Paul Tsongas's swearing-in or inauguration marked the first time since 1937 that Democrats held both United States Senate seats from Massachusetts.

The race drew comparison to the New Jersey Senate Republican primary held in June that year, where young conservative activist Jeff Bell defeated long-serving incumbent liberal Clifford Case.

[1] Nelson instead focused his attacks on Brooke's support of the Panama Canal Treaty, federally financed abortions, and his decision to decline to sponsor the Roth–Kemp tax cut.

In an effort to stave off an upset victory, Republican National Committee Chairman Bill Brock recorded radio advertisements supporting Brooke.

Noble was primarily known for her status as the highest-ranking openly gay elected official in United States history to this point and was described in the Washington Post as "an avowed lesbian.

By the time Brooke's divorce proceedings concluded, Noble was joined by Secretary of the Commonwealth Paul Guzzi, Lowell congressman Paul Tsongas, and pro-busing[3][4][5] Boston School Committee member Kathleen Sullivan Alioto, the daughter of New England Patriots founder Billy Sullivan and wife of former San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto.

[7] Tsongas was a relatively unknown Representative statewide and nationally, whereas Brooke remained something of an icon as the first popularly-elected black Senator and a member of Republican leadership.

Brooke was a major opponent of anti-busing legislation and had successfully campaigned against the Biden Amendment to end federal funding of busing programs.

[13] Brooke's support of busing policies likely cost him votes in Boston and other working-class white communities, which had rioted in preceding years over the issue.

"[14] For his part, Tsongas largely avoided the busing issue, but did make the claim that voting for Brooke on the basis of his race was "the other side of racism.