Massachusetts

<h3>Politics</h3>
<div class="placeholder placeholder-double-brackets" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22double-brackets%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%7B%7BMain%7CPolitics%20of%20Massachusetts%7D%7D%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%221%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Main%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%7D" contenteditable="false">&#x200b;&#x200b;</div>
<table class="wikitable" data-rte-style="float:right; font-size:110%;" style="float:right; font-size:110%;" data-rte-attribs=" class=wikitable  style=float:right; font-size:110%;">
<caption> <b>Presidential elections results</b>
</caption>
<tr data-rte-style="background:lightgrey;" style="background:lightgrey;" data-rte-attribs=" style=background:lightgrey;">
<th data-rte-spaces-before="1">Year
</th><th data-rte-spaces-before="1"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Republican%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Republican%20Party%20%28United%20States%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRepublican%20Party%20%28United%20States%29%7CRepublican%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Republican Party (United States) (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvUmVwdWJsaWNhbl9QYXJ0eV8oVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlcyk/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">Republican</a>
</th><th data-rte-spaces-before="1"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Democratic%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Democratic%20Party%20%28United%20States%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDemocratic%20Party%20%28United%20States%29%7CDemocratic%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Democratic Party (United States) (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvRGVtb2NyYXRpY19QYXJ0eV8oVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlcyk/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">Democratic</a>
</th></tr>
<tr>
<td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%222012%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%202012%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%202012%7C2012%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="United States presidential election, 2012 (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlc19wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWxfZWxlY3Rpb24sXzIwMTI/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">2012</a>
</td><td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;" style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;">38% <i>1,178,510</i>
</td><td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"><b>61%</b> <i>1,906,319</i>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%222008%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%202008%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%202008%7C2008%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2008" title="United States presidential election, 2008">2008</a>
</td><td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;" style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;">36% <i>1,108,854</i>
</td><td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"><b>62%</b> <i>1,904,098</i>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%222004%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%202004%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%202004%7C2004%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="United States presidential election, 2004 (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlc19wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWxfZWxlY3Rpb24sXzIwMDQ/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">2004</a>
</td><td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;" style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;">37% <i>1,070,109</i>
</td><td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"><b>62%</b> <i>1,803,801</i>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%222000%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%202000%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%202000%7C2000%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="United States presidential election, 2000 (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlc19wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWxfZWxlY3Rpb24sXzIwMDA/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">2000</a>
</td><td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;" style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;">33% <i>878,502</i>
</td><td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"><b>60%</b> <i>1,616,487</i>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%221996%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%201996%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%201996%7C1996%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="United States presidential election, 1996 (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlc19wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWxfZWxlY3Rpb24sXzE5OTY/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">1996</a>
</td><td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;" style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;">28% <i>718,107</i>
</td><td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"><b>62%</b> <i>1,571,763</i>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%221992%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%201992%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%201992%7C1992%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="United States presidential election, 1992 (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlc19wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWxfZWxlY3Rpb24sXzE5OTI/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">1992</a>
</td><td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;" style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;">29% <i>805,049</i>
