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Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district

U.S. House district for Massachusetts

Field	Value
state	Massachusetts
district number	2
image name
image caption	Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
representative	Jim McGovern
party	Democratic
residence	Worcester
population	801,772
population year	2024
median income	$97,024
percent white	70.8
percent hispanic	11.1
percent black	5.3
percent asian	7.3
percent more than one race	4.3
percent other race	1.1
cpvi	D+13

| percent more than one race = 4.3 Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district is located in central Massachusetts, encompassing much of Franklin, Hampshire, and Worcester counties, as well as small portions of Middlesex and Norfolk Counties. The largest municipalities in the district include Worcester (which is the second-largest city in New England after Boston), Leominster, Amherst, Shrewsbury, and Northampton.

Democrat Jim McGovern has represented the district since 2013; he previously represented the 3rd district since 1997.

Cities and towns represented

As of the 2021 redistricting, the 2nd district includes 68 municipalities:

Franklin County (22)

: Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Greenfield, Heath, Leverett, Leyden, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Warwick, Wendell, Whatley

Hampshire County (9)

: Amherst, Chesterfield, Goshen, Hadley, Hatfield, Northampton, Pelham, Westhampton, Williamsburg

Middlesex County (3)

: Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton

Norfolk County (1)

: Medway

Worcester County (33)

: Athol, Auburn, Barre, Boylston, Douglas, Grafton, Hardwick, Holden, Hubbardston, Leicester, Leominster, Millbury, Northborough, Northbridge, Oakham, Petersham, Paxton, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sterling, Sutton, Templeton, Upton, Uxbridge, Webster (part; also 1st; includes part of Webster CDP), West Boylston, Westborough, Westminster (part; also 3rd), Worcester

History of District Boundaries

1795 to 1803

Known as the 2nd Western District.

1803 to 1813

Known as the "Essex North" district.

1813 to 1833

Tisdale's drawing of the Essex South district, turning the area that the district encompassed into a depiction of a dragon-like creature, building upon Richard Alsop's term, "Gerry-mander."

Known as the "Essex South" district. From 1813-1815, the district was shaped in such a way that poet and Federalist Richard Alsop described it as a "Gerry-mander" (a portmanteau of Gerry—the governor at the time—and salamander). Illustrator Elkanah Tisdale subsequently used the term as the basis for a political cartoon, which popularized it and led to "gerrymandering" being used to describe the practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries to gain a political advantage.

1843 to 1853

The Act of September 16, 1842, established the district on the North Shore and New Hampshire border, with the following municipalities:

In Essex County: Beverly, Danvers, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Lynn, Lynnfield, Manchester, Marblehead, Middleton, Rockport, Salem, Saugus, Topsfield, and Wenham
In Middlesex County: Malden, Medford, Reading, South Reading, and Stoneham
In Suffolk County: Chelsea

1860s

"Parts of the counties of Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth."

1870s–1900s

1903 to 1913

During this decade, the district contained the following municipalities:

In Franklin County: Erving, Leverett, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Warwick, and Wendell
In Hampshire County: Amherst, Belchertown, Easthampton, Enfield, Granby, Hadley, Northampton, Pelham, Prescott, South Hadley, and Ware
In Hampden County: Brimfield, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Hampden, Holland, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Palmer, Springfield, Wales, and Wilbraham
In Worcester County: Athol, Barre, Brookfield, Dana, Hardwick, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Warren, and West Brookfield.

1913 to 1923

During this decade, the district contained the following municipalities:

In Franklin County: Bernardston, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Leverett, Montague, Northfield, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Warwick, Wendell, and Whately
In Hampshire County: Amherst, Belchertown, Easthampton, Enfield, Granby, Hadley, Hatfield, Northampton, Pelham, South Hadley, Ware, and Williamsburg
In Hampden County: Agawam, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Hampden, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Springfield, West Springfield, and Wilbraham

1920s–2002

2003 to 2013

During this decade, the district contained the following municipalities:

In Hampden County: Agawam, Brimfield, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Hampden, Holland, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Palmer, Springfield, Wales, Wilbraham
In Hampshire County: Hadley, Northampton, South Hadley
In Norfolk County: Bellingham
In Worcester County: Blackstone, Brookfield, Charlton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Grafton, Hopedale, Leicester, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, North Brookfield, Northbridge, Oxford, Southbridge, Spencer, Sturbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Warren, Webster

2013 to 2023

After the 2010 census, the shape of the district changed for the elections of 2012. The updated district covered central Massachusetts, including much of Worcester County, and was largely the successor to the old 3rd District. Most of the old 2nd district, including Springfield, was moved into the updated 1st district.

