2019–2020 Massachusetts legislature

Last updated

191st
Massachusetts General Court
190th 192nd
Massachusetts state house.jpg
Overview
Legislative body Massachusetts General Court
TermJanuary 2, 2019 (2019-01-02) – January 6, 2021 (2021-01-06)
Election 2018 election
Massachusetts Senate
Members40
Senate President Karen Spilka (D)
Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem (D)
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R)
Party control Democratic
Massachusetts House of Representatives
Members160
House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D)
House Majority Leader Ron Mariano (D)
House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R)
Party control Democratic

The 191st Massachusetts General Court was the meeting of the legislative branch of the state government of Massachusetts, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. [1] It convened in Boston at the Massachusetts State House, on January 2, 2019, and ended on January 6, 2021, during the fifth and sixth years of the governorship of Charlie Baker. Senate and House districts were drawn based on the 2010 Census.

Contents

In the 2018 elections, the Democratic Party increased its majorities in both chambers, flipping two seats from the Republicans in the House and one in the Senate. [2] Although Republican Governor Charlie Baker easily won re-election to a second term, the Democrats maintained veto-proof supermajorities in the legislature. [3]

The session was notable for the wide range of flash-point issues discussed; among these were climate change, police reform, the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare reform, and education funding. [4] Other notable legislation included a pandemic-related vote-by-mail law. [5] Notable bills include a proposal for a commission focused on "state agency automated decision-making, artificial intelligence, transparency, fairness, and individual rights." [6] [7]

Party summary

Senate

AffiliationParty
(shading indicates majority caucus)
TotalVacant
Democratic Independent Republican
End of previous General Court 3107382
Begin (January 2, 2019)3406400
November 29, 2019 [lower-alpha 1] 345391
January 6, 2020 [lower-alpha 2] 344382
May 28, 2020 [lower-alpha 3] [lower-alpha 4] 36400
Latest voting share

House of Representatives

AffiliationParty
(shading indicates majority caucus)
TotalVacant
Democratic Independent Republican
End of previous General Court 1191341546
Begin (January 2, 2019)1271321600
November 15, 2019 [lower-alpha 5] 1261591
January 6, 2020 [lower-alpha 6] 126311582
January 8, 2020 [lower-alpha 7] 1251573
March 25, 2020 [lower-alpha 8] 1261582
May 28, 2020 [lower-alpha 9] 1251573
June 10, 2020 [lower-alpha 10] 1271591
Latest voting share

Members

Senators

PortraitNamePartyDistrictResidenceAssumed office
Michael J Barrett.jpg Michael J. Barrett  Democratic Lexington 2013
Joseph A Boncore.jpg Joseph Boncore
 Democratic Winthrop 2016*
Michael-D-Brady.jpg Michael Brady  Democratic Brockton 2015*
William N. Brownsberger.jpg William Brownsberger  Democratic Belmont 2012*
Harriette L. Chandler.jpg Harriette Chandler  Democratic Worcester 2001
Sonia Chang Diaz.jpg Sonia Chang-Díaz  Democratic Boston 2009
Nick Collins.jpg Nick Collins  Democratic Boston 2018*
Joanne Comerford.jpg Joanne Comerford  Democratic Northampton 2019
Cynthia S. Creem.jpg Cynthia Creem  Democratic Newton 1999
Brendan Crighton.jpg Brendan Crighton  Democratic Lynn 2018*
Julian Cyr.jpg Julian Cyr  Democratic Cape and Islands Truro 2017
Sal DiDomenico.jpg Sal DiDomenico  Democratic Middlesex and Suffolk Everett 2010*
Diana DiZoglio.jpg Diana DiZoglio  Democratic Methuen 2019
James B. Eldridge (State Portrait).jpg James Eldridge  Democratic Acton 2009
Ryan Fattman.jpg Ryan Fattman  Republican Webster 2015
Massachusetts State Senator Paul R. Feeney.png Paul Feeney  Democratic Foxborough 2017* [8]
Barry Finegold.jpg Barry Finegold  Democratic Andover 2019
Cindy Friedman.jpg Cindy Friedman  Democratic Arlington 2017*
Anne Gobi.jpg Anne Gobi  Democratic Spencer 2015
Adam Hinds.jpg Adam Hinds  Democratic Pittsfield 2017
Patricia Jehlen.jpg Patricia Jehlen  Democratic Somerville 2005*
John Keenan.jpg John Keenan  Democratic Quincy 2011
Edward J Kennedy MA government photo.jpg Edward Kennedy  Democratic Lowell 2019
Eric lesser old.jpg Eric Lesser  Democratic Longmeadow 2015
Jason M. Lewis.jpg Jason Lewis  Democratic Winchester 2014*
Joan Lovely.jpg Joan Lovely  Democratic Salem 2013
Senator-Mark-Montigny-170x200.jpg Mark Montigny  Democratic New Bedford 1993
Michael Moore headshot.jpg Michael Moore  Democratic Millbury 2009
Susan Moran.jpg Susan Moran  Democratic Falmouth 2020*
Plymouth & Norfolk State Senator Patrick M. O'Connor.png Patrick O'Connor  Republican Weymouth 2016*
Marc Pacheco.jpg Marc Pacheco  Democratic Taunton 1993
Rebecca Rausch.jpg Rebecca Rausch  Democratic Needham 2019
Michael Rodrigues.jpg Michael Rodrigues  Democratic Westport 2011
Mike Rush.jpg Michael Rush  Democratic Boston 2011
Karen E. Spilka.jpg Karen Spilka  Democratic Ashland 2005
Bruce-tarr.jpg Bruce Tarr  Republican Gloucester 1995
Walter Timilty.jpg Walter Timilty  Democratic Milton 2017
Dean Tran.jpg Dean Tran  Republican Fitchburg 2017*
John Velis.jpg John Velis  Democratic Westfield 2020*
James T. Welch.jpg James Welch  Democratic West Springfield 2011