</td><td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"><b>48%</b> <i>1,318,662</i>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%221988%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%201988%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%201988%7C1988%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="United States presidential election, 1988 (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlc19wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWxfZWxlY3Rpb24sXzE5ODg/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">1988</a>
</td><td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;" style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;">46% <i>1,194,635</i>
</td><td data-rte-style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;" data-rte-attribs="  style=text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"><b>53%</b> <i>1,401,416</i>
</td></tr></table>
<p data-rte-fromparser="true">Throughout the mid 20th century, Massachusetts has gradually shifted from a <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%20Republican%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Republican%20Party%20%28United%20States%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRepublican%20Party%20%28United%20States%29%7C%20Republican%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Republican Party (United States) (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvUmVwdWJsaWNhbl9QYXJ0eV8oVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlcyk/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x"> Republican</a>-leaning state to one largely dominated by <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Democrats%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Democratic%20Party%20%28United%20States%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BDemocratic%20Party%20%28United%20States%29%7CDemocrats%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Democratic Party (United States) (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvRGVtb2NyYXRpY19QYXJ0eV8oVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlcyk/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">Democrats</a>; the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%221952%20victory%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20Senate%20election%20in%20Massachusetts%2C%201952%20%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20Senate%20election%20in%20Massachusetts%2C%201952%20%7C1952%20victory%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="United States Senate election in Massachusetts, 1952 (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlc19TZW5hdGVfZWxlY3Rpb25faW5fTWFzc2FjaHVzZXR0cyxfMTk1Mj9hY3Rpb249ZWRpdCZyZWRsaW5rPTE=">1952 victory</a> of <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22John%20F.%20Kennedy%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22John%20F.%20Kennedy%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BJohn%20F.%20Kennedy%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="/wiki/John_F._Kennedy" title="John F. Kennedy" class="mw-redirect">John F. Kennedy</a> over incumbent Senator <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Henry%20Cabot%20Lodge%2C%20Jr.%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Henry%20Cabot%20Lodge%2C%20Jr.%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BHenry%20Cabot%20Lodge%2C%20Jr.%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="/wiki/Henry_Cabot_Lodge,_Jr." title="Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr." class="mw-redirect">Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.</a> is seen as a watershed moment in this transformation. His younger brother <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%20Edward%20M.%20Kennedy%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Ted%20Kennedy%20%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BTed%20Kennedy%20%7C%20Edward%20M.%20Kennedy%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="/wiki/Ted_Kennedy" title="Ted Kennedy" class="mw-redirect"> Edward M. Kennedy</a> held that seat until his death from a brain tumor in 2009.<span class="placeholder placeholder-double-brackets" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22double-brackets%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%7B%7BSfn%20%7C%20Brown%20%7C%20Tager%20%7C%202000%20%7C%20p%20%3D%20310%7D%7D%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Sfn%20%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%7D" contenteditable="false">&#x200b;<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrownTager2000310_0-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBrownTager2000310-0">[1]</a></sup>&#x200b;</span>  Massachusetts has since gained a reputation as being a politically liberal state and is often used as an archetype of <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22modern%20liberalism%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22modern%20liberalism%20in%20the%20United%20States%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5Bmodern%20liberalism%20in%20the%20United%20States%7Cmodern%20liberalism%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Modern liberalism in the United States (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvTW9kZXJuX2xpYmVyYWxpc21faW5fdGhlX1VuaXRlZF9TdGF0ZXM/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">modern liberalism</a>, hence the usage of the phrase "<a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Massachusetts%20liberal%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Massachusetts%20liberal%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMassachusetts%20liberal%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Massachusetts liberal (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvTWFzc2FjaHVzZXR0c19saWJlcmFsP2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">Massachusetts liberal</a>".<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%7B%7Bcite%20news%7Curl%3Dhttp%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.usatoday.com%5C%2Fnews%5C%2Fpoliticselections%5C%2Fnation%5C%2Fpresident%5C%2F2004-07-25-mass-liberal_x.htm%7Ctitle%3D%20Does%20%27Massachusetts%20liberal%27%20label%20still%20matter%3F%7C%20first1%20%3DSusan%20%7C%20last1%20%3D%20Page%20%7C%20first2%20%3D%20Jill%20%7C%20last2%20%3D%20Lawrence%7Cwork%3D%20USA%20Today%7Cdate%3D%20July%2011%2C%202004%7Caccessdate%20%3D%20October%2017%2C%202009%7D%7D%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-1 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-00000005-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E2%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-00000006-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-1%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-1%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2252%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E2%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2253%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="#cite_note-1"><span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[&#x200b;</span>2<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]&#x200b;</span></a></sup>&#x200b;</span>
