2007 Massachusetts's 5th congressional district special election

Massachusetts held a special election to fill a vacancy in Massachusetts's 5th congressional district on October 16, 2007. Democrat Niki Tsongas won election to Congress, defeating Republican Jim Ogonowski in an election that was closer than expected.

Marty Meehan had been the district's Representative to Congress since 1993. He announced his resignation in May 2007 (effective July 1), allowing him to become the next Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Meehan had last won re-election in 2006, when he ran unopposed. The district was considered to be strongly Democratic, as it voted 58% for the Democratic candidate (John Kerry) in the most recent presidential election. In addition, Massachusetts had not elected a Republican to Congress since Peter Blute and Peter Torkildsen were last elected to office in 1994 (both were defeated in 1996). No Republican had held the 5th congressional district's seat since Paul W. Cronin departed from office in 1975 after his defeat by Democrat Paul Tsongas in 1974.

A primary election was held on September 4, 2007 to determine each political party's nominee for the general election. Niki Tsongas won the Democratic nomination and Jim Ogonowski won the Republican nomination. Tsongas won the general election, held on October 16, 2007, with 51% of the vote; Ogonowski received 45%.

Candidates
''All candidates for the election are listed alphabetically first by party, then by name. Bold is primary winners and general election candidates.''

Constitution

 * Kevin Thompson – State Constitution Party Secretary from Brockton

Democratic

 * Eileen Donoghue – City Councilor and former Lowell Mayor
 * Jamie Eldridge – State Representative from Acton
 * Barry Finegold – State Representative from Andover
 * Jim Miceli – State Representative from Wilmington
 * Niki Tsongas – Dean at Middlesex Community College from Lowell, and widow of Paul Tsongas

Independent

 * Kurt Hayes – Businessman from Boxborough
 * Patrick O. Murphy – Brick and stonemason from Lowell

Republican

 * Jim Ogonowski – Former Air Force Lt. Colonel from Dracut, and brother of John
 * Thomas Tierney – Self-Employed Independent Consulting Actuary from Framingham

Democratic

 * James DiPaola – Middlesex County Sheriff
 * David O'Brien – Democratic National Committee member from Concord

Republican

 * Fred Smerlas – Former NFL defensive lineman
 * Michael J. Sullivan – Mayor of Lawrence

Results
Bold indicates winner of nomination. Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20120207164837/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/14003157/detail.html

Democratic

 * Eileen Donoghue for Congress web site
 * Jamie Eldridge for Congress web site
 * Barry Finegold for Congress web site
 * Jim Miceli for Congress web site
 * Niki Tsongas for Congress web site

Republican

 * Jim Ogonowski for Congress web site
 * Tom Tierney for Congress web site

Constitution

 * Kevin Thompson for Congress web site

Independent

 * Kurt Hayes for Congress web site
 * Patrick Murphy for Congress web site