Everyone knows Massachusetts is a blue state. You've heard it a thousand times—it’s the "liberal bastion," the home of the Kennedys, and the place where Republicans go to retire their political ambitions. But looking at the Massachusetts election results 2024, the story isn't just about a sea of blue. It's about a weird, messy, and fascinating shift in how the Commonwealth actually thinks.
Honestly, if you just look at the top-line numbers, you’d think nothing changed. Kamala Harris walked away with the state’s 11 electoral votes. Elizabeth Warren kept her seat. Every single U.S. House incumbent won. Boring, right?
Not exactly.
Underneath that blue surface, there was a massive vibration. Donald Trump didn’t win the state—obviously—but he put up numbers in places that should make Democrats sweat. We’re talking about a swing of over 6% toward the GOP compared to 2020. In a state this "safe," that's basically a political earthquake.
The Presidential Race: Blue, but Turning Purple?
Let's talk raw data. Kamala Harris grabbed 2,126,518 votes, which sounds like a lot because it is. That gave her 61.2% of the total. Donald Trump, on the other hand, pulled in 1,251,303 votes, or roughly 36%.
💡 You might also like: JD Vance River Raised Controversy: What Really Happened in Ohio
Wait.
Go back and look at the 2020 numbers. Joe Biden won Massachusetts by about 33 points. Harris won it by 25. That’s an 8-point drop in the margin. You’ve got to wonder what’s happening in towns like Fall River, where Trump actually won by a hair (50% to 48.4%), or Dracut, where he won by 7 points.
It wasn't just the cities. Even in the wealthy suburbs, the "Trump-is-scary" narrative didn't hold as much water as it did four years ago. People were worried about the cost of living. Grocery prices in Worcester aren't cheaper just because you live in a blue state.
The Senate Scuffle
Elizabeth Warren is back for a third term. She beat Republican John Deaton 59.9% to 40.1%. Deaton, a crypto-lawyer who tried to frame himself as a "Charlie Baker Republican," actually did better than many expected. He leaned hard into the migrant crisis and the economy.
📖 Related: Who's the Next Pope: Why Most Predictions Are Basically Guesswork
Warren is a powerhouse, no doubt. She raised over $21 million for this fight. But for an incumbent as famous as she is to lose 40% of the vote in her home turf? That shows a real "fed up" factor among a huge chunk of the population.
The Ballot Questions: Where the Real Drama Was
If you want to know what Massachusetts residents actually care about, look at the ballot questions. This is where the "party line" falls apart.
Question 1 was basically a middle finger to the state government. It asked if State Auditor Diana DiZoglio should be allowed to audit the Legislature. The Legislature hated this. They argued it violated the separation of powers. Voters didn't care. They approved it with 71% of the vote. Basically, they want to see the receipts.
Then there was Question 2, the MCAS requirement. For years, you had to pass the MCAS to graduate high school. Not anymore. Voters chose to scrap that requirement. It was a huge win for teachers' unions, though some worry it’ll lower standards in the long run.
👉 See also: Recent Obituaries in Charlottesville VA: What Most People Get Wrong
The Ones That Failed
- Psychedelics (Question 4): Massachusetts said "no thanks." Even though Somerville and Cambridge are cool with it, the state as a whole rejected legalizing natural psychedelics like magic mushrooms. It wasn't even that close—56.9% voted no.
- Tipped Wages (Question 5): This was the "Waiters' Question." It would’ve raised the minimum wage for tipped workers to $15. You’d think a liberal state would jump at this, right? Nope. Restaurant owners and many servers themselves fought it, fearing it would kill tips and close small diners. It failed miserably.
Why These Massachusetts Election Results 2024 Matter
We saw a 68.3% voter turnout. That’s high, but not a record. What’s interesting is how people voted.
Massachusetts is often seen as a monolith, but it’s really three different states. You have the "Boston Bubble" (Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline), which is deep, deep blue. Then you have the "Gateway Cities" (Lowell, Lawrence, New Bedford), which are getting more conservative as working-class voters feel left behind. Finally, you have the "Red Pockets" in Central and Western Mass.
The 2024 swing suggests that the working class in the Gateway Cities is no longer a guaranteed "yes" for the Democratic Party. When Fall River flips for a Republican presidential candidate, you know the old playbook is expiring.
Actionable Insights for the Next Cycle
If you're a political junkie or someone living in the Bay State, here is what you need to keep an eye on:
- Watch the Auditor: Diana DiZoglio now has a mandate to crack open the books of the State House. Expect a lot of "leaked" reports about wasteful spending in 2026.
- The High School Shift: With the MCAS graduation requirement gone, individual school districts are now in charge. If you have kids in school, you need to attend school board meetings to see what the new "local" graduation standards look like.
- The Republican Opportunity: For the first time in a decade, the GOP has a path. They don't need to win Boston; they just need to keep chipping away at the 40% they found in the suburbs and Gateway Cities. If they find a moderate candidate for Governor in 2026, things could get wild.
The Massachusetts election results 2024 proved that even a "safe" state isn't a stagnant one. People are frustrated with the status quo, and they're starting to use their ballots to say so.
To stay ahead of the next legislative shifts, make sure you're registered for local town halls and keeping track of how the Auditor's office handles its new powers. The 2024 results weren't just an end—they were a signal that the 2026 midterms will be anything but predictable.