</p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Massachusetts routinely votes for the Democratic Party, with the core concentrations in the Boston metro area, the Cape and Islands, and Western Massachusetts. Pockets of Republican strength are in the central areas along the I-495 crescent, and communities on the south and north shores,<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%7B%7BCite%20web%20%7C%20url%20%3D%20http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.r-bloggers.com%5C%2Fmapping-ma-election-results%5C%2F%20%7C%20title%20%3D%20R%20bloggers%20%7C%20contribution%20%3D%20Mapping%20MA%20election%20results%20%7C%20postscript%20%3D%20%3C%21--%20Bot%20inserted%20parameter.%20Either%20remove%20it%3B%20or%20change%20its%20value%20to%20%5C%22.%5C%22%20for%20the%20cite%20to%20end%20in%20a%20%5C%22.%5C%22%2C%20as%20necessary.%20--%3E%7B%7Binconsistent%20citations%7D%7D%7D%7D.%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-2" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-2 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-00000008-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E3%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-00000009-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-2%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-2%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2258%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E3%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2259%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="#cite_note-2"><span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[&#x200b;</span>3<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]&#x200b;</span></a></sup>&#x200b;</span> but the state as a whole has not given its <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%20Electoral%20College%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Electoral%20College%20%28United%20States%29%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BElectoral%20College%20%28United%20States%29%7C%20Electoral%20College%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Electoral College (United States) (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvRWxlY3RvcmFsX0NvbGxlZ2VfKFVuaXRlZF9TdGF0ZXMpP2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ=="> Electoral College</a> votes to a Republican in a <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22presidential%20election%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20presidential%20election%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20presidential%20election%7Cpresidential%20election%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="United States presidential election (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlc19wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWxfZWxlY3Rpb24/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">presidential election</a> since <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Ronald%20Reagan%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Ronald%20Reagan%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRonald%20Reagan%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="/wiki/Ronald_Reagan" title="Ronald Reagan" class="mw-redirect">Ronald Reagan</a> carried it in <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%221984%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%201984%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%201984%7C1984%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="United States presidential election, 1984 (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlc19wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWxfZWxlY3Rpb24sXzE5ODQ/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">1984</a>. Additionally, Massachusetts provided Reagan with his smallest margins of victory in both the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%201980%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%201980%20%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%201980%20%7C%201980%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="United States presidential election, 1980 (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlc19wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWxfZWxlY3Rpb24sXzE5ODA/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x"> 1980</a> and 1984 elections. In recent elections, even <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Scott%20Brown%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Scott%20Brown%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BScott%20Brown%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Scott Brown (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvU2NvdHRfQnJvd24/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">Scott Brown</a>'s 2010 win, Western MA is more reliably blue (by city/town) than Eastern MA.
