1996Final results
1996 election for Massachusetts's 8th District
U.S. House · Massachusetts
Joseph Kennedy (D) won with 84.3% of the vote, defeating R. Philip Hyde (R) by 68.6 points.
Joseph KennedyDemocrat · winner
84.3%147,126
R. Philip HydeRepublican
15.6%27,303
174,620 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 1996
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 KennedyNo Republican
$2.4M
Raised by the campaign
—
$2M
Spent by the campaign
—
$1.2M
Cash on hand
—
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996