During this decade, the district contained the following municipalities:

In Franklin County: Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Greenfield, Leverett, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Wendell, Warwick, and Whately
In Hampden County: Precinct 1 in Palmer
In Hampshire County: Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Hatfield, Northampton, Pelham, and Ware
In Norfolk County: Precincts 4 and 5 in Bellingham
In Worcester County: Athol, Auburn, Barre, Blackstone, Boylston, Douglas, Grafton, Hardwick, Holden, Hubbardston, Leicester, Leominster, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Northborough, Northbridge, North Brookfield, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Spencer, Sterling, Sutton, Templeton, Upton, Uxbridge, Webster, West Boylston, Westborough, Precinct 1 in Winchendon, and Worcester.

Recent election results from statewide races

Year	Office	Results
2008	President	Obama 61% - 37%
Senate	Kerry 67% - 33%
2010	Senate (Spec.)	Brown 54% - 46%
Governor	Patrick 48% - 42%
2012	President	Obama 61% - 39%
Senate	Warren 52% - 48%
2014	Senate	Markey 58% - 42%
Governor	Baker 50% - 44%
	2016	President	Clinton 58% - 34%
2018	Senate	Warren 59% - 37%
Governor	Baker 68% - 32%
Secretary of the Commonwealth	Galvin 69% - 27%
Attorney General	Healey 68% - 32%
Treasurer and Receiver-General	Goldberg 66% - 30%
Auditor	Bump 60% - 32%
2020	President	Biden 64% - 33%
Senate	Markey 64% - 34%
2022	Governor	Healey 63% - 35%
Secretary of the Commonwealth	Galvin 66% - 30%
Attorney General	Campbell 62% - 38%
Auditor	DiZoglio 53% - 39%
2024	President	Harris 60% - 37%
Senate	Warren 59% - 41%

