After the 2010 census, the third district shifted from covering east-central Worcester County and western Norfolk and Bristol Counties to covering northeastern Worcester County, northern and western Middlesex County, and northwestern Essex county. The old 3rd district area was largely split between the updated 2nd and 4th districts. Only Clinton and Marlborough carried over from the old 3rd district.
In the redistricting that occurred after the 2020 census, the boundaries of the third district only changed slightly from its previous iteration.
| Member | Party | Years | Cong
ress | Electoral history | District area (Counties and municipalities) |
|---|
| District created March 4, 1789 |
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Elbridge Gerry
| | Anti-Administration | nowrap | March 4, 1789 –
March 3, 1793 | | Elected in 1788.
Re-elected in 1790.
Retired. | 1789–1793
Middlesex County: All |
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Shearjashub Bourne
| | Pro-Administration | General ticket
March 4, 1793 –
March 3, 1795
| | Redistricted from the 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.
| 1793–1795
Barnstable County: All
Bristol County: All
Dukes County: All
Nantucket County: All
Plymouth County: All |
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Peleg Coffin Jr.
| | Pro-Administration | Elected in 1792, as part of a two-seat general ticket, representing the district from Bristol and Plymouth Counties.
Redistricted to the and lost re-election. |
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Samuel Lyman
| | Federalist | nowrap | March 4, 1795 –
November 6, 1800 | | 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 | nowrap | November 7, 1800 –
February 2, 1801 | | |
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Ebenezer Mattoon
| | Federalist | nowrap | February 2, 1801 –
March 3, 1803 | | Elected November 3, 1800, to the next term.
Elected December 15, 1800, to finish Lyman's term.
Retired. |
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Manasseh Cutler
| | Federalist | nowrap | March 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1805 | | Redistricted from the 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 |
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Jeremiah Nelson
| | Federalist | nowrap | March 4, 1805 –
March 3, 1807 | | Elected in 1804.
Retired. |
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Edward St. Loe Livermore
| | Federalist | nowrap | March 4, 1807 –
March 3, 1811 | | Elected in 1806.
Re-elected in 1808.
Retired. |
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Leonard White
| | Federalist | nowrap | March 4, 1811 –
March 3, 1813 | | Elected in 1810.
Retired. |
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Timothy Pickering
| | Federalist | nowrap | March 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1815 | | Elected in 1812.
Redistricted to the . | 1813–1815
"Essex North district"
Essex County: Beverly, Boxford, Bradford, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, Topsfield, Wenham |
Jeremiah Nelson
| Federalist | March 4, 1815 –
March 3, 1825 | | 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 |
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John Varnum
| | Anti-Jacksonian | nowrap | March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1831 | | Elected in 1825.
Re-elected in 1826.
Re-elected in 1828.
Retired. |
| align=left |
Jeremiah Nelson
| | Anti-Jacksonian | nowrap | March 4, 1831 –
March 3, 1833 | | Elected late in 1832 on the thirteenth ballot.
Retired. |
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Gayton P. Osgood
| | Jacksonian | nowrap | March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1835 | | 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
| | Anti-Jacksonian | nowrap | March 4, 1835 –
March 3, 1837 | | Elected in 1834.
Re-elected in 1836.
Re-elected in 1838.
Re-elected in 1840.
Retired. |
| Whig | nowrap | March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1843 |
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Amos Abbott
| | Whig | nowrap | March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1849 | | 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] |
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James H. Duncan
| | Whig | nowrap | March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1853 | | Elected in 1848.
Re-elected in 1850.
|
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J. Wiley Edmands
| | Whig | nowrap | March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855 | | 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
| | Know Nothing | nowrap | March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857 | | Elected in 1854.
Re-elected in 1856.
Retired due to failing health. |
| Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1859 |
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Charles Adams
| | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1859 –
May 1, 1861 | | Elected in 1858.
Re-elected in 1860.
