Massachusetts's 9th congressional district
Massachusetts's 9th congressional district is located in eastern Massachusetts. It is represented by Democrat William R. Keating. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+6, it is the least Democratic district in Massachusetts, a state with an all-Democratic congressional delegation.[2]
Massachusetts's 9th congressional district | |||
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Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023 | |||
Representative |
| ||
Population (2022) | 785,636 | ||
Median household income | $94,066[1] | ||
Ethnicity |
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Cook PVI | D+6[2] |
Redistricting after the 2010 census eliminated Massachusetts's 10th congressional district; the 9th covers much of the old 10th's eastern portion. The district also added some Plymouth County communities from the old 4th district, and some Bristol County communities from the old 3rd and 4th districts. It eliminated a few easternmost Norfolk County communities and northernmost Plymouth County communities.
From 1963 to 2013, the 9th covered most of southern Boston, and in its latter years, it included many of Boston's southern suburbs. Most of that territory is now the 8th district.
Election results from presidential races
Year | Office | Result |
---|---|---|
2000 | President | Gore 62 – 31% |
2004 | President | Kerry 63 – 36% |
2008 | President | Obama 58 – 41% |
2012 | President | Obama 56 – 43% |
2016 | President | Clinton 53 – 42% |
2020 | President | Biden 58 – 40% |
Cities and towns in the district
- All of Barnstable County, Dukes County, and Nantucket County.
The Town of Cohasset, in Norfolk County.
The following municipalities in Bristol County:
The following municipalities in Plymouth County:
- Bridgewater, Carver, Duxbury, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, Rockland, Scituate, and Wareham.
Cities and towns in the district prior to 2013

1840s
1849: "The towns in the County of Plymouth, excepting Abington, Hingham, Hull, North Bridgewater, Rochester, and Wareham; and all the towns in the County of Bristol, excepting Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and New Bedford."[3]
1860s
1862: "The towns of Ashburnham, Auburn, Barre, Boylston, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, Fitchburg, Gardner, Grafton, Holden, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Leominster, Millbury, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Templeton, Webster, West Boylston, Westminster, and Winchendon, and the city of Worcester, in the county of Worcester."[4]
1870s–1880s
1890s

1893: Boston, Wards 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 (Precincts 2, 3, 4, 6); Winthrop.[5]
1900s

1910s
1916: In Middlesex County: Everett, Malden, Somerville. In Suffolk County: Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop.[6][7]
1950s
1953: "Counties: Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket. Bristol County: City of Fall River, ward 6, and city of New Bedford; towns of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and Westport. Norfolk County: Town of Cohasset. Plymouth County: Towns of Abington, Bridgewater, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, West Bridgewater, and Whitman."[8]
1960s
1963: Boston (Wards 4- 17, 19, 20).[9]
1970s
1977: "Norfolk County: Towns of Canton, Dedham, Dover, Needham, Norwood, Walpole, and Westwood. Suffolk County: City of Boston: Wards 3, 4, 6—14, 19, and 20."[10]
1980s
1985: "Bristol County: City of Taunton. Towns of Dighton, Easton, and Raynham. Norfolk County: Towns of Canton, Dedham, Needham, Norwood, Stoughton, and Westwood. Plymouth County: Towns of Bridgewater, Halifax, Lakeville, and Middleborough. Suffolk County: City of Boston: Wards 3, 6–14, 19, and 20."[11]
2003–2013
In Bristol County:
In Norfolk County:
- Avon, Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Holbrook, Medfield, Milton, Needham, Norwood, Randolph, Stoughton, Walpole, Westwood.
In Plymouth County:
- Bridgewater, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Hanson, Precincts 1 and 3, West Bridgewater, Whitman.
In Suffolk County:
- Boston, Ward 3, Precincts 5 and 6; Ward 5, Precincts 3–5, 11; Ward 6; Ward 7, Precincts 1–9; Ward 13, Precincts 3, 7–10; Ward 15, Precinct 6; Ward 16, Precincts 2, 4–12; Ward 17, Precincts 4, 13, 14; Ward 18, Precincts 9–12, 16–20, 22, 23; Ward 19, Precincts 2, 7, 10–13; Ward 20.
