The incumbent Democratic hit-list included Sens. Arthur Joseph Lewis of Boston, Thomas White of Worcester, Paul J. Sheehy of Lowell and Theodore J. Aleixo Jr. of Taunton.

Republican Jane Maria Swift, a 25-year-old aide to retiring Republican Sen. Peter Webber of Pittsfield, appeared poised for victory against veteran Democratic Rep. Sherwood Guernsey. "There was definitely a sentiment for change, and that affected the situation," said [Robert Hedlund], a conservative who supported the tax rollback initiative.

Throughout the campaign, Republican Senate candidates across the state made [William Bulger] an issue in virtually every race, portraying him as a dictator and using him as a symbol of the drawbacks of one-party dominance. Last week, two hired planes toured the Eastern part of the state with banners reading, "Bulger's ripe. It is time to go. Vote GOP State Senate."