</p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">As of the 2006 election, the Republican party holds less than 13% of the seats in both legislative houses of the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22General%20Court%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Massachusetts%20General%20Court%20%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMassachusetts%20General%20Court%20%7CGeneral%20Court%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Massachusetts General Court (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvTWFzc2FjaHVzZXR0c19HZW5lcmFsX0NvdXJ0P2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">General Court</a>: in the House, the balance is 141<span data-rte-entity="nbsp">&nbsp;</span>Democratic to 19<span data-rte-entity="nbsp">&nbsp;</span>Republican, and in the Senate, 35–5.<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%7B%7BCite%20journal%20%7C%20url%20%3D%20http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.ncsl.org%5C%2Fncsldb%5C%2Felect98%5C%2Fprofile.cfm%3Fyearsel%3D2006%26statesel%3DMA%20%7C%20title%20%3D%20State%20Vote%202006%3A%20Election%20Profile%2C%20Massachusetts%20%7C%20journal%20%3D%20State%20Legislatures%20Magazine%20%7C%20publisher%20%3D%20National%20Conference%20of%20State%20Legislatures%20%7C%20accessdate%20%3D%20November%2017%2C%202007%20%7C%20postscript%20%3D%20%3C%21--%20Bot%20inserted%20parameter.%20Either%20remove%20it%3B%20or%20change%20its%20value%20to%20%5C%22.%5C%22%20for%20the%20cite%20to%20end%20in%20a%20%5C%22.%5C%22%2C%20as%20necessary.%20--%3E%7B%7Binconsistent%20citations%7D%7D%7D%7D.%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-3" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-3 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-0000000B-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E4%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-0000000C-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-3%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-3%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2264%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E4%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2265%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="#cite_note-3"><span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[&#x200b;</span>4<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]&#x200b;</span></a></sup>&#x200b;</span>
</p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Although Republicans held the governor's office continuously from 1991 to 2007, they have been among the more moderate Republican leaders in the nation.<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" 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data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%7B%7BCite%20news%20%7C%20last%20%3D%20Vennochi%20%7C%20first%20%3D%20Joan%20%7C%20title%20%3D%20Romney%27s%20liberal%20shadow%20%7C%20url%20%3D%20http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.boston.com%5C%2Fnews%5C%2Fglobe%5C%2Feditorial_opinion%5C%2Foped%5C%2Farticles%5C%2F2007%5C%2F06%5C%2F17%5C%2Fromneys_liberal_shadow%5C%2F%20%7C%20newspaper%20%3D%20%5B%5BThe%20Boston%20Globe%5D%5D%20%7C%20date%20%3D%20June%2017%2C%202007%20%7C%20accessdate%20%3D%20May%2023%2C%202010%20%7C%20postscript%20%3D%20%3C%21--%20Bot%20inserted%20parameter.%20Either%20remove%20it%3B%20or%20change%20its%20value%20to%20%5C%22.%5C%22%20for%20the%20cite%20to%20end%20in%20a%20%5C%22.%5C%22%2C%20as%20necessary.%20--%3E%7B%7Binconsistent%20citations%7D%7D%7D%7D.%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-5" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-5 class=reference"><a 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data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="#cite_note-5"><span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[&#x200b;</span>6<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]&#x200b;</span></a></sup>&#x200b;</span> In the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%202004%20election%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%202004%20%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%202004%20%7C%202004%20election%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="United States presidential election, 2004 (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlc19wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWxfZWxlY3Rpb24sXzIwMDQ/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x"> 2004 election</a>, Massachusetts gave native son <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22John%20Kerry%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22John%20Kerry%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BJohn%20Kerry%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="/wiki/John_Kerry" title="John Kerry" class="mw-redirect">John Kerry</a> 61.9% of the vote, his best showing in any state.<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%7B%7BCite%20document%20%7C%20title%20%3D%20Federal%20Elections%202004%20%7C%20page%20%3D%2022%20%7C%20publisher%20%3D%20%5B%5BFederal%20Election%20Commission%5D%5D%20%7C%20accessdate%20%3DOctober%2017%2C%202009%20%7C%20format%20%3D%20PDF%20%7C%20url%20%3D%20http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.fec.gov%5C%2Fpubrec%5C%2Ffe2004%5C%2Ffederalelections2004.pdf%20%7C%20postscript%20%3D%20%3C%21--%20Bot%20inserted%20parameter.%20Either%20remove%20it%3B%20or%20change%20its%20value%20to%20%5C%22.%5C%22%20for%20the%20cite%20to%20end%20in%20a%20%5C%22.%5C%22%2C%20as%20necessary.%20--%3E%7B%7Binconsistent%20citations%7D%7D%7D%7D%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-6" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-6 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-00000014-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E7%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-00000015-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-6%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-6%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2282%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E7%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2283%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="#cite_note-6"><span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[&#x200b;</span>7<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]&#x200b;</span></a></sup>&#x200b;</span> In <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%222008%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%202008%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20presidential%20election%2C%202008%7C2008%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2008" title="United States presidential election, 2008">2008</a>, President <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Barack%20Obama%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Barack%20Obama%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BBarack%20Obama%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="/wiki/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama" class="mw-redirect">Barack Obama</a> carried the state with 61.8% of the vote.