Massachusetts State Senate

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Massachusetts State Senate
SLP-Infobox Image-Color.png
General Information
Party control:   Democrat
Session start:   January 3, 2024
Session end:   July 31, 2024
Term length:   2 years
Term limits:   None
Redistricting:  Legislature-dominant
Salary:   $73,655.01/year
Members
Total:  40
Democrats:  36
Republicans:  4
Other:  0
Vacancies:  0
Leadership
President:   Karen Spilka (D)
Maj. Leader:   Cynthia Stone Creem (D)
Min. Leader:   Bruce Tarr (R)
Elections
Last election:  November 8, 2022
Next election:  November 5, 2024

The Massachusetts State Senate is the upper chamber of the Massachusetts General Court. Alongside the Massachusetts House of Representatives, it forms the legislative branch of the Massachusetts state government and works alongside the governor of Massachusetts to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Massachusetts State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Massachusetts State Senate meets in the State House in Boston, Massachusetts.

  • All 40 seats in the Massachusetts State Senate were up for election in 2022. The chamber's Democratic supermajority remained 37-3.
  • All 40 seats in the state Senate were up for election in 2020. The chamber's Democratic supermajority increased from 36-4 to 37-3.

  • Massachusetts has a Democratic trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

    • This page contains the following information on the Massachusetts State Senate.

    Party control

    Current partisan control

    The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Massachusetts State Senate as of January 2024:

    Party As of January 2024
         Democratic Party 36
         Republican Party 4
         Other 0
         Vacancies 0
    Total 40

    Members

    Leadership

    The Senate elects its president, who then appoints majority floor leaders and whips. The minority party elects its leaders in a party caucus.[1][2]

    Leadership and members


    Office Name Party Date assumed office
    Massachusetts State Senate 1st Bristol and Plymouth District Michael Rodrigues Democratic January 5, 2011
    Massachusetts State Senate 1st Essex District Pavel Payano Democratic January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate 1st Essex and Middlesex District Bruce Tarr Republican 1995
    Massachusetts State Senate 1st Middlesex District Edward Kennedy Democratic January 2, 2019
    Massachusetts State Senate 1st Plymouth and Norfolk District Patrick O'Connor Republican January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate 1st Suffolk District Nick Collins Democratic 2018
    Massachusetts State Senate 1st Worcester District Robyn Kennedy Democratic January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Bristol and Plymouth District Mark Montigny Democratic 1993
    Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Essex District Joan Lovely Democratic January 2, 2013
    Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Essex and Middlesex District Barry Finegold Democratic January 2, 2019
    Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Middlesex District Patricia D. Jehlen Democratic 2005
    Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Plymouth and Norfolk District Michael Brady Democratic January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Suffolk District Liz Miranda Democratic January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Worcester District Michael Moore Democratic 2009
    Massachusetts State Senate 3rd Bristol and Plymouth District Marc Pacheco Democratic January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate 3rd Essex District Brendan Crighton Democratic March 7, 2018
    Massachusetts State Senate 3rd Middlesex District Mike Barrett Democratic January 2, 2013
    Massachusetts State Senate 3rd Suffolk District Lydia Edwards Democratic January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District Cindy Friedman Democratic July 27, 2017
    Massachusetts State Senate 5th Middlesex District Jason Lewis Democratic April 17, 2014
    Massachusetts State Senate Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire District Paul Mark Democratic January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate Bristol and Norfolk District Paul Feeney Democratic 2017
    Massachusetts State Senate Cape and Islands District Julian Andre Cyr Democratic January 4, 2017
    Massachusetts State Senate Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester District Jacob Oliveira Democratic January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate Hampden District Adam Gomez Democratic January 6, 2021
    Massachusetts State Senate Hampden and Hampshire District John Velis Democratic January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester District Jo Comerford Democratic January 2, 2019
    Massachusetts State Senate Middlesex and Norfolk District Karen Spilka Democratic January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate Middlesex and Suffolk District Sal DiDomenico Democratic 2010
    Massachusetts State Senate Middlesex and Worcester District James Eldridge Democratic 2009
    Massachusetts State Senate Norfolk, Plymouth, and Bristol District Walter Timilty Democratic January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate Norfolk, Worcester, and Middlesex District Becca Rausch Democratic January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate Norfolk and Middlesex District Cynthia Stone Creem Democratic January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate Norfolk and Plymouth District John Keenan Democratic January 5, 2011
    Massachusetts State Senate Norfolk and Suffolk District Michael Rush Democratic January 5, 2011
    Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth and Barnstable District Susan Moran Democratic May 28, 2020
    Massachusetts State Senate Suffolk and Middlesex District William Brownsberger Democratic January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate Worcester and Hampden District Ryan Fattman Republican January 4, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate Worcester and Hampshire District Peter Durant Republican November 29, 2023
    Massachusetts State Senate Worcester and Middlesex District John J. Cronin Democratic January 6, 2021


