2008 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John Kerry, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Edward O'Reilly, Gloucester city councilor

Campaign

At the state convention on June 7, 2008, Edward 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. On July 25, O'Reilly challenged Kerry to a series of debates, and the two eventually met for one debate in early September. On September 16, Kerry defeated O'Reilly in the Democratic primary.

Results

General election

Candidates

• Jeff Beatty (R), military officer, businessman and nominee for MA-10 in 2006
• John Kerry (D), incumbent U.S. Senator
• Robert Underwood (L)

Campaign

Democrat John F. Kerry, the incumbent since 1985, was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for President of the United States in the 2004 election. He had historically attracted strong Republican challengers, including two former Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman, Ray Shamie in 1984, Jim Rappaport in 1990, and former state Governor 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 re-election. However, on January 24, 2007, Kerry announced that he would run for re-election to the United States Senate and not for the Presidency. A December 23, 2007, poll indicated his approval rating at 52%, with 43% disapproving.

Massachusetts held primary elections on September 16, 2008. Unlike in 2002, when Kerry was re-elected against only third-party opposition, the Democratic nominee faced a Republican opponent in 2008. The Republican candidate, former U.S. Army Delta Force officer and FBI special agent Jeff Beatty who had lost a congressional race two years earlier, was not considered a serious contender in this overwhelmingly Democratic state. Massachusetts had not elected a Republican Senator since Edward Brooke in 1972, although Republican Scott Brown would go on to win a special Senate election in 2010.

On September 16, 2008, Kerry defeated Edward O'Reilly in the Democratic primary and faced Republican Beatty in the November general election.

Predictions

Polling

Results

By county

References

General

Specific

• 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

References

1. Viser, Matt. (June 8, 2008). "Gloucester lawyer to challenge Kerry". The Boston Globe.
2. [https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080725/ap_on_el_ge/kerry_debates Kerry's primary challenger proposes debates], Associated Press
3. (August 2024). "cbsnews.com".
4. "CQPolitics Rates Safe Democratic Senate Races in '08". New York Times.
5. Blake, Aaron. (25 January 2007). "In '08, Kerry to run for Senate not White House".
6. "Survey USA".
7. "Candidates guide from Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division".
8. "John Kerry bests 1st primary opponent in 24 years".
9. "2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008".
10. link. (October 28, 2010 ''CQ Politics'')
11. "2008 Senate ratings".
12. "2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results". Real Clear Politics.
13. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080701065842/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/massachusetts/election_2008_massachusetts_senate Rasmussen Reports]