<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%7B%7Bcite%20web%20%7C%20title%20%3D%202008%20Presidential%20Popular%20Vote%20Summary%7C%20format%20%3D%20PDF%20%7C%20publisher%20%3D%5B%5BFederal%20Election%20Commission%5D%5D%20%7C%20accessdate%20%3DOctober%2017%2C%202009%20%7C%20url%20%3D%20http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.fec.gov%5C%2Fpubrec%5C%2Ffe2008%5C%2Ftables2008.pdf%7D%7D%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-7" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-7 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-00000017-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E8%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-00000018-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-7%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-7%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2288%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E8%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2289%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="#cite_note-7"><span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[&#x200b;</span>8<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]&#x200b;</span></a></sup>&#x200b;</span> In a recent statewide election, a <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%20%20special%20election%20in%202010%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22United%20States%20Senate%20special%20election%20in%20Massachusetts%2C%202010%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BUnited%20States%20Senate%20special%20election%20in%20Massachusetts%2C%202010%7C%20%20special%20election%20in%202010%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="United States Senate special election in Massachusetts, 2010 (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvVW5pdGVkX1N0YXRlc19TZW5hdGVfc3BlY2lhbF9lbGVjdGlvbl9pbl9NYXNzYWNodXNldHRzLF8yMDEwP2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">  special election in 2010</a> for the U.S. Senate, saw Republican <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Scott%20Brown%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Scott%20Brown%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BScott%20Brown%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Scott Brown (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvU2NvdHRfQnJvd24/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">Scott Brown</a> defeat Democrat <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Martha%20Coakley%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Martha%20Coakley%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMartha%20Coakley%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Martha Coakley (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvTWFydGhhX0NvYWtsZXk/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">Martha Coakley</a> in an upset, by a 52% to 47% margin.<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%7B%7Bcite%20news%20%7C%20title%3DInteractive%20Map%2C%20Election%20Results%20and%20Analysis%20%7Cwork%3DThe%20New%20York%20Times%20%7C%20last1%3DBloch%20%7C%20first1%3DMatthew%20%7C%20last2%3DCox%20%7C%20first2%3DAmanda%20%7C%20last3%3DEricson%20%7C%20first3%3DMatthew%20%7C%20last4%3DHossain%20%7C%20first4%20%3D%20Farhana%20%7C%20last5%3DTse%20%7C%20first5%3DArchie%20%7C%20date%3DJanuary%2019%2C%202010%20%7C%20accessdate%3DMay%2022%2C%202010%20%7C%20url%20%3D%20http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.nytimes.com%5C%2Finteractive%5C%2F2010%5C%2F01%5C%2F19%5C%2Fus%5C%2Fpolitics%5C%2Fmassachusetts-election-map.html%7D%7D%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-8" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-8 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-0000001A-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E9%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-0000001B-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-8%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-8%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2294%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E9%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%2295%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="#cite_note-8"><span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[&#x200b;</span>9<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]&#x200b;</span></a></sup>&#x200b;</span>
</p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">A number of contemporary national political issues have been influenced by events in Massachusetts, such as the 2003 state Supreme Court decision <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22allowing%20same-sex%20marriage%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Same-sex%20marriage%20in%20Massachusetts%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BSame-sex%20marriage%20in%20Massachusetts%7Callowing%20same-sex%20marriage%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Same-sex marriage in Massachusetts (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvU2FtZS1zZXhfbWFycmlhZ2VfaW5fTWFzc2FjaHVzZXR0cz9hY3Rpb249ZWRpdCZyZWRsaW5rPTE=">allowing same-sex marriage</a><span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%7B%7Bcite%20news%20%7C%20title%3D%20Same-sex%20couples%20ready%20to%20make%20history%20in%20Massachusetts%20%7C%20publisher%20%3D%20CNN%20%7Cdate%3DMay%2017%2C%202004%20%7C%20unused_data%3D%20ur%20l%3D%20http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.cnn.com%5C%2F2004%5C%2FLAW%5C%2F05%5C%2F17%5C%2Fmass.gay.marriage%5C%2F%7D%7D%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-9" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-9 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-0000001D-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E10%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-0000001E-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-9%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-9%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22100%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E10%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22101%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="#cite_note-9"><span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[&#x200b;</span>10<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]&#x200b;</span></a></sup>&#x200b;</span> and <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22a%202006%20bill%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Massachusetts%202006%20Health%20Reform%20Statute%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMassachusetts%202006%20Health%20Reform%20Statute%7Ca%202006%20bill%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Massachusetts 2006 Health Reform Statute (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvTWFzc2FjaHVzZXR0c18yMDA2X0hlYWx0aF9SZWZvcm1fU3RhdHV0ZT9hY3Rpb249ZWRpdCZyZWRsaW5rPTE=">a 2006 bill</a> which mandated health insurance for all Bay Staters.