1980Final results
1980 election for Massachusetts's 3rd District
U.S. House · Massachusetts
Joseph Early (D) won with 72.3% of the vote, defeating David G. Skehan (R) by 44.6 points.
Joseph EarlyDemocrat · winner
72.3%141,560
David G. SkehanRepublican
27.7%54,213
195,783 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1980
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Joseph EarlyNo Republican
$77K
Raised by the campaign
—
$71.2K
Spent by the campaign
—
$0
Cash on hand
—
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980