
Elected in 1942 .Re-elected in 1944 .Re-elected in 1946 .Re-elected in 1948 .Re-elected in 1950 .Re-elected in 1952 . Lost re-election.
1943–1953 Everett, Lynnfield, Malden, Medford, Melrose, N. Reading, Reading, Saugus, Somerville (Wards 4, 5, 6, 7), Stoneham, Wakefield.[ 13] [ 17]
1953–1963 [data missing ]
Torbert H. Macdonald (Malden )
Democratic
January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1963
84th 85th 86th 87th
Elected in 1954 .Re-elected in 1956 .Re-elected in 1958 .Re-elected in 1960 .Redistricted to 7th district .
Tip O'Neill [ 18] (Cambridge )
Democratic
January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1987
88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th
Redistricted from the 11th district and re-elected in 1962 .Re-elected in 1964 .Re-elected in 1966 .Re-elected in 1968 .Re-elected in 1970 .Re-elected in 1972 .Re-elected in 1974 .Re-elected in 1976 .Re-elected in 1978 .Re-elected in 1980 .Re-elected in 1982 .Re-elected in 1984 . Retired.
1963–1973 Boston (Wards 1, 2, 3, 21, 22), Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville.[ 13] [ 19]
1973–1983 Arlington, Belmont, Boston (Wards 1, 2, 5, 21, 22), Cambridge, Somerville, Watertown.[ 13] [ 20]
1983–1993 Arlington, Belmont, Boston (Wards 1, 2, 4, 5, 21, 22), Cambridge, Somerville, Waltham, Watertown.[ 13] [ 21]
Joe Kennedy II [ 22] (Boston )
Democratic
January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1999
100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th
Elected in 1986 .Re-elected in 1988 .Re-elected in 1990 .Re-elected in 1992 .Re-elected in 1994 .Re-elected in 1996 . Retired.
1993–2003 Belmont, Boston (Wards 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 21, 22), Cambridge, Chelsea, Somerville, Watertown.[ 13]
Mike Capuano (Somerville )
Democratic
January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2013
106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th
Elected in 1998 .Re-elected in 2000 .Re-elected in 2002 .Re-elected in 2004 .Re-elected in 2006 .Re-elected in 2008 .Re-elected in 2010 .Redistricted to the 7th district .
2003–2013 In Middlesex County : Cambridge , and Somerville . In Suffolk County : Boston , Wards 1, 2, Ward 3, Precincts 1–4, 7, 8, Ward 4, Ward 5, Precincts 1, 2, 6–10, Ward 7, Precinct 10, Wards 8–12, Ward 13, Precincts 1, 2, 4–6, Ward 14, Ward 15, Precincts 1–5, 7–9, Ward 16, Precincts 1, 3, Ward 17, Precincts 1–3, 5–12; Ward 18, Precincts 1–8, 13–15, 21, Ward 19, Precincts 1, 3–6, 8, 9, Wards 21 and 22, (the remainder of Boston is in the 9th district ), and Chelsea .
Stephen Lynch (Boston )
Democratic
January 3, 2013 – present
113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th
Redistricted from the 9th district and re-elected in 2012 .Re-elected in 2014 .Re-elected in 2016 .Re-elected in 2018 .Re-elected in 2020 .Re-elected in 2022 .Re-elected in 2024 .
2013–2023 In Bristol County : Precincts 1 and 2 in Raynham .
In Norfolk County : Avon , Braintree , Canton , Cohasset , Dedham , Holbrook , Milton :Precincts 2–4, and 6–9, Norwood , Quincy , Randolph , Stoughton , Walpole , Westwood , and Weymouth .
In Plymouth County : Abington , Bridgewater , Brockton , East Bridgewater , Hingham , Hull , Scituate , West Bridgewater , and Whitman .
In Suffolk County : Boston , Ward 3: Precincts 1–6; Ward 5: Precincts 3–5, 11; Ward 6, Ward 7: Precincts 1–9, Ward 11: Precincts 9 and 10, Ward 13: Precincts 3, 7, and 10, Ward 16: Precincts 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 12, Ward 19: Precincts 1–6, 8, and 9, and Ward 20: Precincts 1, 2, and 4–20.