List of members representing the district
Representative | Party | Years | Cong ress |
Electoral history | District location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
District created March 4, 1795 | |||||
![]() Joseph B. Varnum (Dracut) |
Democratic- Republican |
March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1803 |
4th 5th 6th 7th |
Elected in 1795. Re-elected in 1796. Re-elected in 1798. Re-elected in 1800. Redistricted to the 4th district. |
1795 – 1803 "2nd Middle district" |
Phanuel Bishop (Rehoboth) |
Democratic- Republican |
March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1807 |
8th 9th |
Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1802. Re-elected in 1804. Retired. |
1803 – 1815 "Bristol district" |
Josiah Dean (Raynham) |
Democratic- Republican |
March 4, 1807 – March 3, 1809 |
10th | Elected in 1806. Lost re-election. | |
![]() Laban Wheaton (Easton) |
Federalist | March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1815 |
11th 12th 13th |
Elected in 1808. Re-elected in 1810. Re-elected in 1812. Redistricted to the 10th district. | |
John Reed, Jr. (Yarmouth) |
Federalist | March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1817 |
14th | Redistricted from the 8th district and re-elected in 1814. Lost re-election. |
1815 – 1823 "Barnstable district" |
Walter Folger, Jr. (Nantucket) |
Democratic- Republican |
March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1821 |
15th 16th |
Elected May 1, 1817 on the third ballot. Lost re-election. | |
John Reed Jr. (Yarmouth) |
Federalist | March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823 |
17th | Elected in 1820. Redistricted to the 13th district. | |
![]() Henry W. Dwight (Stockbridge) |
Adams-Clay Federalist | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 |
18th 19th 20th 21st |
Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1822. Re-elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1827 on the second ballot. Re-elected in 1828. [data missing] |
1823 – 1833 "Berkshire district" |
Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1831 | ||||
![]() George N. Briggs (Lanesboro) |
Anti-Jackson | March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 |
22nd | Elected in 1830. Redistricted to the 7th district. | |
William Jackson (Newton) |
Anti-Masonic | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837 |
23rd 24th |
Elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1834. Retired. |
1833–1843 [data missing] |
William S. Hastings (Mendon) |
Whig | March 4, 1837 – June 17, 1842 |
25th 26th 27th |
Elected in 1836. Re-elected in 1838. Re-elected in 1840. Died. | |
Vacant | June 17, 1842 – March 3, 1843 |
27th | |||
Henry Williams (Taunton) |
Democratic | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 |
28th | Elected in 1842. Retired. |
1843–1853 [data missing] |
Artemas Hale (Bridgewater) |
Whig | March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1849 |
29th 30th |
Elected in 1844. Re-elected in 1846. Retired. | |
Orin Fowler (Fall River) |
Whig | March 4, 1849 – September 3, 1852 |
31st 32nd |
Elected in 1848. Re-elected in 1850. Died. | |
Vacant | September 3, 1852 – December 13, 1852 |
32nd | |||
Edward P. Little (Marshfield) |
Democratic | December 13, 1852 – March 3, 1853 |
Elected to finish Fowler's term. Retired. | ||
![]() Alexander Dewitt (Oxford) |
Free Soil | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 |
33rd 34th |
Elected in 1852. Re-elected in 1854. Lost re-election. |
1853–1863 [data missing] |
Know Nothing | March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857 | ||||
![]() Eli Thayer (Worcester) |
Republican | March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861 |
35th 36th |
Elected in 1856. Re-elected in 1858. [data missing] | |
![]() Goldsmith Bailey[12] (Fitchburg) |
Republican | March 4, 1861 – May 8, 1862 |
37th | Elected in 1860. Died. | |
Vacant | May 8, 1862 – December 1, 1862 | ||||
![]() Amasa Walker (North Brookfield) |
Republican | December 1, 1862 – March 3, 1863 |
Elected to finish Bailey's term. [data missing] | ||
![]() William B. Washburn[13] (Greenfield) |
Republican | March 4, 1863 – December 5, 1871 |
38th 39th 40th 41st 42nd |
Elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864. Re-elected in 1866. Re-elected in 1868. Re-elected in 1870. Resigned to become governor of Massachusetts. |
1863–1873 [data missing] |
Vacant | December 5, 1871 – January 2, 1872 |
42nd | |||
![]() Alvah Crocker (Fitchburg) |
Republican | January 2, 1872 – March 3, 1873 |
Elected to finish Washburn's term. Redistricted to the 10th district. | ||
![]() George Frisbie Hoar (Worcester) |
Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877 |
43rd 44th |
Redistricted from the 8th district and re-elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. [data missing] |
1873–1883 [data missing] |
![]() William W. Rice[14] (Worcester) |
Republican | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883 |
45th 46th 47th |
Elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. [data missing] | |
![]() Theodore Lyman (Brookline) |
Independent Republican |