Resigned to become U.S. Minister to England. |
| Vacant | nowrap | May 1, 1861 –
June 11, 1861 | |
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Benjamin Thomas[5] | | Union | nowrap | June 11, 1861 –
March 3, 1863 | Elected to finish Adams's term.
Retired. |
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Alexander H. Rice
| | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1867 | | Redistricted from the 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) |
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Ginery Twichell
| | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1873 | | 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] |
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William Whiting
| | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1873 –
June 29, 1873 | | Elected in 1872.
Died. | 1873–1877
Suffolk County: Boston (wards 7, 8, 10 thru 16) |
| Vacant | nowrap | June 29, 1873 –
December 1, 1873 |
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Henry L. Pierce
| | Republican | nowrap | December 1, 1873 –
March 3, 1877 | | Elected to finish Whiting's term.
Re-elected in 1874.
Retired. |
| align=left |
Walbridge A. Field
| | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1877 –
March 28, 1878 | |
Lost election contest. | 1877–1883
Suffolk County: Boston (wards 13 thru 21, 24)[7] |
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Benjamin Dean[8]
| | Democratic | nowrap | March 28, 1878 –
March 3, 1879 | Won election contest.
Retired. |
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Walbridge A. Field
| | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1881 | | Elected in 1878.
Retired. |
Ambrose Ranney[9]
| Republican | March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1887 | | Elected in 1880.
Re-elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Lost re-election. |
1883–1893
Norfolk County: Milton.
Suffolk County: Boston (ward 11, ward 15 (Pct. 3 & 4), wards 17-24)[10] |
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Leopold Morse
| | Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1889 | | Elected in 1886.
Retired. |
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John F. Andrew
| | Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1893 | | Elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Lost re-election. |
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Joseph H. Walker[11] | | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1899 | | Redistricted from the 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]
| Democratic | March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1905 | | Elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Retired. |
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 |
| align=left |
Rockwood Hoar
| | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1905 –
November 1, 1906 | | Elected in 1904.
Died. |
| Vacant | nowrap | November 1, 1906 –
December 18, 1906 | |
| align=left |
Charles G. Washburn[13]
| | Republican | nowrap | December 18, 1906 –
March 3, 1911 | | Elected to finish Hoar's term.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Lost re-election. |
| align=left |
John A. Thayer
| | Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1913 | | Elected in 1910.
Lost re-election. |
| align=left |
William H. Wilder
| | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1913 –
September 11, 1913 | | Redistricted from the 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 | nowrap | September 11, 1913 –
November 4, 1913 |
| align=left |
Calvin Paige
| | Republican | nowrap | November 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1925 | | 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
| Republican | March 4, 1925 –
January 3, 1935 | | 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 |
| align=left |
Joseph E. Casey
| | Democratic | nowrap | January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1943 | | 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]
| Democratic | January 3, 1943 –
January 3, 1971 | | 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 |
| align=left |
Robert Drinan
| | Democratic | nowrap | January 3, 1971 –
January 3, 1973 | | Elected in 1970.
Redistricted to the . |
| align=left |
Harold Donohue
| | Democratic | nowrap | January 3, 1973 –
December 31, 1974 | | Redistricted from the 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 |
| Vacant | nowrap | December 31, 1974 –
January 3, 1975 |
Joseph D. Early[16]
| Democratic | January 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1993 | | 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. |
1983–1993
Middlesex County: Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Sherborn, and Stow.
Norfolk County: Bellingham, Franklin, Medway, Millis, Norfolk[17]
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 |
| align=left |
Peter Blute
| | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 1997 | | 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.
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 |
Jim McGovern
| Democratic | January 3, 1997 –
January 3, 2013 | | 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 . |
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. |
| align=left |
Niki Tsongas
| | Democratic | nowrap | January 3, 2013 –
January 3, 2019 | | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Retired. | 2013–present
See Cities and towns in the district, above |
| align=left |
Lori Trahan
| | Democratic | nowrap | January 3, 2019 –
present | | Elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022. | |