<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%7B%7Bcite%20web%20%7Curl%3D%20http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.npr.org%5C%2Ftemplates%5C%2Fstory%5C%2Fstory.php%3FstoryId%3D11689698%20%7C%20title%20%3DMassachusetts%20Makes%20Health%20Insurance%20Mandatory%20%7Cpublisher%3D%5B%5BNational%20Public%20Radio%5D%5D%20%7Cdate%3DJuly%203%2C%202007%20%7C%20accessdate%20%3D%20October%2018%2C%202009%7D%7D%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-10" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-10 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-00000020-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E11%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-00000021-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-10%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-10%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22106%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E11%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22107%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="#cite_note-10"><span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[&#x200b;</span>11<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]&#x200b;</span></a></sup>&#x200b;</span> In 2008, Massachusetts voters passed <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22an%20initiative%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Massachusetts%20Sensible%20Marijuana%20Policy%20Initiative%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BMassachusetts%20Sensible%20Marijuana%20Policy%20Initiative%7Can%20initiative%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Massachusetts Sensible Marijuana Policy Initiative (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvTWFzc2FjaHVzZXR0c19TZW5zaWJsZV9NYXJpanVhbmFfUG9saWN5X0luaXRpYXRpdmU/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">an initiative</a> decriminalizing possession of small amounts of <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22marijuana%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22marijuana%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5Bmarijuana%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" class="new" title="Marijuana (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvTWFyaWp1YW5hP2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">marijuana</a>.<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cref%3E%7B%7Bcite%20web%20%7Cformat%3DPDF%20%7C%20url%20%3D%20http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.sec.state.ma.us%5C%2Fele%5C%2Felepdf%5C%2F2008%2520Return%2520of%2520Votes%2520Complete.pdf%20%7Ctitle%3D2008%20Return%20of%20Votes%20Complete%20%7C%20publisher%20%3D%5B%5BMassachusetts%20Secretary%20of%20the%20Commonwealth%5D%5D%20%7Cdate%3D%20December%2017%2C%202008%20%7Caccessdate%3D%20October%2018%2C%202009%7D%7D%3C%5C%2Fref%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22ref%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false"><sup data-rte-washtml="1" id="cite_ref-11" class="reference" data-rte-attribs=" id=cite_ref-11 class=reference"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255B%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-00000023-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E12%3Cspan%20data-rte-instance%3D%5C%2240-18478606010b758d27d0%5C%22%20data-rte-meta%3D%5C%22%257B%2522type%2522%253A%2522ext%2522%252C%2522wikitext%2522%253A%2522%253Cnowiki%253E%255D%253C%255C%252Fnowiki%253E%2522%252C%2522lineStart%2522%253A%2522%2522%252C%2522placeholder%2522%253A1%252C%2522extName%2522%253A%2522nowiki%2522%257D%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22placeholder%20placeholder-ext%5C%22%20contenteditable%3D%5C%22false%5C%22%3E%7F%27%5C%22%60UNIQ3a27dc3170596b0d-nowiki-00000024-QINU%60%5C%22%27%7F%26%23x0200B%3B%3C%5C%2Fspan%3E%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22%23cite_note-11%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5B%23cite_note-11%7C%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22112%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E12%3Cext%20_rte_wikitextidx%3D%5C%22113%5C%22%3E%3Cname%3Enowiki%3C%5C%2Fname%3E%3Cattr%3E%3C%5C%2Fattr%3E%3Cinner%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Finner%3E%3Cclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%3C%5C%2Fclose%3E%3C%5C%2Fext%3E%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" href="#cite_note-11"><span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5B%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">[&#x200b;</span>12<span data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22ext%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%3Cnowiki%3E%5D%3C%5C%2Fnowiki%3E%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%2C%22extName%22%3A%22nowiki%22%7D" class="placeholder placeholder-ext" contenteditable="false">]&#x200b;</span></a></sup>&#x200b;</span>  Marijuana was legalized for medical use on November 6, 2012.
</p>
<div class="placeholder placeholder-double-brackets" data-rte-instance="40-18478606010b758d27d0" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22double-brackets%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%7B%7BFurther2%7C%5B%5BPolitical%20party%20strength%20in%20Massachusetts%5D%5D%7D%7D%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%221%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Further2%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%7D" contenteditable="false" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">&#x200b;&#x200b;</div>

<br /><strong data-rte-washtml="1" class="error" data-rte-attribs=" class=error">Cite error: <code data-rte-washtml="1">&lt;ref&gt;</code> tags exist, but no <code data-rte-washtml="1">&lt;references/&gt;</code> tag was found</strong><p />
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