    Salaries

    See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
    State legislative salaries, 2023
    SalaryPer diem
    $73,655.01/yearNo per diem is paid.

    Swearing in dates

    See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

    Massachusetts legislators assume office the first Wednesday in January after the election.[3]

    Membership qualifications

    See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

    Article CI, Section 2 of the Massachusetts Constitution states: "Each district shall elect one senator, who shall have been an inhabitant of this Commonwealth five years at least immediately preceding his election and at the time of his election shall be an inhabitant of the district for which he is chosen; and he shall cease to represent such senatorial district when he shall cease to be an inhabitant of the Commonwealth."[4]

    Historical party control

    Democrats won control of the Massachusetts State Senate in 1958. In 2022, they won a 37-3 majority.

    The table below shows the partisan history of the Massachusetts Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

    Massachusetts State Senate election results: 1992-2022

    Year '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04 '06 '08 '10 '12 '14 '16 '18 '20 '22
    Democrats 31 30 34 33 34 34 34 35 35 36 36 34 34 34 37 37
    Republicans 9 10 6 7 6 6 6 5 5 4 4 6 6 6 3 3

    Trifecta history

    A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Massachusetts was under the following types of trifecta control:

    • Democratic trifecta: 2007-2014, 2023
    • Republican trifecta: None
    • Divided government: 1992-2006, 2015-2022

    Massachusetts Party Control: 1992-2024
    Ten years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
    Governor R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R D D
    Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
    House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

    Elections

    Elections by year

    Massachusetts state senators serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. Massachusetts holds elections for its legislature in even years.

    2024

    See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2024

    Elections for the Massachusetts State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is September 3, 2024. The filing deadline is May 7, 2024.

    2022

    See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2022

    Elections for the Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for September 6, 2022. The filing deadline was May 31, 2022.

    In the November 2022 election, Democrats won a vacant seat and maintained their 37-3 majority in the Massachusetts State Senate.


    Massachusetts State Senate
    Party As of November 8, 2022 After November 9, 2022
         Democratic Party 36 37
         Republican Party 3 3
         Vacancy 1 0
    Total 40 40

    2020

    See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2020

    Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for September 1, 2020. The local filing deadline was May 5, 2020, and the state filing deadline was June 2, 2020.[5]

    In the November 2020 election, Democrats increased their majority in the Massachusetts State Senate by one seat for a margin of 37-3.


    Massachusetts State Senate
    Party As of November 3, 2020 After November 4, 2020
         Democratic Party 36 37
         Republican Party 4 3
    Total 40 40

    2018

    See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2018

    Elections for the Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2018. The semi-closed primary election took place on September 4, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was June 5, 2018.

    In the 2018 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the Massachusetts State Senate from 31-7 to 34-6.

    Massachusetts State Senate
    Party As of November 6, 2018 After November 7, 2018
         Democratic Party 31 34
         Republican Party 7 6
         Vacancy 2 0
    Total 40 40

    2016

    See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2016

    Elections for the Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 8, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 7, 2016. All 40 seats in the Massachusetts State Senate were up for election in 2016.

    Heading into the election, Democrats held a 34-6 majority. No partisan change occurred in the election.

    Massachusetts State Senate
    Party As of November 7, 2016 After November 8, 2016
         Democratic Party 34 34
         Republican Party 6 6
    Total 40 40

    Vacancies

    See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

    If there is a vacancy in the Massachusetts General Court, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. The election must be held on the next regularly scheduled date on the election calendar.[12] Local governments that conduct special elections can receive reimbursement from the state treasurer's office for costs incurred.[13][14]

    DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Massachusetts Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54, § 141 and Massachusetts Const. Amend. Art. 24

    District map

    See also: Massachusetts state legislative districts

    The state of Massachusetts has 200 legislative districts. Each district elects one representative. The state Senate has 40 districts and the state House has 160 districts.

