Massachusetts'_3rd_congressional_district

Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district

U.S. House district for Massachusetts

Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district is located in northeastern and central Massachusetts.

Quick Facts Representative, Population (2022) ...

Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district

Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023

Representative

Lori Trahan
D–Westford

Population (2022)

781,020

Median household
income

$91,476^[1]

Ethnicity

60.7% White
21.8% Hispanic
8.1% Asian
4.1% Two or more races
3.9% Black
1.4% other

Cook PVI

D+11^[2]

Massachusetts congressional redistricting after the 2010 census has greatly changed the borders of this congressional district, largely dividing it between the new 2nd and 4th districts, with the new 3rd district covering only a few towns from the old district.^[3] Effective with the elections of 2012, Worcester is in the new 2nd district and the new 3rd district is similar to the old 5th district, largely covering the Merrimack valley including Lowell, Lawrence and Haverhill.

The district is currently represented by Democrat Lori Trahan.

Cities and towns in the district

In Essex County: Precincts 2 through 7 and Precinct 9 in Andover, Haverhill, Lawrence, and Methuen.

In Middlesex County: Acton, Ashby, Ayer, Boxborough, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Hudson, Littleton, Lowell, Marlborough, Maynard, Pepperell, Shirley, Stow, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Westford, and Precinct 1 in Sudbury.

In Worcester County: Ashburnham, Berlin, Bolton, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Harvard, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Westminster, and Precincts 1A, 2 and 3 in Winchendon.

Recent statewide election results

More information Year, Office ...

Year	Office	Result
2000	President	Gore 59–35%
2004	President	Kerry 59–40%
2008	President	Obama 58.8–39.4%
2012	President	Obama 56.9–41.4%
2016	President	Clinton 58.2–35.4%
2020	President	Biden 63.8–34.4%

List of members representing the district

More information Member, Party ...