Representatives

portraitname [9] date of birthdistrict [9]
James Arciero August 27, 1974 2nd Middlesex
Brian Ashe April 23, 1963
2005 Bruce Ayers Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Bruce Ayers April 17, 1962
2005 Ruth Balser Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Ruth Balser October 30, 1948
Christine Barber
John Barrett (Massachusetts politician) 1947
F. Jay Barrows April 5, 1956
Donnie Berthiaume
David Biele
Natalie Blais
Nicholas Boldyga.jpg
Nicholas Boldyga
1995 Antonio Cabral Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Antonio Cabral January 26, 1955
Daniel Cahill
Linda Dean Campbell
Peter Capano
Daniel R. Carey
Gerard Cassidy
Tackey Chan August 10, 1973
Michelle Ciccolo
Mike Connolly (politician).jpg
Mike Connolly (Massachusetts politician) June 3, 1980
Edward F. Coppinger
William Crocker Jr. 2000
Claire D. Cronin
Dan Cullinane
Mark Cusack 1984
Josh S. Cutler January 22, 1971
Angelo D'Emilia
Michael S. Day
Marjorie Decker
David DeCoste
Rdeleo.jpg
Robert DeLeo (politician) March 27, 1950
Marcos Devers October 25, 1950
Carol Doherty
Mindy Domb 1959
Dan Donahue May 1, 1987
Paul J. Donato.jpg
Paul Donato October 27, 1941
Shawn Dooley
William Driscoll
Michelle DuBois April 14, 1973
Peter Durant
Carolyn Dykema December 26, 1967
Lori Ehrlich June 9, 1963
Nika Elugardo July 31, 1973
Tricia Farley-Bouvier
Kimberly Ferguson
Dylan Fernandes
Ann-Margaret Ferrante June 26, 1972
Michael Finn March 24, 1970
Carole Fiola
2005 Paul Frost Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Paul Frost April 25, 1970
1995 William C Galvin Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
William C. Galvin October 18, 1956
Sean Garballey February 22, 1985
Denise Garlick
1995 Colleen Garry Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Colleen Garry July 21, 1962
Carmine Gentile
Susan Gifford.jpg
Susan Williams Gifford November 3, 1959
State Rep Tom Golden (512061811) (cropped).jpg
Thomas Golden Jr. March 5, 1971
Carlos Gonzalez (legislator)
Ken Gordon (American politician) November 4, 1959
Tami bike.png
Tami Gouveia
Danielle Gregoire
Patricia A. Haddad.jpg
Patricia Haddad May 7, 1950
Richard Haggerty
Sheila Harrington 1960
Jim Hawkins (politician) October 17, 1949
Stephan Hay
Jon Hecht
Christopher Hendricks
Natalie Higgins July 24, 1988
Bradford Hill in 2012.jpg
Bradford Hill January 22, 1967
Kate Hogan January 15, 1957
Russell Holmes at Boston Foundation.jpg
Russell Holmes August 17, 1969
1995 Kevin Honan Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Kevin Honan June 5, 1958
Steve Howitt
Daniel J. Hunt
Randy Hunt (politician) August 24, 1957
1995 Bradley Jones Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Bradley Jones Jr. January 9, 1965
1995 Louis Kafka Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Louis Kafka November 28, 1945
The Series - Worcester 05 (23129474852) (1).jpg
Hannah Kane 1971
Patrick J. Kearney
Mary Keefe
James Kelcourse
1995 Kay Khan Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Kay Khan June 22, 1941
Kathleen LaNatra
John J. Lawn
David LeBoeuf 1989
2014 Susannah Whipps Lee.jpg
Susannah Whipps
Jack Patrick Lewis
David Linsky portrait.jpg
David Linsky October 16, 1957