List of members representing the district

Member	Party	Years	Cong
ress	Electoral history	District location
District created March 4, 1789
[[File:Benjamin Goodhue, 1748-1814, from painting at Essex Institute by George Southward, photo by Frank Cousins, c. 1865-1914, from the Digital Commonwealth - commonwealth 2b88rh309.jpg	100px]]
Benjamin Goodhue
(Salem)		Pro-Administration	nowrap	March 4, 1789 –
March 3, 1793		Elected January 29, 1789, on the second ballot.
Re-elected October 4, 1790.
Redistricted to the .	1789–1793
Essex County
[[File:DFoster.jpg	100px]]
Dwight Foster
(Brookfield)		Pro-Administration	General ticket:
March 4, 1793 –
March 3, 1795		Elected April 1, 1793, on the third ballot as part of the four-seat general ticket, representing the district at-large.
Redistricted to the .	1793–1795
Berkshire County, Worcester County, and Hampshire County
[[File:Gilbert Stuart - Theodore Sedgwick - 33.508 - Museum of Fine Arts.jpg	100px]]
Theodore Sedgwick
(Great Barrington)		Pro-Administration	Redistricted from the and re-elected November 2, 1792, as part of the four-seat general ticket, representing the district from Berkshire County.
Redistricted to the .
[[File:Raphaelle Peale - Artemas Ward (1727-1800) - H835 - Harvard Art Museums.jpg	100px]]
Artemas Ward
(Shrewsbury)		Pro-Administration	Redistricted from the and re-elected November 2, 1792, as part of the four-seat general ticket, representing the district from Worcester County.
William Lyman
(Northampton)		Anti-Administration	Elected April 1, 1793, on the third ballot as part of the four-seat general ticket, representing the district from Hampshire County.
Re-elected November 3, 1794, as the sole representative from the district.
Lost re-election.
	Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1797		1795–1803
"2nd Western district"
[[File:Gilbert Stuart Portrait of William Shepard.jpg	100px]]
William Shepard
(Westfield)		Federalist	nowrap	March 4, 1797 –
March 3, 1803		Elected January 16, 1797, on the second ballot.
Re-elected in 1798.
Re-elected in 1800.
Retired.
[[File:Jacob Crowninshield.jpg	100px]]
Jacob Crowninshield
(Salem)		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1803 –
April 15, 1808		Elected in 1802.
Re-elected in 1804.
Re-elected in 1806.
Died.	1803–1823
"Essex South district"
Vacant	April 15, 1808 –
May 23, 1808
[[File:Joseph Story.jpg	100px]]
Joseph Story
(Salem)		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	May 23, 1808 –
March 3, 1809	Elected to finish Crowninshield's term.
Retired.
[[File:BenjaminPickman ca1843 byChesterHarding MFABoston.jpeg	100px]]
Benjamin Pickman Jr.
(Salem)		Federalist	nowrap	March 4, 1809 –
March 3, 1811		Elected in 1808.
Retired.
[[File:Portrait of William Reed (1776-1837).jpg	100px]]
William Reed
(Marblehead)		Federalist	nowrap	March 4, 1811 –
March 3, 1815		Elected in 1810.
Re-elected in 1812.
Retired.
[[File:Timothy Pickering, Peale.jpg	100px]]
Timothy Pickering
(Wendham)		Federalist	nowrap	March 4, 1815 –
March 3, 1817		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1814.
Lost re-election.
[[File:Nathaniel Silsbee.png	100px]]
Nathaniel Silsbee
(Salem)		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1821		Elected in 1816.
Re-elected in 1818.
Retired.
Gideon Barstow
(Salem)		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1821 –
March 3, 1823		Elected in 1821 on the third ballot.
Retired.
[[File:BenjaminWilliamsCrowninshield.jpg	100px]]
Benjamin W. Crowninshield
(Salem)		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1823 –
March 3, 1825		Elected in 1823 on the second ballot.
Re-elected in 1824.
Re-elected in 1826.
Re-elected in 1828.
Lost re-election.	1823–1833
"Essex South district"
	Anti-Jacksonian	nowrap	March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1831
[[File:RufusChoate Southworth Hawes-crop.png	100px]]
Rufus Choate
(Salem)	Anti-Jacksonian	March 4, 1831 –
June 30, 1834		Elected in 1830.
Re-elected in 1833.
Resigned.
1833–1843
Vacant	June 30, 1834 –
December 1, 1834
[[File:Stephen Clarendon Phillips.png	100px]]
Stephen C. Phillips
(Salem)		Anti-Jacksonian	nowrap	December 1, 1834 –
March 3, 1837		Elected to finish Choate's term.
Also elected to the full term in 1834.
Re-elected in 1836.
Resigned to become Mayor of Salem.
	Whig	nowrap	March 4, 1837 –
September 28, 1838
Vacant	September 28, 1838 –
December 5, 1838
[[File:Leverett Saltonstall 1783-1845 - Chester Harding.jpg	100px]]
Leverett Saltonstall
(Salem)		Whig	nowrap	December 5, 1838 –
March 3, 1843		Elected to finish Phillips's term in 1838 and seated December 5, 1838.
Also elected to the full term in 1838.
Re-elected in 1840.
Lost re-election.
[[File:Daniel Putnam King (1801-1850).jpg	100px]]
Daniel P. King
(South Danvers)		Whig	nowrap	March 4, 1843 –
July 25, 1850		Elected in 1843 on the fourth ballot.
Re-elected in 1844.
Re-elected in 1846.
Re-elected in 1848.
Died.	1843–1853

Vacant	July 25, 1850 –
March 3, 1851
[[File:RRantoul.jpg	100px]]
Robert Rantoul Jr.
(Beverly)		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1851 –
August 7, 1852		Elected in 1850.
Died.
Vacant	August 7, 1852 –
December 13, 1852
[[File:Francis B. Fay.png	100px]]
Francis B. Fay
(Chelsea)		Whig	nowrap	December 13, 1852 –
March 3, 1853	Elected to finish Rantoul's term.
Retired.
[[File:Samuel Leonard Crocker.png	100px]]
Samuel L. Crocker
(Taunton)		Whig	nowrap	March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855		Elected in 1852.
Lost re-election.	1853–1863

[[File:JBuffington.jpg	100px]]
James Buffington
(Fall River)		Know Nothing	nowrap	March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857		Elected in 1854.
Re-elected in 1856.
Re-elected in 1858.
Re-elected in 1860.
Retired.
	Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1863
[[File:Oakes Ames - Brady-Handy.jpg	100px]]
Oakes Ames
(North Easton)		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1873		Elected in 1862.
Re-elected in 1864.
Re-elected in 1866.
Re-elected in 1868.
Re-elected in 1870.
Retired.	1863–1873

[[File:BWHarris.jpg	100px]]
Benjamin W. Harris
(East Bridgewater)		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1883		Elected in 1872.
Re-elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Retired.	1873–1883

[[File:John Davis Long.jpg	100px]]
John D. Long
(Hingham)		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1889		Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Retired.	1883–1893