Member	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history	District area (Counties and municipalities)
District created March 4, 1789
Elbridge Gerry (Marblehead)	Anti-Administration	March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1793	1st 2nd	Elected in 1788. Re-elected in 1790. Retired.	1789–1793 Middlesex County: All
Shearjashub Bourne (Boston)	Pro-Administration	General ticket: March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795	3rd	Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1793 on the second ballot, as part of a two-seat general ticket, representing the district from Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Counties. [data missing]	1793–1795 Barnstable County: All Bristol County: All Dukes County: All Nantucket County: All Plymouth County: All
Peleg Coffin Jr. (Boston)	Pro-Administration	General ticket: March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795	3rd	Elected in 1792, as part of a two-seat general ticket, representing the district from Bristol and Plymouth Counties. Redistricted to the 5th district and lost re-election.
Samuel Lyman (Hampshire County)	Federalist	March 4, 1795 – November 6, 1800	4th 5th 6th	Elected in 1794. Re-elected in 1796. Re-elected in 1798. Retired and then resigned.	1795–1803 Hampshire County: Amherst, Belchertown, Brimfield, Granby, Greenwich, Holland, Leverett, Longmeadow, Ludlow, New Salem, Orange, Palmer, Pelham, Shutesbury, South Brimfield, South Hadley, Springfield, Ware, Warwick, Wendell, and Wilbraham. Worcester County: Athol, Barre, Gardner, Gerry, Hardwick, New Braintree, Petersham, Royalston, Sturbridge, Templeton, Western, Winchendon
Vacant		November 7, 1800 – February 2, 1801	6th
Ebenezer Mattoon (Amherst)	Federalist	February 2, 1801 – March 3, 1803	6th 7th	Elected November 3, 1800, to the next term. Elected December 15, 1800, to finish Lyman's term. Retired.
Manasseh Cutler (Hamilton)	Federalist	March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805	8th	Redistricted from the 11th district and re-elected in 1802. Retired.	1803–1813 "Essex North district" Essex County: Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Bradford, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, Topsfield
Jeremiah Nelson (Newburyport)	Federalist	March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1807	9th	Elected in 1804. Retired.
Edward St. Loe Livermore (Newburyport)	Federalist	March 4, 1807 – March 3, 1811	10th 11th	Elected in 1806. Re-elected in 1808. Retired.
Leonard White (Haverhill)	Federalist	March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1813	12th	Elected in 1810. Retired.
Timothy Pickering (Wendham)	Federalist	March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1815	13th	Elected in 1812. Redistricted to the 2nd district.	1813–1815 "Essex North district" Essex County: Beverly, Boxford, Bradford, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, Topsfield, Wenham
Jeremiah Nelson (Newburyport)	Federalist^{[lower-alpha 1]}	March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1825	14th 15th 16th 17th 18th	Elected to begin member-elect Daniel A. White's term. Re-elected in 1817. Re-elected in 1818. Re-elected in 1820. Re-elected in 1822. Retired.	1815–1817 "Essex North district" Essex County: Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Bradford, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, Saugus, and Topsfield. Middlesex County: South Reading
					1817–1823 "Essex North district" Essex County: Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Bradford, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, Saugus, Topsfield, and West Newbury. Middlesex County: Dracut
					1823–1833 "Essex North district" Essex County: Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Bradford, Essex, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, Topsfield, Wenham, and West Newbury. Middlesex County: Billerica, Dracut, Tewksbury, Wilmington
John Varnum (Haverhill)	Anti-Jacksonian	March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1831	19th 20th 21st	Elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1826. Re-elected in 1828. Retired.
Jeremiah Nelson (Essex)	Anti-Jacksonian	March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833	22nd	Elected late in 1832 on the thirteenth ballot. Retired.
Gayton P. Osgood (North Andover)	Jacksonian	March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835	23rd	Elected in 1833. Lost renomination.	1833–1843 Essex County: Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Bradford, Haverhill, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, Topsfield, and West Newbury. Middlesex County: Dracut, Lowell, Reading, Tewksbury, South Reading, Wilmington
Caleb Cushing (Newburyport)	Anti-Jacksonian	March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837	24th 25th 26th 27th	Elected in 1834. Re-elected in 1836. Re-elected in 1838. Re-elected in 1840. Retired.
Caleb Cushing (Newburyport)	Whig	March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1843	24th 25th 26th 27th
Amos Abbott (Andover)	Whig	March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849	28th 29th 30th	Elected late in 1844 on the seventh ballot. Re-elected in 1846. Retired.	1843–1853 Essex County: Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Bradford, Georgetown, Haverhill, Methuen, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, and West Newbury. Middlesex County: Billerica, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Littleton, Lowell, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Westford, Wilmington^[4]
James H. Duncan (Haverhill)	Whig	March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853	31st 32nd	Elected in 1848. Re-elected in 1850. [data missing]
J. Wiley Edmands (Lawrence)	Whig	March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855	33rd	Elected in 1852. Retired.	1853–1863 Norfolk County: Bellingam, Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Dorchester, Dover, Foxborough, Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Milton, Needham, Quincy, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, West Roxbury, Weymouth, and Wrentham. Middlesex County: Brighton, Holliston, Newton, Sherborn, and Watertown. Worcester County: Blackstone, Mendon, Milford, Northbridge, Upton, Uxbridge
William S. Damrell (Dedham)	Know Nothing	March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857	34th 35th	Elected in 1854. Re-elected in 1856. Retired due to failing health.
