Massachusetts Voters Deliver a Message of Moderation

Massachusetts voters went to polls last week with one thing on their mind: their wallets. 

The economy, particularly the burden of everyday expenses, drove many of the outcomes in this most recent election. Voters told us where they are. It’s up to us to meet them there. 

Here’s what we know so far. 

• Massachusetts still retains its progressive values, but it’s worth noting that we saw one of the largest shifts to the right (almost nine points) when it came to electing our next president. 
• Donald Trump won approximately a quarter of cities and towns across the Bay State (87 out of 351 municipalities) with 33 towns and cities that voted for Biden in 2020 flipping to Trump. Notably, almost 40 percent of people who identify as independent voted for the Republican presidential candidate.
• These voters appeared motivated by economic issues rather than social ones. Exit polls show that in Massachusetts, voters viewed the economy and jobs as the most important issue facing the nation.
• On ballot issues, the message of economic moderation remained constant: Voters roundly rejected Question 5, which would have raised costs for small restaurants and hurt tipped workers. And they approved of Question 1, which could provide more sunlight on how the Legislature is spending their money.

There’s a theme emerging here, and it lines up with our pre-election survey and focus group insights. 

Our recent polling showed that over 80 percent of residents believed taxes were too high. Another 76 percent said general cost of living concerns were one of the top issues driving people out of Massachusetts. And people are leaving – a recent analysis from Pioneer Institute found that outmigration from the state has climbed by a shocking 1,100 percent over the past decade. 

Concerns about the high cost of living are clearly coloring public sentiment across the board – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It provides us with an opportunity to look at the issues facing Mass. residents in a new light. 

Several of our elected officials have said as much. House Speaker Ron Mariano called the election an “opportunity to renew our focus on the issues that drove voters across the country towards the Republican Party this year.” Sen. John Velis, of Western Mass. commented, “We need to focus on the issues that are at the forefront of voters’ minds across the country.”

They’re both right: Massachusetts needs to refocus on the pocketbook issues (like high taxes and a high cost of living) that have accelerated our outmigration crisis. 

Now is the time for our state’s leaders to put aside politics and address voters’ economic concerns head on. Leading with fiscal responsibility will take us down the path to reinvigorating our economy state-wide. A more competitive Massachusetts means a better quality of life for all.