[[File:Elijah A. Morse.png	100px]]
Elijah A. Morse
(Canton)		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1893		Elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Redistricted to the .
[[File:Frederick Gillett.jpg	100px]]
Frederick H. Gillett
(Springfield)	Republican	March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1925		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.
Re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.	1893–1903

1903–1913
1913–1933
[[File:GeorgeBChurchill.jpg	100px]]
George B. Churchill
(Amherst)		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1925 –
July 1, 1925		Elected in 1924.
Died.
Vacant	July 1, 1925 –
September 29, 1925
[[File:HenryLBowles.jpg	100px]]
Henry L. Bowles
(Springfield)		Republican	nowrap	September 29, 1925 –
March 3, 1929		Elected to finish Churchill's term.
Re-elected in 1926.
Retired.
[[File:William K. Kaynor (Massachusetts Congressman).jpg	100px]]
Will Kirk Kaynor
(Springfield)		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1929 –
December 20, 1929		Elected in 1928.
Died.
Vacant	December 20, 1929 –
February 11, 1930
[[File:William J. Granfield (Massachusetts Congressman).jpg	100px]]
William J. Granfield
(Springfield)	Democratic	February 11, 1930 –
January 3, 1937		Elected to finish Kaynor's term.
Also elected to full term in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Retired.
1933–1943
[[File:CharlesClason.jpg	100px]]
Charles R. Clason
(Springfield)	Republican	January 3, 1937 –
January 3, 1949		Elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Lost re-election.
1943–1953
[[File:Foster Furcolo.jpg	100px]]
Foster Furcolo
(Longmeadow)		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1949 –
September 30, 1952		Elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Retired and then resigned early when appointed State Treasurer.
Vacant	September 30, 1952 –
January 3, 1953
[[File:Edward Boland (1961).jpg	100px]]
Edward Boland
(Springfield)	Democratic	January 3, 1953 –
January 3, 1989		Elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
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.
Re-elected in 1986.
Retired.	1953–1963

1963–1973
1973–1983
1983–1993
[[File:Richardneal.jpg	100px]]
Richard Neal
(Springfield)	Democratic	January 3, 1989 –
January 3, 2013		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.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Redistricted to the .
1993–2003
2003–2013
[[File:Ma02 109.gif	300px]]
[[File:Jim McGovern, official 111th Congress photo.jpg	100px]]
Jim McGovern
(Worcester)	Democratic	January 3, 2013 –
present		Redistricted from the 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
[[File:Massachusetts US Congressional District 2 (since 2013).tif	300px]]
2023–present
[[File:Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district (since 2023).svg	250px]]

Recent election results

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

This election followed redistricting.

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

References

Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

References

"My Congressional District".
(April 3, 2025). "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)".
"Massachusetts Congressional Districts".
(September 10, 2013). "MA - District 02 - History". Our Campaigns.
(April 14, 2011). "MA District 2 (Essex South)".
Trickey, Erick. (July 20, 2017). "Where Did the Term "Gerrymander" Come From?". [[Smithsonian_(magazine).
(1779). "Massachusetts Register ... for 1843". Loring.
Ben. Perley Poore. (1869). "Congressional Directory for the First Session of the Forty-First Congress". Government Printing Office.
(1905). "Official Congressional Directory: 59th Congress". Government Printing Office.
(1916). "Official Congressional Directory: 64th Congress". Government Printing Office.
"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Congressional Districts, Chapter 177 of the Acts of 2011".
"Dra 2020".
(1861). "Congressional Directory for the Second Session of the Thirty-Seventh Congress". House of Representatives.
Ben. Perley Poore. (1878). "Congressional Directory: 45th Congress". Government Printing Office.
Ben. Perley Poore. (1882). "Congressional Directory: 47th Congress". Government Printing Office.
L.A. Coolidge. (1897). "Official Congressional Directory: Fifty-Fifth Congress". Government Printing Office.
A.J. Halford. (1909). "Congressional Directory: 60th Congress". Government Printing Office.
(1938). "Official Congressional Directory: 75th Congress". Government Printing Office.
(1968). "Official Congressional Directory: 90th Congress". Government Printing Office.
(1991). "1991-1992 Official Congressional Directory: 102nd Congress". Government Printing Office.
(23 November 2012). "Return of Votes for Massachusetts State Elections, November 6, 2013". Secretary of State for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The totals do not include Blank/Scatterings Ballots although they were reported.
(November 4, 2014). "Massachusetts Secretary of State Election Results 2014". Massachusetts Secretary of State.
(November 8, 2016). "Massachusetts Secretary of State General Election Results 2016". Massachusetts Secretary of State.
"2022 U.S. House General Election - 2nd Congressional District".

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