Massachusetts ranks last in election competitiveness Olivia Ray — WWLP

According to a Ballotpedia report, Massachusetts is home to the least competitive state legislative elections in the United States.

BOSTON (WWLP) – According to a Ballotpedia report, Massachusetts is home to the least competitive state legislative elections in the United States.

Ballotpedia is an online encyclopedia that tracks political and election statistics throughout the country.

This report found that even though Massachusetts ranked relatively high in the number of districts with no incumbent running, the state fell behind with only 1 in 10 incumbents facing a challenger in the primary, and only 1 in 5 districts featuring competition from both major parties.

These statistics are what gave the state our low “competitiveness rating,” and they explain why many voters will see just one state house or senate candidate on their ballots in November. In western Massachusetts, there are three contested races in the Senate and three in the House of Representatives.

Some, like the chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, say that the lack of competitiveness in state elections shows that voters are happy with the work that the legislature is producing. Others, like the progressive Act on Mass advocacy group, say that more competitive elections would indicate a healthier democracy.

Regardless of the reasoning, Massachusetts is an outlier.

Across the nation, a whopping 6 in 10 races have competition from both major parties, and in some states, it is almost universal. Massachusetts’ ranking does not come as a surprise–the commonwealth has placed dead last for the past five consecutive cycles.

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