Elections / 1978 · Senate · MA
The Democratic candidate won Massachusetts's Senate seat D+10.2.
Massachusetts, 1978. Candidate results and statewide totals below.
Massachusetts — 1978 Senate result
Source: MIT Election Data + Science Lab, 1976–2024 Senate returns (party-classified by literal ballot party).
Democratic (D)
1,093,283
55.1%
Republican (R)
890,584
44.8%
All others
1,833
0.1%
Margin
D+10.2
Candidates
Statewide candidate totals — MIT Election Data + Science Lab, 1978 Senate returns.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul E. Tsongas | DDemocrat | 1,093,283 | 55.1% |
| Edward W. Brooke | RRepublican | 890,584 | 44.8% |
| Other | OOther | 1,833 | 0.1% |
Massachusetts's Senate margins
Every contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | +40.3% |
| 1978 | +10.2% |
| 1982 | +22.6% |
| 1984 | +10.1% |
| 1988 | +31.0% |
| 1990 | +13.6% |
| 1994 | +17.1% |
| 1996 | +7.5% |
| 2000 | +59.8% |
| 2002 | +81.0% |
| 2006 | +38.8% |
| 2008 | +34.9% |
| 2012 | +7.5% |
| 2014 | +23.9% |
| 2018 | +24.2% |
| 2020 | +33.2% |
| 2024 | +19.8% |