William S. Damrell (Dedham)	Republican	March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859	34th 35th
Charles Adams (Quincy)	Republican	March 4, 1859 – May 1, 1861	36th 37th	Elected in 1858. Re-elected in 1860. Resigned to become U.S. Minister to England.
Vacant		May 1, 1861 – June 11, 1861	37th
Benjamin Thomas^[5](Boston)	Union	June 11, 1861 – March 3, 1863	37th	Elected to finish Adams's term. Retired.
Alexander H. Rice (Boston)	Republican	March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1867	38th 39th	Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864. Retired.	1863–1867 Norfolk County: Roxbury, and Brookline. Suffolk County: Boston (wards 4, 7, 8, 10 thru 12)
Ginery Twichell (Brookline)	Republican	March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1873	40th 41st 42nd	Elected in 1866. Re-elected in 1868. Re-elected in 1870. Retired.	1867–1873 Norfolk County: Roxbury, and Brookline. Suffolk County: Boston (wards 5, 7, 8, 10 thru 12)^[6]
William Whiting (Boston)	Republican	March 4, 1873 – June 29, 1873	43rd	Elected in 1872. Died.	1873–1877 Suffolk County: Boston (wards 7, 8, 10 thru 16)
Vacant		June 29, 1873 – December 1, 1873	43rd
Henry L. Pierce (Boston)	Republican	December 1, 1873 – March 3, 1877	43rd 44th	Elected to finish Whiting's term. Re-elected in 1874. Retired.
Walbridge A. Field (Boston)	Republican	March 4, 1877 – March 28, 1878	45th	[data missing] Lost election contest.	1877–1883 Suffolk County: Boston (wards 13 thru 21, 24)^[7]
Benjamin Dean^[8] (Boston)	Democratic	March 28, 1878 – March 3, 1879	45th	Won election contest. Retired.
Walbridge A. Field (Boston)	Republican	March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881	46th	Elected in 1878. Retired.
Ambrose Ranney^[9] (Boston)	Republican	March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1887	47th 48th 49th	Elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Lost re-election.
Ambrose Ranney^[9] (Boston)	Republican	March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1887	47th 48th 49th		1883–1893 Norfolk County: Milton. Suffolk County: Boston (ward 11, ward 15 (Pct. 3 & 4), wards 17-24)^[10]
Leopold Morse (Boston)	Democratic	March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889	50th	Elected in 1886. Retired.
John F. Andrew (Boston)	Democratic	March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1893	51st 52nd	Elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Lost re-election.
Joseph H. Walker^[11](Worcester)	Republican	March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1899	53rd 54th 55th	Redistricted from the 10th district and re-elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Lost re-election.	1893–1903 Middlesex County: Hopkinton. Worcester County: Auburn, Blackstone, Charlton, Douglas, Dudley, Grafton, Holden, Leicester, Mendon, Millbury, Northbridge, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southbrige, Spencer, Sturbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Webster, Westborough, West Boylston, Worcester
John R. Thayer^[12] (Worcester)	Democratic	March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1905	56th 57th 58th	Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Retired.
John R. Thayer^[12] (Worcester)	Democratic	March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1905	56th 57th 58th		1903–1913 Worcester County: Auburn, Charlton, Douglas, Dudley, Grafton, Holden, Leicester, Millbury, Northbridge, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southbrige, Spencer, Sturbridge, Sutton, Uxbridge, Webster, Westborough, West Boylston, Worcester
Rockwood Hoar (Worcester)	Republican	March 4, 1905 – November 1, 1906	59th	Elected in 1904. Died.
Vacant		November 1, 1906 – December 18, 1906	59th
Charles G. Washburn^[13] (Worcester)	Republican	December 18, 1906 – March 3, 1911	59th 60th 61st	Elected to finish Hoar's term. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Lost re-election.
John A. Thayer (Worcester)	Democratic	March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913	62nd	Elected in 1910. Lost re-election.
William H. Wilder (Gardner)	Republican	March 4, 1913 – September 11, 1913	63rd	Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1912. Died.	1913–1927 Franklin County: New Salem, and Orange. Hampshire County: Greenwich, and Prescott. Middlesex County: Ashby, and Townsend. Hampden County: Brimfield, Holland, Monson, Palmer, and Wales. Worcester County: Ashburnham, Athol, Barre, Boylston, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Dana, Dudley, East Brookfield, Fitchburg, Gardner, Hardwick, Holden, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Leominster, Lunenburg, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Rutland, Southbrige, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Templeton, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Westminster, Winchendon^[14]
Vacant		September 11, 1913 – November 4, 1913	63rd
Calvin Paige (Southbridge)	Republican	November 4, 1913 – March 3, 1925	63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th	Elected to finish Wilder's term. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Retired.
Frank H. Foss (Fitchburg)	Republican	March 4, 1925 – January 3, 1935	69th 70th 71st 72nd 73rd	Elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Lost re-election.
					1927–1933 Franklin County: Erving, New Salem, Orange, Shutesbury, Warwick, and Wendell. Hampden County: Brimfield, Holland, Monson, Palmer, and Wales. Hampshire County: Belchertown, Enfield, Greenwich, Pelham, Prescott, and Ware. Worcester County: Ashburnham, Athol, Barre, Boylston, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Dana, Dudley, East Brookfield, Fitchburg, Gardner, Hardwick, Holden, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Leominster, Lunenburg, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Rutland, Southbrige, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Templeton, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Westminster, Winchendon
					1933–1943 Hampden County: Brimfield, Holland, Monson, Palmer, and Wales. Hampshire County: Ware. Middlesex County: Ashby, Boxborough, Framingham, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, Pepperell, Shirley, Stow, Sudbury, Townsend, and Wayland. Worcester County: Ashburnham, Barre, Berlin, Bolton, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Dana, Dudley, East Brookfield, Fitchburg, Gardner, Hardwick, Harvard, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Leominster, Lunenburg, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Rutland, Southbrige, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Templeton, Warren, Webster, West Brookfield, Westminster, Winchendon
