akashic
1876–2024
Elections / 1988 · President · MA

Michael Dukakis carried Massachusetts D+7.9.

Michael Dukakis (D) vs George H. W. Bush (R) in Massachusetts, 1988. The state ran 15.6 points more Democratic than the nation (R+7.7 nationally). A US Senate contest shared the 1988 ballot here.

Nominees: Michael Dukakis (D) · George H. W. Bush (R)

Massachusetts result
2,632,805 votes counted
Dukakis (D)
1,401,415
53.2%
Bush (R)
1,194,635
45.4%
All others
36,755
1.4%
Margin
D+7.9
1988 presidential election
Massachusetts, 1988
DukakisD+7.9
1988 presidential margin by county for Massachusetts — 1988 presidential electionA map of the constituent counties of Massachusetts — 1988 presidential election, each outlined and filled by its 1988 presidential margin from deep red (Republican) through neutral to deep blue (Democratic), seated within the faint outlines of the surrounding states.Barnstable County, MA · R+0.9Berkshire County, MA · D+22.4Bristol County, MA · D+12.4Dukes County, MA · D+29.2Essex County, MA · D+1.0Franklin County, MA · D+17.6Hampden County, MA · D+13.0Hampshire County, MA · D+23.9Middlesex County, MA · D+10.7Nantucket County, MA · D+19.8Norfolk County, MA · D+3.2Plymouth County, MA · R+10.9Suffolk County, MA · D+29.7Worcester County, MA · R+2.3
How it voted
Share of the 1988 vote
Michael Dukakis ✓Democratic53.2%1,401,415
George H. W. BushRepublican45.4%1,194,635
OtherAll other candidates1.4%36,755
D+60
R+60
14 counties, each filled by 1988 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
Massachusetts's presidential margins
1892–2024, the 1988 contest in context
Massachusetts's presidential marginsDemocratic-minus-Republican presidential margin from 1892 to 2024. Most recent: +25.2% in 2024.flipped D · 1988+25.2%DR18922024
Massachusetts's presidential margins
YearMargin (D minus R)
1892−6.6%
1896−43.1%
1900−19.7%
1904−20.7%
1908−24.2%
1912+3.6%
1916−3.9%
1920−40.7%
1924−37.3%
1928+1.1%
1932+4.0%
1936+9.5%
1940+6.7%
1944+5.8%
1948+11.5%
1952−8.8%
1956−18.9%
1960+20.7%
1964+52.7%
1968+30.1%
1972+9.0%
1976+15.7%
1980−0.2%
1984−2.8%
1988+7.9%
1992+18.5%
1996+33.4%
2000+27.3%
2004+25.2%
2008+25.8%
2012+23.1%
2016+26.8%
2020+33.2%
2024+25.2%
County results — 1988
14 counties; every row links to the county's full page.
CountyWonMarginDemocraticRepublicanTotal
Barnstable CountyR
−0.9%
48,74749,67699,872
Berkshire CountyD
+22.4%
38,21724,11662,859
Bristol CountyD
+12.4%
107,85483,797193,530
Dukes CountyD
+29.2%
4,4952,4417,025
Essex CountyD
+1.0%
151,816148,614305,500
Franklin CountyD
+17.6%
19,31013,47533,123
Hampden CountyD
+13.0%
97,33274,872173,420
Hampshire CountyD
+23.9%
39,83424,33164,915
Middlesex CountyD
+10.7%
361,563290,352662,628
Nantucket CountyD
+19.8%
2,2091,4693,731
Norfolk CountyD
+3.2%
160,289150,306315,056
Plymouth CountyR
−10.9%
84,587105,684193,480
Suffolk CountyD
+29.7%
143,67777,137224,410
Worcester CountyR
−2.3%
141,485148,365293,256