Deval Patrick's 2006 election not only made history, but also shook up the political balance on Beacon Hill. Not only was he the first black elected governor in Massachusetts, and only the second nationwide since Reconstruction, he also took back the corner office for Democrats after 16 years of uninterrupted Republican rule.

In his first run for office, Patrick beat Republican Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey with 55.7 percent of the vote in the general election.

(Last updated by Kelsey Abbruzzese on March 27, 2009.)

Editor's Note (August 27, 2009): Edward Kennedy died of brain cancer on August 25, 2009.

Edward Kennedy was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1962, with 55 percent of the vote, defeating Republican George C. Lodge, a former assistant labor secretary. Kennedy won the seat that his brother, John F. Kennedy, served before being elected president in 1960.

Kennedy was re-elected in 1964, with 74 percent of the vote, beating Republican Howard Whitmore Jr., a former mayor.

Kennedy won re-election in 1970, with 62 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Josiah A. Spaulding, a former state GOP chairman. Kennedy was re-elected in 1976, with 69 percent of the vote, beating Republican Michael S. Robertson, a businessman.

Kennedy won re-election in 1982, with 61 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Raymond Shamie, a businessman. In 1988, he won re-election with 65 percent of the vote over Republican Joseph Malone. He was re-elected in 1994 with 58 percent, defeating Republican Mitt Romney.

In 2000, he received 72 percent of the vote against Jack E. Robinson, who lost the backing of many Republicans after allegations of plagiarism and abuse by a former girlfriend.

He was re-elected in 2006 against Republican Kenneth Chase with 69 percent of the vote.

In 1980, Kennedy lost a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination to then-President Jimmy Carter.

(Last updated by Kelsey Abbruzzese on March 27, 2009.)

John Kerry was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1984, with 55 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Raymond Shamie, a businessman. He was re-elected in 1990 with 57 percent of the vote, in 1996 with 52 percent of the vote, and in 2002 with 81 percent of the vote.

In 2008, Kerry won re-election to his Senate seat once more with 66 percent of the vote over Republican challenger Jeff Beatty, who received 31 percent of the vote.

Kerry was elected lieutenant governor of Massachusetts in 1982. Kerry lost a 1972 race for a U.S. House seat.

In March 2004, Kerry won enough delegates to cement the Democratic presidential nomination. But he lost the presidential race to George W. Bush, 51 percent to 48 percent.

(Last updated by Kelsey Abbruzzese on March 25, 2009.)