Everyone knew Massachusetts was going to be blue. It's basically the law of the land at this point. Since 1960, the Bay State has been a Democratic fortress, and the 2024 United States presidential election in Massachusetts results didn't exactly flip the script on that. Kamala Harris walked away with the state's 11 electoral votes. No surprise there.
But if you look past the surface-level "win," there are some weird, almost jarring shifts under the hood. While Harris carried the state with 61.2% of the popular vote, Donald Trump managed to claw back some ground that Republicans haven't seen in years. He pulled in 36%, which is a noticeable jump from his 2020 performance where he barely hit 32%.
Massachusetts didn't just stay the same; it swung. Hard. In fact, it had one of the largest shifts toward the GOP in the country. Let’s get into the weeds of why that matters.
The Raw Data: A Tale of Two Campaigns
Let’s talk numbers. Kamala Harris finished with 2,126,518 votes. On the other side, Donald Trump secured 1,251,303 votes. Now, in a state like Massachusetts, a 25-point lead sounds like a blowout. And it is. But compare that to 2020, when Joe Biden won by more than 33 points. That’s an 8-point swing.
It's kinda wild when you think about it. Despite Harris winning every single county—yes, even the traditionally more conservative ones like Bristol and Plymouth—the margins tightened up significantly.
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Third-Party Noise
There were plenty of other names on the ballot too. People were looking for an "out" this year.
- Jill Stein (Green Party): 26,545 votes (0.8%)
- Shiva Ayyadurai (Independent): 18,418 votes (0.5%)
- Chase Oliver (Libertarian): 17,735 votes (0.5%)
Honestly, these numbers aren't massive, but they show a certain level of "meh" toward the major candidates. When you've got over 3.4 million people voting, every sliver of the pie tells a story.
Why the Red Shift in a Blue State?
So, why did a state that loves Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey suddenly look a little more purple? It wasn't one thing. It was a bunch of things hitting at once.
First, cost of living. You’ve probably seen the grocery receipts or the gas station signs. Massachusetts is expensive. Like, "sell your kidney to pay rent" expensive. While the state's economy is generally strong, the vibes were off. A lot of voters in places like Fall River or New Bedford—cities with deep working-class roots—seemed to be listening to Trump’s "are you better off than you were four years ago" pitch.
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Fall River is a perfect example. Harris barely squeaked by there. In some precincts, she didn't just underperform; she actually lost ground compared to Hillary Clinton in 2016. That's a huge deal.
The Turnout Factor
Turnout was... okay. Not great.
About 68% of eligible voters showed up. Compare that to the record-breaking 71% in 2020. You've got to wonder if some people just stayed home because they felt the outcome was a foregone conclusion. Or maybe they just weren't excited.
Examining the County Breakdown
Even though the map looks solid blue, the shades of that blue vary wildly.
In Suffolk County (Boston, Revere, Winthrop), Harris was a powerhouse, grabbing over 77% of the vote. That’s her base. That’s where the high-density, liberal core lives. But then you look at Bristol County. Harris won it, but the margin was slim—about 53% to 45%.
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- The Urban Strongholds: Boston and Cambridge remain the progressive engines. Cambridge gave Harris nearly 88% of its vote. That’s basically a consensus.
- The South Shore/South Coast: This is where the GOP found its footing. Trump’s message on immigration and the economy resonated in towns that feel forgotten by the "Boston elite."
- The Berkshires: Still very blue, though even here, the margins weren't as "lock-step" as they used to be.
What Does This Mean for the Future?
If you're a Democrat in Massachusetts, these results are a bit of a wake-up call. You can't just put a "D" next to a name and expect a 40-point blowout anymore. The working-class shift is real.
For Republicans, it’s a glimmer of hope. They aren't going to win the state anytime soon—let's be real—but they’re becoming a more formidable opposition. If they can keep making inroads with suburban and working-class voters, local races might get a lot more interesting in 2026 and 2028.
Actionable Insights for Voters
- Check the Local Data: Don't just look at the state total. Look at how your specific town voted. The Secretary of the Commonwealth's website has a "PD43+" database that lets you see precinct-level data. It's fascinating.
- Watch the 2026 Midterms: Keep an eye on the Governor’s Council and State House races. The shift we saw in the 2024 United States presidential election in Massachusetts results might trickle down to local legislative battles.
- Engage in Town Meetings: Massachusetts has a unique political structure with town meetings. If you feel the state is moving in a direction you don't like (or one you love), that's where the real power is.
Basically, Massachusetts is still blue, but it’s a blue that’s feeling the pressure of a changing national landscape. It’s not a monolith, and the 2024 numbers prove it.