Most State Lawmakers Will Be Returned This Fall

For all of the talk about the need for change most state lawmakers in Massachusetts will be re-elected this fall. Some change.

The State House News Service says 22 of the 40 members of the Massachusetts Senate are running unopposed as are 105 members of the 160 member House of Representatives.  Tuesday was the deadline to file nomination papers for the September 8 primary elections and the general election on November 8. The winners will be sworn in in January to serve in the 190th General Court for a two year period.

None in the area delegation faces a challenge.

There currently exists 34 Republicans in the House and 6 in the Senate.  Democrats will continue to control the Massachusetts Legislature.  Whether the Republicans can increase their numbers where there are challenges remains to be seen.  Republican Charlie Baker is quite popular but his refusal to endorse Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump and his support for the transgender rights bill could cost him and limit his coattail effect.  House Speaker Robert DeLeo, a Winthrop Democrat faces no opponent while Senate President, Amherst Democrat Stanley Rosenberg faces Republican Challenger Donald Peltier.  Rosenberg is expected to be re-elected.

They say the only guarantees in life are death and taxes but in Massachusetts it is pretty much a guarantee that  if you win election to the legislature you win a seat for life. So much for change.