    Use the interactive map below to find your district.



    Redistricting

    See also: Redistricting in Massachusetts

    In Massachusetts, congressional and state legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature. The lines drawn by the state legislature are subject to veto by the governor.[15]

    State statutes require that state legislative district boundaries be contiguous and "reasonably preserve counties, towns, and cities intact, where otherwise possible." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[15]

    2020

    See also: Redistricting in Massachusetts after the 2020 census

    Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed the state's new legislative maps into law on November 4, 2021.[16] The state House passed the maps by a vote of 158-1 on October 21, 2021. The state Senate approved the legislative plans on October 27, 2021 by a vote of 36-3. The legislature began consideration of the state's redistricting plans on October 19, 2021.[17] These maps took effect for Massachusetts' 2022 legislative elections.

    After the redistricting plans were enacted, Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin (D) issued a statement expressing concern regarding how the maps would be implemented: "I am extremely disappointed that these bills were signed into law in their current form and I think it is a devastating blow to the voters of Massachusetts. With local precincts divided multiple ways, it will inevitably lead to chaos at the polls and make it impossible for voters to understand who their elected representatives are."[18] After the legislature approved the maps, State Sen. William Brownsberger (D) said, "It’s a quality final product. We have used every minute we’ve had to keep vetting, to keep adjusting . . . and to respond to input that we’ve received."[19]

    District map before and after 2020 redistricting

    Massachusetts State Senate Districts
    until January 3, 2023

    Click a district to compare boundaries.

    Massachusetts State Senate Districts
    starting January 4, 2023

    Click a district to compare boundaries.


    2010

    See also: Redistricting in Massachusetts after the 2010 census

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Massachusetts experienced a 3.1 percent increase in population between 2000 and 2010, with the population rising from approximately 6.35 million to 6.55 million. This was below the national average of 9.7 percent, and Massachusetts lost a Congressional seat as a result of the relatively slow growth.[20][21][22]

    The Special Joint Committee on Redistricting conducted the redistricting process.[23] On October 18, 2011, the state legislature released draft state Senate and state House maps. The Senate and House plans were passed on November 1, 2011, and were signed into law by the governor November 3, 2011.[24]

    Sessions

    Legislation

    The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Massachusetts State Senate has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by the House and signed by the governor after its passage in the Senate. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

    Dates of legislative sessions in Massachusetts by year

    2024

    See also: 2024 Massachusetts legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions

    In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2024, and adjourn on July 31, 2024.

    2023

    See also: 2023 Massachusetts legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions

    In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2023, and adjourn on November 15, 2023.



    About legislative sessions in Massachusetts

    The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[32] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

    The Massachusetts Constitution contains provisions regarding when the Massachusetts General Court, which the Senate is a part of, is to meet. This subject has been the focus of several amendments to the Constitution. Originally, Chapter 1 of the Massachusetts Constitution called for the General Court to convene on the last Wednesday of May. Then, Amending Article X called for legislative sessions to convene yearly on the first Wednesday of January. Later, Amending Article LXXII called for the General Court to meet once every two years, but Amending Article LXXV repealed that amendment. Therefore, the rules that govern when the General Court is to meet are in Amending Article X.

    Article X calls for the General Court to convene its regular session on the first Wednesday of January. The session does not dissolve until a new regular session convenes in the next year. Article X specifies that it does not prevent the General Court from meeting at any time that it judges necessary.[33]

    Legislative roles and procedures

    Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, procedures for filling membership vacancies, and redistricting.

    Veto overrides

    Veto Override Graphic-Democratic Party.png

    See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

    State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Massachusetts are listed below.

    How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers.

    Two-thirds of members present in both chambers must vote to override a veto. If all members are in attendance, this is 107 of the 160 members in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and 27 of the 40 members in the Massachusetts State Senate. Massachusetts is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

    Authority: Chapter 1, Article II of the Massachusetts Constitution.

