Massachusetts Senate

Upper house of the Massachusetts General Court

For a list of previous senators, see List of Massachusetts Senate delegations.

Massachusetts Senate

193rd General Court of Massachusetts
Type
Type|

Upper house

of the Massachusetts General Court

Term limits

| None
History

New session started

| January 4, 2023
Leadership

President

Karen Spilka (D)
since July 26, 2018

President pro tempore

William Brownsberger (D)
since March 20, 2019

Majority Leader

Cynthia Stone Creem (D)
since February 28, 2018

Minority Leader

Bruce Tarr (R)
since January 5, 2011

Structure
Seats| 40

Political groups

| Majority (36)

* Democratic (36)

Minority (4)

* Republican (4)

Length of term

| 2 years
Authority| Chapter 1, Massachusetts Constitution
Salary| $70,537/year; set to increase every two years equal to the increase in the median salary of Massachusetts. Additional stipends are given to leaders of the majority and minority party.
Elections

Voting system

| First-past-the-post

Last election

| November 8, 2022
(40 seats)

Next election

| November 5, 2024
(40 seats)
Redistricting| Legislative Control
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Massachusetts State House
Boston, Massachusetts
Website
Massachusetts Senate
Rules
Rules of the Massachusetts Senate

The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state. All but one of the districts are named for the counties in which they are located (the "Cape and Islands" district covers Dukes, Nantucket, and parts of Barnstable counties). Senators serve two-year terms, without term limits.[1] The Senate convenes in the Massachusetts State House in Boston, the state capital.

## Qualifications

[edit]

The following are the qualifications to be elected to the Massachusetts Senate:[2]

* Be 18 years of age
* Be a registered voter in Massachusetts
* Be an inhabitant of Massachusetts for five years
* Be a resident of the district when elected
* Receive a least 300 signatures on nomination papers

## Recent party control

[edit]

Democrats hold a supermajority in the Senate.

Affiliation  | Party

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

| Total  |

|
|
|

|  |
Democratic | Republican | Vacant
Begin 189th (2015–2016)  | 34  | 6  | 40  | 0
Begin 190th (2017–2018)
Begin 191st (2019–2020)
Begin 192nd (2021–2022)  | 37  | 3  | 40  | 0
Begin 193rd (2023–2024)  | 37  | 3  | 40  | 0
June 5, 2023[a] | 36  | 39  | 1
November 29, 2023[b] | 4  | 40  | 0
Latest voting share  | 90%  | 10%  |

[5]

## Current leadership

[edit]

Main article: 2023–2024 Massachusetts legislature § Leadership

## Current members and districts

[edit]

Main article: 2023–2024 Massachusetts legislature § Members

## Current committees and members

[edit]

Main article: 2023–2024 Massachusetts legislature § Committees

## Past composition of the Senate

[edit]

Main article: Political party strength in Massachusetts

Composition by municipality in the 187th and 188th General Courts.

Composition by municipality in the 189th General Court and at the opening of 190th General Court.

Composition by municipality in the 190th General Court beginning on December 5, 2017.

Composition by municipality at the beginning of the 191st General Court.

## See also

[edit]

* 2023–2024 Massachusetts legislature
* List of former districts of the Massachusetts Senate
* List of Massachusetts Senate delegations
* Massachusetts House of Representatives

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Anne Gobi (D) resigned from the Massachusetts Senate to accept a job in the gubernatorial administration of Gov. Maura Healey.[3]
2. ^ Peter Durant (R) is sworn in to succeed Gobi.[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Article LXXXII.
2. ^ "How to Run for Office in Massachusetts" (PDF). March 2017.
3. ^ "State Sen. Gobi tapped for new post in Healey administration as director of rural affairs". WBUR. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
4. ^ "Peter Durant sworn in as senator; GOP sees signs their ideas more 'viable' in Mass". telegram.com. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
5. ^ "Massachusetts Senate". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 5, 2023.

