1982Final results
1982 election for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts
U.S. Senate · Massachusetts
Edward Kennedy (D) won with 60.8% of the vote, defeating Ray Shamie (R) by 22.6 points.
Edward KennedyDemocrat · winner
60.8%1,247,084
Ray ShamieRepublican
38.3%784,602
Howard S. KatzLibertarian
0.9%18,878
2,050,769 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 1982
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.
Edward KennedyRay Shamie
$2M
Raised by the campaign
$1.8M
$1.8M
Spent by the campaign
$2M
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Other candidates' campaigns: Howard S. Katz $392.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1982.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1982