Kate Lipper-Garabedian
Jay Livingstone 2013.jpg
Jay Livingstone
Marc Lombardo
Adrian Madaro 1988
John J. Mahoney
2003 Elizabeth Malia Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Liz Malia September 30, 1949
Ronald Mariano.jpg
Ronald Mariano October 31, 1946
Paul Mark
Christopher Markey
Joe McGonagle
Massachusetts State Representative Joseph McKenna.jpg
Joseph D. McKenna
Paul McMurtry.jpg
Paul McMurtry October 28, 1965
Joan Meschino
Aaron Michlewitz 1978
Christina Minicucci
Liz Miranda June 29, 1981
Lenny Mirra Profile.jpg
Lenny Mirra February 23, 1964
Rady Mom.jpg
Rady Mom 1970
Frank A. Moran
2005 Michael Moran Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Michael Moran (Massachusetts politician) February 23, 1971
David Muradian.jpg
David Muradian November 21, 1982
Matt Muratore
2005 James Murphy Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
James M. Murphy November 15, 1969
Brian Murray (politician)
2005 David Nangle Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
David Nangle December 18, 1960
Harold Naughton.jpg
Harold Naughton Jr. July 4, 1960
Tram Nguyen.jpg
Tram Nguyen June 22, 1986
James ODay Headshot.jpg
Jim O'Day May 23, 1954
Norman Orrall
Jerry Parisella
Sarah Peake October 4, 1957
2005 Alice Peisch Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Alice Peisch October 4, 1954
1995 Thomas Petrolati Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Thomas Petrolati March 16, 1957
PignatelliNeal.jpeg
William "Smitty" Pignatelli August 31, 1959
2003 Elizabeth Poirier Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Elizabeth Poirier October 27, 1942
Denise Provost at Assembly station opening, September 2014.JPG
Denise Provost March 9, 1951
Angelo Puppolo
Dave Robertson (Massachusetts politician)
Maria Robinson March 25, 1987
Dave Rogers (Massachusetts politician)
John Rogers (2014).jpg
John H. Rogers October 22, 1964
JeffreyRoy.jpg
Jeffrey Roy September 8, 1961
Daniel Ryan, August 1, 2014 (14801478474) (cropped).jpg
Daniel Joseph Ryan
Lindsay Sabadosa
Jon Santiago
1983 Angelo Scaccia Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Angelo Scaccia September 29, 1942
Paul Schmid
Danillo Sena September 7, 1986
Alan Silvia October 19, 1951
2005 Todd Smola Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Todd Smola 1977
Michael Soter
TedSpeliotis.jpg
Theodore C. Speliotis August 20, 1953
2003 Thomas Stanley Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Thomas M. Stanley March 23, 1964
1995 William Straus Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
William M. Straus June 26, 1956
Alyson Sullivan Headshot.jpg
Alyson Sullivan February 7, 1988
Jose Tosado December 18, 1953
Paul Tucker (politician)
Chynah Tyler
Steven Ultrino
Andy Vargas
Aaron Vega official photo.jpg
Aaron Vega August 25, 1970
John Velis.jpg
John Velis January 26, 1979
David Vieira (politician)
RoseLee Vincent
Tommy Vitolo 1978
Joseph F. Wagner.jpg
Joseph Wagner (Massachusetts politician) May 7, 1960
1987 Thomas P Walsh Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
Thomas Walsh (Massachusetts politician) July 15, 1960
Tim Whelan (politician)
Bud Williams
Donald Wong January 15, 1952
Jonathan D Zlotnik.jpg
Jonathan Zlotnik May 7, 1990