## Further reading

[edit]

* "Senate of the General Court of Massachusetts". Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2005., 2007
* "House–Senate power struggle brewing", Boston Globe, April 4, 2015

## External links

[edit]

* Senate Members of the General Court official government website
* Official Senate district definitions as of 2021
* 2002
* 2010, with names of senators
* 2011
* State Senate of Massachusetts[permanent dead link] at Project Vote Smart
* Massachusetts Senate at Ballotpedia

* v
* t
* e

Members of the Massachusetts Senate

193rd General Court (2023–present)

President of the Senate
Karen Spilka (D)
President pro tempore
Will Brownsberger (D)
Majority Leader
Cynthia Stone Creem (D)
Minority Leader
Bruce Tarr (R)

* ▌Paul Mark (D, Berk., Hpsh., Frnk., & Hpdn.)
* ▌Paul Feeney (D, Bris. & Norf.)
* ▌Michael Rodrigues (D, 1st Bris. & Plym.)
* ▌Mark Montigny (D, 2nd Bris. & Plym.)
* ▌Marc Pacheco (D, 3rd Bris. & Plym.)
* ▌Julian Cyr (D, Cape & Islands)
* ▌Pavel Payano (D, 1st Essex)
* ▌Joan Lovely (D, 2nd Essex)
* ▌Brendan Crighton (D, 3rd Essex)
* ▌Bruce Tarr (R, 1st Ess. & Mid.)
* ▌Barry Finegold (D, 2nd Ess. & Mid.)
* ▌Adam Gomez (D, Hampden)
* ▌John Velis (D, Hpdn. & Hpsh.)
* ▌Jacob Oliveira (D, Hpdn., Hpsh. & Wor.)
* ▌Jo Comerford (D, Hpsh., Frnk., & Wor.)
* ▌Edward J. Kennedy (D, 1st Mid.)
* ▌Patricia D. Jehlen (D, 2nd Mid.)
* ▌Michael J. Barrett (D, 3rd Mid.)
* ▌Cindy Friedman (D, 4th Mid.)
* ▌Jason Lewis (D, 5th Mid.)
* ▌Karen Spilka (D, Mid. & Norf.)
* ▌Sal DiDomenico (D, Mid. & Suff.)
* ▌Jamie Eldridge (D, Mid. & Wor.)
* ▌Cynthia Stone Creem (D, Norf. & Mid.)
* ▌John F. Keenan (D, Norf. & Plym.)
* ▌Walter Timilty (D, Norf., Plym. & Bris.)
* ▌Mike Rush (D, Norf. & Suff.)
* ▌Becca Rausch (D, Norf., Wor. & Mid.)
* ▌Susan Moran (D, Plym. & Barn.)
* ▌Patrick O'Connor (R, 1st Plym. & Norf.)
* ▌Michael Brady (D, 2nd Plym. & Norf.)
* ▌Nick Collins (D, 1st Suffolk)
* ▌Liz Miranda (D, 2nd Suffolk)
* ▌Lydia Edwards (D, 3rd Suffolk)
* ▌Will Brownsberger (D, Suff. & Mid.)
* ▌Robyn Kennedy (D, 1st Worcester)
* ▌Michael O. Moore (D, 2nd Worcester)
* ▌Ryan Fattman (R, Wor. & Hpdn.)
* ▌Peter Durant (R, Wor. & Hpsh.)
* ▌John Cronin (D, Wor. & Mid.)

* ▌Democratic (36)
* ▌Republican (4)
* List of Massachusetts Senate delegations

* Massachusetts General Court
* Massachusetts House of Representatives
* Massachusetts Senate

* v
* t
* e

Districts of the Massachusetts General Court

Senate|

* Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden
* Bristol and Norfolk
* Bristol and Plymouth: 1st, 2nd
* Cape and Islands
* Essex: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
* Essex and Middlesex: 1st, 2nd
* Hampden
* Hampden and Hampshire: 1st, 2nd
* Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester
* Middlesex: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
* Middlesex and Norfolk: 1st, 2nd
* Middlesex and Suffolk
* Middlesex and Worcester
* Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex
* Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth
* Norfolk and Plymouth
* Norfolk and Suffolk
* Plymouth and Barnstable
* Plymouth and Bristol: 1st, 2nd
* Plymouth and Norfolk
* Suffolk: 1st, 2nd
* Suffolk and Middlesex: 1st, 2nd
* Worcester: 1st, 2nd
* Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex
* Worcester and Middlesex
* Worcester and Norfolk
* Obsolete districts