Joseph E. Casey (Clinton)	Democratic	January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1943	74th 75th 76th 77th	Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
Philip J. Philbin^[15] (Clinton)	Democratic	January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1971	78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st	Elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-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. Lost renomination.	1943–1963 Hampden County: Palmer. Hampshire County: Ware. Middlesex County: Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, Shirley, and Stow. Worcester County: Ashburnham, Barre, Blackstone, Bolton, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Fitchburg, Gardner, Hardwick, Harvard, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Leominster, Lunenburg, Milford, Millbury, Millville, New Braintree, Northbridge, North Brookfield, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Southbrige, Spencer, Sturbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Warren, Webster, West Brookfield, Westminster, Winchendon
					1963–1973 Worcester County: Ashburnham, Barre, Berlin, Blackstone, Bolton, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, Fitchburg, Gardner, Hardwick, Harvard, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Leominster, Lunenburg, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, New Braintree, Northbridge, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Southbrige, Spencer, Sterling, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Webster, Westminster, and Winchendon. Middlesex County: Acton, Ashby, Ayer, Boxborough, Dunstable, Groton, Holliston, Hudson, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Natick, Pepperell, Sherborn, Shirley, Stow, Townsend, Tyngsborough, and Westford. Norfolk County: Bellingham, Franklin, Medway, Millis
					1969–1973 Middlesex County: Acton, Ashby, Ayer, Boxborough, Concord, Hudson, Lincoln, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Newton, Shirley, Stow, Townsend, Waltham, Watertown, Westford, and Weston. Worcester County: Ashburnham, Berlin, Bolton, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Harvard, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Sterling, Westminster, Winchendon
Robert Drinan (Newton)	Democratic	January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1973	92nd	Elected in 1970. Redistricted to the 4th district.
Harold Donohue (Worcester)	Democratic	January 3, 1973 – December 31, 1974	93rd	Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1972. Retired and resigned early.	1973–1983 Middlesex County: Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, and Marlborough. Norfolk County: Bellingham, Franklin, and Medway. Worcester County: Auburn, Berlin, Blackstone, Boylston, Clinton, Grafton, Hopedale, Leicester, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northborough, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Westborough, West Boylston, Worcester^[16]
Vacant		December 31, 1974 – January 3, 1975	93rd
Joseph D. Early^[17] (Worcester)	Democratic	January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1993	94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd	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. Lost re-election.
Joseph D. Early^[17] (Worcester)	Democratic	January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1993	94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd		1983–1993 Middlesex County: Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Sherborn, and Stow. Norfolk County: Bellingham, Franklin, Medway, Millis, Norfolk^[18] Worcester County: Auburn, Berlin, Blackstone, Bolton, Boylston, Clinton, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Lancaster, Leicester, Lunenburg, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northborough, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Westborough, West Boylston, Worcester
Peter Blute (Shrewsbury)	Republican	January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1997	103rd 104th	Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Lost re-election.	1993–2003 Bristol County: Attleboro, Dartmouth, Fall River (all of wards 1, 2 & 3, ward 6 pcts. A & B, ward 4 pct. A, parts of B & C), Mansfield (pcts. 1, 2 & parts of 3 & 4), North Attleboro, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport.^[18] Middlesex County: Holliston, and Hopkinton. Norfolk County: Foxborough (pct. 5, parts of pcts. 1, 3, 4), Franklin, Medway, Plainville, and Wrentham. Worcester County: Auburn (parts of pcts. 1, 3 & 4), Berlin, Boylston, Clinton, Grafton, Holden, Lancaster (parts of pcts. 1 & 2), Northborough, Northbridge, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Sterling, Upton, Westborough, West Boylston, Worcester^[19]
Jim McGovern (Worcester)	Democratic	January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2013	105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th	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 2nd district.
Jim McGovern (Worcester)	Democratic	January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2013	105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th		2003–2013 Bristol County: Attleboro, Fall River (wards 1-3; ward 4, Precincts A & B; ward 5, Precincts A & B; ward 6, Precincts B & C; & ward 8, Precinct D), North Attleborough, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, and Swansea. Middlesex County: Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, and Marlborough. Norfolk County: Franklin, Medway, Plainville, and Wrentham. Worcester County: Auburn, Boylston, Clinton, Holden, Northborough, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southborough, West Boylston, Westborough, and Worcester.
Niki Tsongas (Lowell)	Democratic	January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2019	113th 114th 115th	Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Retired.	2013–present See Cities and towns in the district, above
Lori Trahan (Westford)	Democratic	January 3, 2019 – present	116th 117th 118th	Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022.