    "But if he have any objection to the passing of such bill or resolve, he shall return the same, together with his objections thereto, in writing, to the senate or house of representatives, in whichsoever the same shall have originated; who shall enter the objections sent down by the governor, at large, on their records, and proceed to reconsider the said bill or resolve. But if after such reconsideration, two thirds of the said senate or house of representatives, shall, notwithstanding the said objections, agree to pass the same, it shall, together with the objections, be sent to the other branch of the legislature, where it shall also be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of the members present, shall have the force of a law: but in all such cases, the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays; and the names of the persons voting for, or against, the said bill or resolve, shall be entered upon the public records of the commonwealth."

    Role in state budget

    See also: Massachusetts state budget and finances
    Massachusetts on Public Policy Logo-one line-on Ballotpedia.png
    Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:
    Budgets • Civil liberties • Education • Elections • Energy • Environment • Healthcare • Pensions

    The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[34]

    1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in mid-November of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
    2. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature on the fourth Wednesday in January.
    3. The legislature typically adopts a budget in June. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins July 1.

    Massachusetts is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[34]

    The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the legislature is legally required to pass a balanced budget.[34]

    Committees

    See also: List of committees in Massachusetts state government

    Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

    • Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
    • Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
    • Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

    Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Massachusetts State Senate has 13 standing committees:


    Constitutional amendments

    In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

    The methods in which the Massachusetts Constitution can be amended:

    See also: Article XLVIII, Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution, and Laws governing ballot measures in Massachusetts

    The process of amending the Massachusetts Constitution is governed by Article XLVIII, Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution, which is itself the 48th amendment to the state's constitution.

    Article 48 allows the constitution to be amended through indirect initiative amendments. It imposes a number of restrictions on such proposed amendments:

    • Petitions that relate to "religion, religious practices or religious institutions" are prohibited.
    • Petitions that relate to the "appointment, qualification, tenure, removal, recall or compensation of judges" are prohibited.
    • Petitions that would reverse judicial decisions are prohibited.
    • Petitions relating to the "powers, creation or abolition of courts" are prohibited.
    • Petitions that apply only to "a particular town, city or other political division or to particular districts or localities of the commonwealth" are prohibited.
    • Petitions that would make "a specific appropriation of money from the treasury of the commonwealth" are prohibited.
    • Any petition relating to Amendment 18 is prohibited through citizen initiative; however, Amendment 18 was altered through other paths.
    • Petitions "inconsistent with" a list of "rights of the individual" are prohibited; those rights include:
    • "The right to receive compensation for private property appropriated to public use."
    • "The right of access to and protection in courts of justice."
    • "The right of trial by jury."
    • "Protection from unreasonable search unreasonable bail and the law martial."
    • "Freedom of the press."
    • "Freedom of elections."
    • "The right of peaceable assembly."
    • The sections of the constitution that prohibit various matters from being taken up by citizen initiative are also, themselves, prohibited from change through the process.
    • Petitions that are "substantially the same as any measure which has been qualified for submission or submitted to the people at either of the two preceding biennial state elections" are prohibited.

    The state's general court plays a significant role in the process for an initiated constitutional amendment in Massachusetts:

    • The Massachusetts General Court is allowed to refer an alternative substitute measure to the ballot to compete with the proposed citizen initiative.
    • The state legislature is allowed to amend the text of an initiated constitutional amendment through a three-fourths vote in joint session.
    • In two successive legislative sessions, 25 percent of the members of the Massachusetts General Court must support the proposed amendment in order for it to go on the ballot. There are 200 legislators altogether—40 in the Massachusetts State Senate and 160 in the Massachusetts House of Representatives—so a proposed amendment must earn 50 positive votes. The proposed amendment does not need to earn a 25 percent vote from both chambers, but, rather, from a joint session. This means, for example, that if 50 members of the state house voted in favor of an amendment, it would require no support from any state senator to qualify for the ballot.

    The Massachusetts General Court may also legislatively refer constitutional amendments. This procedure is defined in Section 1 to 3 of Article LXXXI of the Massachusetts Constitution. According to that section:

    • Amendments may be proposed by either house of the Massachusetts General Court.
    • Consideration of the amendment in a joint session may be called for by a vote of either house no later than the second Wednesday in May.
    • Proposed amendments must receive majority approval (50% + 1) two successive joint legislative sessions to be placed on the ballot.
    • If any such proposed amendment is approved by a simple majority of voters and by at least 30 percent of people voting in that election, the amendment is adopted.