See also

Notes

  1. In Plymouth and Barnstable district: Senator Vinny deMacedo (R) resigned to take a job in higher education.
  2. In 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district: Senator Don Humason (R) resigned to serve as Mayor of Westfield.
  3. In Plymouth and Barnstable district: Susan Moran (D) assumed office to continue Vinny deMacedo's term.
  4. In 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district: John Velis (D) assumed office to continue Don Humason's term.
  5. In 32nd Middlesex district: Rep. Paul Brodeur (D) resigned to serve as Mayor of Melrose.
  6. In 3rd Bristol district: Rep. Shaunna O'Connell (R) resigned to serve as Mayor of Taunton.
  7. In 37th Middlesex district: Rep. Jen Benson (D) resigned to serve as President of the Alliance for Business Leadership.
  8. In 32nd Middlesex district: Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D) assumed office to continue Paul Brodeur's term.
  9. In 4th Hampden district: Rep. John Velis (D) resigned to serve as state senator for the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district.
  10. Carol Doherty (D) and Dan Sena (D) assumed office to continue Shaunna O'Connell and Jen Benson's terms, respectively.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vinny deMacedo</span> American politician

Viriato Manuel Pereira de Macedo, also popularly known as Vinny deMacedo, is a Cape Verdean American politician, and was the Massachusetts State Senator for the Plymouth and Barnstable District, which comprises the communities of Bourne, Falmouth, Kingston, Pembroke, Plymouth, and Sandwich. He is a Republican who was sworn into the Massachusetts Senate on January 7, 2015. In November 2019 deMacedo resigned from the Massachusetts Senate to take a job in higher education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kip Diggs</span> American boxer

Kip Andre Diggs is an American politician and retired professional boxer. He serves as a Democratic member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and assumed office on January 3, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Cusack</span> American politician

Mark James Cusack is an American politician who represents the 5th Norfolk District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, Cusack's district encompasses all precincts in the town of Braintree and Precinct 1 and 2 in the town of Holbrook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sal DiDomenico</span> American state legislator

Sal N. DiDomenico is an American state legislator who has served in the Massachusetts Senate since May 2010 and as Assistant Majority Leader since 2018. He is a Democrat representing the Middlesex and Suffolk district, which includes his hometown of Everett as well as Chelsea, Allston, Brighton, Charlestown, and parts of Cambridge and Boston. In 2010, he won a special election to succeed the retiring Anthony D. Galluccio. Before that, he spent three years as Gallucio's chief of staff. From 2004 to 2010 he was a member of the Everett City Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts</span> Election

The 2013 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts was held on June 25, 2013, in order to fill the Massachusetts Class 2 United States Senate seat for the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Gordon (American politician)</span> American politician

Kenneth I. Gordon is an American attorney and state legislator representing the 21st Middlesex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. The district includes Burlington, Bedford, and Wilmington's Precinct 3. He is a Bedford resident and a member of the Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawn Dooley</span> American politician

Shawn C. Dooley is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in the 9th Norfolk district, succeeding Dan Winslow. The 9th Norfolk District constitutes all or parts of the Towns of Medfield, Millis, Norfolk, Plainville, Walpole, and Wrentham. A member of the Republican Party, he was sworn in January 29, 2014. In 2022, he vacated the seat to run for the Massachusetts State Senate, he was defeated by incumbent Becca Rausch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Velis</span> American politician

John Christopher Velis is an American state legislator and Democratic member of the Massachusetts Senate since 2020. He previously represented the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district, which includes his hometown of Westfield, and currently represents the Hampden and Hampshire district after the 2020 census. Prior his election to the state senate, Velis was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2014 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rady Mom</span> American politician

Rady Mom is an American politician and a representative in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 18th Middlesex district. The district was formerly represented by Kevin Murphy, who vacated his seat in 2014 when he was hired as the city manager of Lowell. Mom is the first Cambodian-American to be elected to the Massachusetts state Legislature as well as the first Cambodian American elected to a state legislature in the country.