2023–present
Recent election results
References
^ a b "Congressional District 8 (118th Congress), Massachusetts". 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates . U.S. Census Bureau.
^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List" . Cook Political Report . Retrieved January 10, 2023 .
^ "The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 2011 Congressional Districts (Chapter 177 of the Acts of 2011" (PDF) . Retrieved March 20, 2012 .
^ John Hayward (1849). "Congressional Districts" . Gazetteer of Massachusetts . Boston: J.P. Jewett & Co. hdl :2027/mdp.39015078325076 .
^ "Congressional Districts" . Massachusetts Register 1862 . Boston: Adams, Sampson, & Co. 1862.
^ "Massachusetts" . Congressional Directory for the Second Session of the Thirty-Seventh Congress . Washington DC: House of Representatives. 1861.
^ Ben. Perley Poore (1869). "Massachusetts" . Congressional Directory for the First Session of the Forty-First Congress (2nd ed.). Washington DC: Government Printing Office. hdl :2027/nyp.33433081796686 .
^ "Congressional Districts of Massachusetts" . Massachusetts Register and Business Directory, 1878 . Boston: Sampson, Davenport, and Co.
^ Ben. Perley Poore (1878). "Massachusetts" . Congressional Directory: 45th Congress (3rd ed.). Washington DC: Government Printing Office.
^ L.A. Coolidge (1897). "Massachusetts" . Official Congressional Directory: Fifty-Fifth Congress . Washington DC: Government Printing Office.
^ A.J. Halford (1909). "Massachusetts" . Congressional Directory: 60th Congress (2nd ed.). Washington DC: Government Printing Office .
^ Francis M. Cox (1893). "Massachusetts" . Official Congressional Directory: Fifty-Third Congress (2nd ed.). Washington DC: Government Printing Office. hdl :2027/mdp.39015022758133 .
^ a b c d e f g "Geographical History of the 7th District" . U.S. Congressman Michael E. Capuano . Washington DC: U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved November 23, 2013 . (Includes geographical history of Massachusetts's 8th congressional district, pre-2013)
^ "Massachusetts" . Official Congressional Directory: 64th Congress (2nd ed.). Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1916. hdl :2027/uc1.l0075858456 .
^ Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1921), "Population of Congressional Districts" , Population of Massachusetts as determined by the fourteenth census of the United States 1920 , Boston: Wright & Potter, hdl :2027/nnc1.cu56182970
^ "Massachusetts" . Official Congressional Directory: 75th Congress (2nd ed.). Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1938.
^ Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1941), "Population of Congressional Districts" , Population of Massachusetts as determined by the sixteenth census of the United States, 1940 , Boston: Wright & Potter, OCLC 10056477 , House No. 2849
^ "Massachusetts" . Official Congressional Directory: 90th Congress . Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1968.
^ "Massachusetts" . Official Congressional Directory: 88th Congress . Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1963. hdl :2027/mdp.39015071164118 .
^ "Massachusetts" , 1977 Official Congressional Directory: 95th Congress , Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1977, hdl :2027/uc1.31158002391372
^ "Massachusetts" . 1985–1986 Official Congressional Directory: 99th Congress . Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1985. hdl :2027/uc1.31158013115752 .
^ "Massachusetts" . 1991–1992 Official Congressional Directory: 102nd Congress . Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1991.
^ "Our Campaigns - MA - District 08 Race - Nov 07, 2006" . www.ourcampaigns.com . Retrieved August 27, 2020 .
^ "2012 U.S. House Results" .
^ The totals do not include Blank/Scattered Ballots although they were reported.
^ "2014 U.S. House Results" .
^ "Massachusetts Secretary of State General Election Results 2016" . Massachusetts Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016 .
^ "2020 - US House - All General Election Results" . Massachusetts Election Statistics . Retrieved November 24, 2020 .
^ "2022 U.S. House General Election - 8th Congressional District" . Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . Retrieved December 4, 2022 .
External links
Maps
Election results
The at-large and 10th–20th districts are obsolete. The 14th–20th districts moved to Maine in 1820, and the 14th–16th districts were later restored in Massachusetts.
See also
Massachusetts's past and present representatives , senators , and delegations
42°11′41″N 70°56′38″W / 42.19472°N 70.94389°W / 42.19472; -70.94389