    The Massachusetts Constitution can also be changed through a constitutional convention and subsequent ratification from the voters.

    There have been four constitutional conventions in Massachusetts:

    • From 1779–80. This led to the adoption of the Massachusetts Constitution, which is the oldest state constitution continuously in effect.
    • From 1820–21. This convention yielded the Articles of Amendment, 1-9.
    • 1853. This convention led to a proposal for an entirely new constitution and seven proposed amendments. They were submitted to a vote of the people, and they all lost.
    • 1917–19. This constitution proposed 22 amendments and a revised draft of the existing constitution. Voters approved all these proposals.



    2025 measures:

    See also: 2025 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.

    No measures to list

    2024 measures:

    Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.

    See also: Massachusetts 2024 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.

    No measures to list

    See also

    Elections Massachusetts State Government State Legislatures State Politics
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    State Houses-Tile image.png
    State Courts-Tile image.png

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Massachusetts Facts - Part One: Concise Facts," accessed July 2, 2010
    2. ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "Legislative Leadership," accessed July 21, 2014
    3. ↑ Massachusetts Constitution, "Article LXXXII," accessed February 12, 2021
    4. ↑ The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Constitution," accessed February 10, 2023
    5. ↑ To appear on the ballot in Massachusetts, prospective candidates must submit nomination papers for certification to the registrars of the cities or towns in which signatures were collected and to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The local filing deadline must occur four weeks prior to the candidate's second filing deadline with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. In 2020, the local-level filing deadline was May 5 and the state-level filing deadline was June 2. Click here to learn more.
    6. ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2010 - Candidates," accessed July 21, 2014
    7. ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2008 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    8. ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2006 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    9. ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2004 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    10. ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2002 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    11. ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2000 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    12. ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 50, Section 6A)
    13. ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 3: Section 10A)
    14. ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 54: Section 141)
    15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 All About Redistricting, "Massachusetts," accessed May 4, 2015
    16. ↑ MassLive, "As Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker OKs new districts, Secretary of State William Galvin warns of chaos," November 4, 2021
    17. ↑ Boston Globe, "Lawmakers poised to send new political maps, increasing number of majority-minority districts, to Baker," October 27, 2021
    18. ↑ Boston Globe, "Lawmakers poised to send new political maps, increasing number of majority-minority districts, to Baker," October 27, 2021
    19. ↑ Boston Globe, "Lawmakers poised to send new political maps, increasing number of majority-minority districts, to Baker," October 27, 2021
    20. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "2010 Census: Massachusetts Profile," accessed February 12, 2021
    21. ↑ Belmont Citizen-Herald, "Census preparing to deliver redistricting data to states," January 13, 2011
    22. ↑ Boston Globe, "Census begins fight on districts," March 23, 2011
    23. ↑ Boston Herald, "Lawmakers launch Mass. redistricting process," March 16, 2011
    24. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Massachusetts," accessed June 8, 2021
    25. ↑ The Associated Press, "Legislative leader to outline goals for 2016 session," January 29, 2016
    26. ↑ State House News Service, "DeLeo, Rosenberg won't rule out tax increases in face of budget deficit," January 8, 2015
    27. ↑ The Washington Post, "Massachusetts session preview: A full policy plate for 2014," January 9, 2014
    28. ↑ The Boston Globe, "Minimum wage battles are shifting to the states," January 13, 2014
    29. ↑ Boston Herald, "Mass. formally opens legislative session," January 2, 2013
    30. ↑ Lowell Sun, "Mass. lawmakers to weigh bill on special ed groups," January 4, 2012
    31. ↑ Wicked Local Roslindale, "Sen. Rush, Rep. Coppinger announce legislative highlights," August 18, 2012
    32. ↑ Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed February 12, 2021
    33. ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Massachusetts Constitution," accessed February 12, 2021
    34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
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    Policy: Caitlin Styrsky • Audrey Bayne • Molly Byrne • Jon Dunn • Jimmy McAllister • Annelise Reinwald
    Research: Josh Altic
    Tech: Matt Latourelle • Ryan Burch • Kirsten Corrao • Beth Dellea • Travis Eden • Tate Kamish • Margaret Kearney • Eric Lotto • Trevor Pollo • Joseph Sanchez

    Contributors: Scott Rasmussen
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