Jon Santiago is an American physician and Democratic politician who served in the Massachusetts state representative for the 9th Suffolk district from 2019 to March 2023. He ran a campaign for mayor of Boston in 2021, but withdrew from the race before the primary election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massachusetts Senate's 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district</span> American legislative district

Massachusetts Senate's 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district in the United States is one of 40 legislative districts of the Massachusetts Senate. It covers 29.3% of Hampden County and 13.8% of Hampshire County population in 2010. Democrat John Velis has represented the district since May 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massachusetts House of Representatives' 17th Middlesex district</span> American legislative district

Massachusetts House of Representatives' 17th Middlesex district in the United States is one of 160 legislative districts included in the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court. It covers part of Middlesex County. Democrat Vanna Howard was elected to the position on November 3, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011–2012 Massachusetts legislature</span>

The 187th Massachusetts General Court, consisting of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives, met in 2011 and 2012 during the governorship of Deval Patrick. Therese Murray served as president of the Senate and Robert DeLeo served as speaker of the House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–2014 Massachusetts legislature</span>

The 188th Massachusetts General Court, consisting of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives, met in 2013 and 2014 during the governorship of Deval Patrick. Therese Murray served as president of the Senate and Robert DeLeo served as speaker of the House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–2016 Massachusetts legislature</span>

The 189th Massachusetts General Court, consisting of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives, met in 2015 and 2016 during the governorship of Charlie Baker. Stan Rosenberg served as president of the Senate and Robert DeLeo served as speaker of the House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–2018 Massachusetts legislature</span> 190th Massachusetts General Court

The 190th Massachusetts General Court, consisting of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives, met in 2017 and 2018 during the governorship of Charlie Baker. Harriette L. Chandler served as president of the Senate and Robert DeLeo served as speaker of the House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Massachusetts House of Representatives election</span>

The 2020 Massachusetts House of Representatives election took place on November 3, 2020. It elected members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Democrats achieved a net gain of 1 seat. One independent Susannah Whipps was also elected. Incumbent Speaker Robert DeLeo won re-election but resigned before the new session to take a position at Northeastern University; Ronald Mariano replaced him as Speaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–2022 Massachusetts legislature</span> 192nd Massachusetts General Court

The 192nd Massachusetts General Court was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government of Massachusetts. It consisted of elected members of the Senate and House of Representatives. It first convened in Boston at the Massachusetts State House on January 6, 2021, during the governorship of Charlie Baker. The 192nd term ended in early 2023. Will Brownsberger, Michael Moran, and Dan Hunt oversaw decennial redistricting based on the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023–2024 Massachusetts legislature</span> 193rd Massachusetts General Court

The 193rd Massachusetts General Court is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the state government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, composed of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives. It first convened in Boston at the Massachusetts State House on January 4, 2023, on the last day of the governorship of Charlie Baker and is scheduled to continue until January 7, 2025, during the first two years of Governor Maura Healey's first term.

References

  1. "Malegislature.gov". Archived from the original on January 10, 2019.
  2. "Dems pick up three seats on Beacon Hill". November 7, 2018.
  3. "Democrats Further Solidify Super-Majorities in the Mass. House and Senate".
  4. "End of Session Report, 2019-2020 Legislative Session" (PDF). Massachusetts Legislature. May 26, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  5. "A new law allows Mass. residents to vote by mail. Here's how that's already changing things", Boston Globe, July 29, 2020
  6. Electronic Privacy Information Center, "State Artificial Intelligence Policy", Epic.org, Washington, DC, retrieved September 5, 2020
  7. "Bill H.2701", malegislature.gov, 191st General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, retrieved September 5, 2020
  8. Daniel Libon (October 17, 2017). "Feeney Beats Ventura, Shortsleeve In State Senate Race". Patch.
  9. 1 2 "House Members". Malegislature.gov. Archived from the original on January 8, 2019.

Further reading