House|

| Barnstable|

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

|

Berkshire|

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th

Bristol|

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th

Cape and Islands|

Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket

Essex  |

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th

Franklin|

1st, 2nd

Hampden|

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Hampshire|

1st, 2nd, 3rd

Middlesex|

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th, 36th, 37th

Norfolk  |

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th

Plymouth|

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Suffolk|

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th

Worcester|

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th

Defunct districts  |

Former districts

Commons

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Other legislatures|

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Legislative elections|

* 2000
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List of U.S. state legislators

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Government of Massachusetts

Legislative|

* General Court
* Senate (Members, President)
* House of Representatives (Members, Speaker)

Executive|

* Governor (List)
* Lt. Governor
* Attorney General
* Auditor
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Judicial|

* Boston Municipal Court
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* Land Court
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* Appeals Court (Judges)
* Supreme Judicial Court
* Essex Probate and Family Court
* Middlesex Probate and Family Court

Independent agencies|

* Board of Library Commissioners
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Law|

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* Abortion
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* Crime
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* Gun laws
* LGBT rights
* Taxation

* v
* t
* e

Massachusetts General Courts by year convened

|  |

1 (1780)
2 (1781)
3 (1782)
4 (1783)
5 (1784)
6 (1785)
7 (1786)
8 (1787)
9 (1788)
10 (1789)
11 (1790)
12 (1791)
13 (1792)
14 (1793)
15 (1794)
16 (1795)
17 (1796)
18 (1797)
19 (1798)
20 (1799)
21 (1800)
22 (1801)
23 (1802)
24 (1803)
25 (1804)

26 (1805)
27 (1806)
28 (1807)
29 (1808)
30 (1809)
31 (1810)
32 (1811)
33 (1812)
34 (1813)
35 (1814)
36 (1815)
37 (1816)
38 (1817)
39 (1818)
40 (1819)
41 (1820)
42 (1821)
43 (1822)
44 (1823)
45 (1824)
46 (1825)
47 (1826)
48 (1827)
49 (1828)
50 (1829)

51 (1830)
52 (1831)
53 (1832)
54 (1833)
55 (1834)
56 (1835)
57 (1836)
58 (1837)
59 (1838)
60 (1839)
61 (1840)
62 (1841)
63 (1842)
64 (1843)
65 (1844)
66 (1845)
67 (1846)
68 (1847)
69 (1848)
70 (1849)
71 (1850)
72 (1851)
73 (1852)
74 (1853)
75 (1854)

76 (1855)
77 (1856)
78 (1857)
79 (1858)
80 (1859)
81 (1860)
82 (1861)
83 (1862)
84 (1863)
85 (1864)
86 (1865)
87 (1866)
88 (1867)
89 (1868)
90 (1869)
91 (1870)
92 (1871)
93 (1872)
94 (1873)
95 (1874)
96 (1875)
97 (1876)
98 (1877)
99 (1878)
100 (1879)

101 (1880)
102 (1881)
103 (1882)
104 (1883)
105 (1884)
106 (1885)
107 (1886)
108 (1887)
109 (1888)
110 (1889)
111 (1890)
112 (1891)
113 (1892)
114 (1893)
115 (1894)
116 (1895)
117 (1896)
118 (1897)
119 (1898)
120 (1899)
121 (1900)
122 (1901)
123 (1902)
124 (1903)
125 (1904)

126 (1905)
127 (1906)
128 (1907)
129 (1908)
130 (1909)
131 (1910)
132 (1911)
133 (1912)
134 (1913)
135 (1914)
136 (1915)
137 (1916)
138 (1917)
139 (1918)
140 (1919)
141 (1920)
142 (1921)
143 (1923)
144 (1925)
145 (1927)
146 (1929)
147 (1931)
148 (1933)
149 (1935)
150 (1937)

151 (1939)
152 (1941)
153 (1943)
154 (1945)
155 (1947)
156 (1949)
157 (1951)
158 (1953)
159 (1955)
160 (1957)
161 (1959)
162 (1961)
163 (1963)
164 (1965)
165 (1967)
166 (1969)
167 (1971)
168 (1973)
169 (1975)
170 (1977)
171 (1979)
172 (1981)
173 (1983)
174 (1985)
175 (1987)

176 (1989)
177 (1991)
178 (1993)
179 (1995)
180 (1997)
181 (1999)
182 (2001)
183 (2003)
184 (2005)
185 (2007)
186 (2009)
187 (2011)
188 (2013)
189 (2015)
190 (2017)
191 (2019)
192 (2021)
193 (2023)
194 (2025)

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