March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 |
48th | Elected in 1882. [data missing] |
1883–1893 [data missing] |
![]() Frederick D. Ely (Dedham) |
Republican | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887 |
49th | Elected in 1884. Lost re-election. | |
![]() Edward Burnett (Southborough) |
Democratic | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889 |
50th | Elected in 1886. [data missing] | |
![]() John W. Candler (Worcester) |
Republican | March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1891 |
51st | Elected in 1888. [data missing] | |
![]() George F. Williams (Dedham) |
Democratic | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 |
52nd | Elected in 1890. [data missing] | |
![]() Joseph H. O'Neil (Boston) |
Democratic | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 |
53rd | Elected in 1892. Lost renomination. |
1893–1903 [data missing] |
![]() John F. Fitzgerald[15] (Boston) |
Democratic | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1901 |
54th 55th 56th |
Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. [data missing] | |
![]() Joseph A. Conry (Boston) |
Democratic | March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903 |
57th | Elected in 1900. [data missing] | |
![]() John A. Keliher[16] (Boston) |
Democratic | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1911 |
58th 59th 60th 61st |
Elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. [data missing] |
1903–1913 [data missing] |
![]() William F. Murray (Boston) |
Democratic | March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913 |
62nd | Elected in 1910. [data missing] | |
![]() Ernest W. Roberts (Chelsea) |
Republican | March 3, 1913 – March 3, 1917 |
63rd 64th |
Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. [data missing] |
1913–1933 [data missing] |
![]() Alvan T. Fuller (Malden) |
Republican | March 4, 1917 – January 5, 1921 |
65th 66th |
Elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Resigned after being elected Lieutenant Governor. | |
Vacant | January 5, 1921 – March 3, 1921 |
66th | |||
![]() Charles L. Underhill (Somerville) |
Republican | March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1933 |
67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd |
Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Retired. | |
![]() Robert Luce (Waltham) |
Republican | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 |
73rd | Elected in 1932. [data missing] |
1933–1943 [data missing] |
Richard M. Russell (Cambridge) |
Democratic | January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1937 |
74th | Elected in 1934. [data missing] | |
![]() Robert Luce[17] (Waltham) |
Republican | January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1941 |
75th 76th |
Elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. [data missing] | |
![]() Thomas H. Eliot (Cambridge) |
Democratic | January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1943 |
77th | Elected in 1940. Lost renomination. | |
![]() Charles L. Gifford (Cotuit) |
Republican | January 3, 1943 – August 23, 1947 |
78th 79th 80th |
Elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Died. |
1943–1953 [data missing] |
Vacant | August 23, 1947 – November 18, 1947 |
80th | |||
![]() Donald W. Nicholson (Wareham) |
Republican | November 18, 1947 – January 3, 1959 |
80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th |
Elected to finish Gifford's term. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. [data missing] | |
1953–1963 [data missing] | |||||
![]() Hastings Keith (West Bridgewater) |
Republican | January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1963 |
86th 87th |
Elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Redistricted to 12th district. | |
![]() John W. McCormack[18] (Boston) |
Democratic | January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1971 |
88th 89th 90th 91st |
Redistricted from the 12th district and re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Retired. |
1963–1973 [data missing] |
![]() Louise Day Hicks (Boston) |
Democratic | January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1973 |
92nd | Elected in 1970. Lost re-election. | |
![]() Joe Moakley[19] (Boston) |
Democratic | January 3, 1973 – May 28, 2001 |
93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th |
Elected in 1972 as an Independent, but became a Democrat at beginning of the term Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Announced retirement, then died. |
1973–1983 [data missing] |
1983–1993 [data missing] | |||||
1993–2003 [data missing] | |||||
Vacant | May 28, 2001 – October 15, 2001 |
107th | |||
![]() Stephen F. Lynch (Boston) |
Democratic | October 16, 2001 – January 3, 2013 |
107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th |
Elected to finish Moakley's term. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Redistricted to the 8th district. | |
2003–2013![]() | |||||
![]() Bill Keating (Bourne) |
Democratic | January 3, 2013 – present |
113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th |
Redistricted from the 10th 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. |
