Massachusetts Senate

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Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts General Court
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type Upper house
Term limits None
History
New session started January 2, 2013
Leadership
President of the Senate Therese Murray, (D)
Since March 21, 2007
President pro Tempore Richard T. Moore, (D)
Majority Leader Stanley Rosenberg, (D)
Since February 1, 2013
Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, (R)
Since January 5, 2011
Structure
Seats 40
Political groups Democratic Party (35)
Republican Party (4)
Length of term 2 years
Authority Chapter 1, Massachusetts Constitution
Salary $58,237.15/year + per diem
Elections
Last election November 6, 2012
(40 seats)
Next election November 4, 2014
(40 seats)
Redistricting Legislative Control
Meeting place
Holy Mackerel State House.jpg
State Senate Chamber
Massachusetts State House
Boston, Massachusetts
Website
Massachusetts Senate
Composition by municipality in the 187th General Court.

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 current session is the 188th General Court, which convened January 2, 2013. It consists of 35 Democrats and 4 Republicans. The President of the Senate is Therese Murray of Plymouth. The Senate Majority Leader, Stanley Rosenberg of the Democratic Party, was named on February 1, 2013.[2][3] The Senate Minority Leader, from the Republican Party, is Bruce Tarr of Gloucester. The last state general election was on November 6, 2012.

Contents

Composition of the 188th General Court [edit]

Democrats hold a supermajority in the Senate.

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Democratic Republican Vacant
End of 187th General Court 36 4 40 0
Start of 188th General Court 36 4 40 0
February 1, 2013[a] 35 39 1
Latest voting share 89.7% 10.3%

Leadership [edit]

The Senate leadership was announced in late January 2013.[6]

Position Name Party Residence District
President Therese Murray Democratic Plymouth Plymouth & Barnstable
Majority Leader Stanley Rosenberg Democratic Amherst Hampshire, Franklin & Worcester
President Pro Tempore Richard T. Moore Democratic Uxbridge Worcester and Norfolk
Minority Leader Bruce Tarr Republican Gloucester 1st Essex and Middlesex

Members [edit]

The members of the 188th Senate, sorted by district name, are as follows.

Senator Party District Home Town/City Term start
  Downing, BenjaminBenjamin Downing D Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden Pittsfield 02007-01-01Jan. 2007
  Timilty, JamesJames Timilty D Bristol and Norfolk Walpole 02005-01-01Jan. 2005
  Rodrigues, MichaelMichael Rodrigues D 1st Bristol and Plymouth Westport 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Montigny, MarkMark Montigny D 2nd Bristol and Plymouth New Bedford 01993-01-01Jan. 1993
  Wolf, DanDan Wolf D Cape and Islands Harwich 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Ives, Kathleen O'ConnorKathleen O'Connor Ives D 1st Essex Newburyport 02013-01-01Jan. 2013
  Lovely, JoanJoan Lovely D 2nd Essex Salem 02013-01-01Jan. 2013
  McGee, Thomas M.Thomas M. McGee D 3rd Essex Lynn 02002-05-01May 2002
  Tarr, BruceBruce Tarr R 1st Essex and Middlesex Gloucester 01995-01-01Jan. 1995
  Finegold, BarryBarry Finegold D 2nd Essex and Middlesex Andover 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Welch, James T.James T. Welch D Hampden West Springfield 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Candaras, Gale D.Gale D. Candaras D 1st Hampden and Hampshire Wilbraham 02007-01-01Jan. 2007
  Knapik, MichaelMichael Knapik R 2nd Hampden and Hampshire Westfield 01995-01-01Jan. 1995
  Rosenberg, StanleyStanley Rosenberg D Hampshire and Franklin and Worcester Amherst 01991-02-01Feb. 1991
  Donoghue, EileenEileen Donoghue D 1st Middlesex Lowell 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Jehlen, Patricia D.Patricia D. Jehlen D 2nd Middlesex Somerville 02005-09-01Sep. 2005
  Barrett, Michael J.Michael J. Barrett D 3rd Middlesex Lexington 02013-01-01Jan. 2013
  Donnelly, KenKen Donnelly D 4th Middlesex Arlington 02009-01-01Jan. 2009
  Clark, KatherineKatherine Clark D 5th Middlesex Melrose 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Creem, Cynthia StoneCynthia Stone Creem D 1st Middlesex and Norfolk Newton 01999-01-01Jan. 1999
  Spilka, KarenKaren Spilka D 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk Ashland 02005-01-01Jan. 2005
  DiDomenico, SalSal DiDomenico D Middlesex and Suffolk Everett 02010-05-01May 2010
  Eldridge, James B.James B. Eldridge D Middlesex and Worcester Acton 02009-01-01Jan. 2009
  Ross, RichardRichard Ross R Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex Wrentham 02010-05-01May 2010
  Joyce, BrianBrian Joyce D Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth Milton 01998-01-01Jan. 1998
  Keenan, JohnJohn Keenan D Norfolk and Plymouth Quincy 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Rush, Michael F.Michael F. Rush D Norfolk and Suffolk Boston 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Murray, ThereseTherese Murray D Plymouth and Barnstable Plymouth 01993-01-01Jan. 1993
  Pacheco, MarcMarc Pacheco D 1st Plymouth and Bristol Taunton 01993-01-01Jan. 1993
  Kennedy, Thomas P.Thomas P. Kennedy D 2nd Plymouth and Bristol Brockton 02009-01-01Jan. 2009
  Hedlund, RobertRobert Hedlund R Plymouth and Norfolk Weymouth 01995-01-01Jan. 1995
  Vacant[a] 1st Suffolk 02013-02-01Feb. 2013
  Chang-Diaz, SoniaSonia Chang-Diaz D 2nd Suffolk Boston 02009-01-01Jan. 2009
  Petruccelli, AnthonyAnthony Petruccelli D 1st Suffolk and Middlesex Boston 02008-01-01Jan. 2008
  Will Brownsberger D 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex Belmont 02012-01-01Jan. 2012
  Chandler, HarrietteHarriette Chandler D 1st Worcester Worcester 02001-01-01Jan. 2001
  Moore, Michael O.Michael O. Moore D 2nd Worcester Millbury 02009-01-01Jan. 2009
  Brewer, StephenStephen Brewer D Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex Barre 01997-01-01Jan. 1997
  Flanagan, JenniferJennifer Flanagan D Worcester and Middlesex Leominster 02009-01-01Jan. 2009
  Moore, Richard T.Richard T. Moore D Worcester and Norfolk Uxbridge 01996-04-01Apr. 1996

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ a b Democrat Jack Hart (1st Suffolk) resigned effective February 1, 2013 to join the Boston law office of Nelson Mullins.[4] A special election to succeed Hart will be held May 30, 2013, following a primary on April 30. Declared candidates for the Democratic nomination include state Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry and state Rep. Nick Collins.[5]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

External links [edit]