2013–2023![]() |
2023–present![]() |
Election results
2012
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bill Keating (incumbent) | 212,754 | 58.7 | |
Republican | Christopher Sheldon | 116,531 | 32.2 | |
Independent | Daniel Botelho | 32,655 | 9.0 | |
n/a | Write-ins | 465 | 0.1 | |
Total votes | 359,060 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
2014
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bill Keating (incumbent) | 140,413 | 54.9 | |
Republican | John Chapman | 114,971 | 45.0 | |
n/a | Write-ins | 157 | 0.1 | |
Total votes | 255,541 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
2016
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bill Keating (incumbent) | 211,790 | 55.8 | |
Republican | Mark C. Alliegro | 127,803 | 33.6 | |
Independent | Paul J. Harrington | 26,233 | 6.9 | |
Independent | Christopher D. Cataldo | 8,338 | 2.2 | |
Independent | Anna Grace Raduc | 5,320 | 1.4 | |
n/a | Write-ins | 411 | 0.1 | |
Total votes | 379,895 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
2018
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bill Keating (incumbent) | 192,347 | 59.4 | |
Republican | Peter Tedeschi | 131,463 | 40.6 | |
Write-in | 118 | 0.0 | ||
Total votes | 323,928 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
2020
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bill Keating (incumbent) | 260,262 | 61.3 | |
Republican | Helen Brady | 154,261 | 36.3 | |
Independent | Michael Manley | 9,717 | 2.3 | |
Write-in | 361 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 424,601 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
2022
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bill Keating (incumbent) | 197,823 | 59.1 | |
Republican | Jesse G. Brown | 136,347 | 40.9 | |
Write-in | 150 | 0.0 | ||
Total votes | 424,240 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
References
- Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
- "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- 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.
- Francis M. Cox (1893). "Massachusetts". Official Congressional Directory: Fifty-Third Congress (2nd ed.). Washington DC: Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/mdp.39015022758133.
- "Massachusetts". Official Congressional Directory: 64th Congress. 1991/1992- : S. Pub. (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, House ;no. 1610, Boston: Wright & Potter, hdl:2027/nnc1.cu56182970
- "Massachusetts". Official Congressional Directory: 83rd Congress. Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1953. hdl:2027/mdp.39015038055821.
- "Massachusetts". Official Congressional Directory: 88th Congress. Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1963. hdl:2027/mdp.39015071164118.
- "Massachusetts", 1977 Official Congressional Directory: 95th Congress, 1991/1992- : S. Pub., Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1977, hdl:2027/uc1.31158002391372
- "Massachusetts". 1985–1986 Official Congressional Directory: 99th Congress. 1991/1992- : S. Pub. Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1985. hdl:2027/uc1.31158013115752.
- "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.
- Ben. Perley Poore (1878). "Massachusetts". Congressional Directory: 45th Congress (3rd ed.). Washington DC: Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780160411762.
- 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.
- "Massachusetts". Official Congressional Directory: 75th Congress (2nd ed.). Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1938.
- "Massachusetts". Official Congressional Directory: 90th Congress. Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1968.
- "Massachusetts". 1991–1992 Official Congressional Directory: 102nd Congress. Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1991.
- "PD43+ » Search Elections".
- The totals do not include Blank/Scatterings Ballots although they were reported.
- "PD43+ » Search Elections".
- "Massachusetts Secretary of State General Election Results 2016". Massachusetts Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
- "Massachusetts Election Results". Washington Post. 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- "2020 - US House - All General Election Results". Massachusetts Election Statistics. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
- "2022 - US House - All General Election Results". Massachusetts Election Statistics. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
Further reading
- Matt Stout (November 8, 2021), "On South Coast, the state's redistricting plan tugs at the region's political soul", Boston Globe, archived from the original on November 9, 2021
External links

- Rose Institute of State and Local Government, "Massachusetts: 2010 Redistricting Changes: Ninth District", Redistricting by State, Claremont, CA: Claremont McKenna College, archived from the original on September 15, 2020
- "Our Campaigns - United States - Massachusetts - MA - District 09". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
Maps
- Map of Massachusetts's 9th Congressional District, via Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth