William Brownsberger

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William Brownsberger
Image of William Brownsberger

Democratic Party

Massachusetts State Senate Suffolk and Middlesex District
Tenure

2023 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

2

Prior offices
Massachusetts House of Representatives 24th Middlesex District
Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex District (Historical)

Compensation

Base salary

$73,655.01/year

Per diem

$No per diem is paid.

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Harvard University, 1978

Law

Harvard University, 1983

Personal
Birthplace
Boston, Mass.
Religion
Unitarian Universalist
Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Official Twitter

Official Instagram

Personal website

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

William Brownsberger (Democratic Party) is a member of the Massachusetts State Senate, representing Suffolk and Middlesex District. He assumed office on January 4, 2023. His current term ends on January 6, 2027.

Brownsberger (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Massachusetts State Senate to represent Suffolk and Middlesex District. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

William Brownsberger was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and lives in Belmont, Massachusetts. Brownsberger earned a B.A. and a J.D. from Harvard University in 1978 and 1983, respectively. His career experience includes working as a defense attorney, an associate director for public policy of the Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions, and a senior criminal justice advisor with Join Together.[1]

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at:editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Brownsberger was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Brownsberger was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Brownsberger was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Massachusetts committee assignments, 2017
• Ethics, Vice chair
• Ways and Means
• Judiciary Joint, Chair
• Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Recovery Joint
• Public Safety and Homeland Security Joint
• Public Safety and Homeland Security Joint
• Ways and Means Joint
• Public Service

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Brownsberger served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Brownsberger served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Brownsberger was appointed to the following committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Brownsberger served on the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2024

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Massachusetts State Senate Suffolk and Middlesex District

Incumbent William Brownsberger won election in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate Suffolk and Middlesex District on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of William Brownsberger
William Brownsberger (D)
 
98.8
 
56,815
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.2
 
685

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 57,500
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Suffolk and Middlesex District

Incumbent William Brownsberger advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Suffolk and Middlesex District on September 3, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of William Brownsberger
William Brownsberger
 
99.4
 
14,027
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.6
 
87

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 14,114
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Brownsberger in this election.

2022

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Massachusetts State Senate Suffolk and Middlesex District

Incumbent William Brownsberger won election in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate Suffolk and Middlesex District on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of William Brownsberger
William Brownsberger (D)
 
99.0
 
42,713
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.0
 
437

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 43,150
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Suffolk and Middlesex District

Incumbent William Brownsberger advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate Suffolk and Middlesex District on September 6, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of William Brownsberger
William Brownsberger
 
99.4
 
15,977
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.6
 
90

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 16,067
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex District (Historical)

Incumbent William Brownsberger won election in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex District (Historical) on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of William Brownsberger
William Brownsberger (D)
 
98.5
 
60,282
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.5
 
899

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 61,181
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex District (Historical)

Incumbent William Brownsberger advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex District (Historical) on September 1, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of William Brownsberger
William Brownsberger
 
99.4
 
30,358
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.6
 
181

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 30,539
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

General election

General election for Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex District (Historical)

Incumbent William Brownsberger won election in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex District (Historical) on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of William Brownsberger
William Brownsberger (D)
 
98.5
 
50,823
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.5
 
758

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 51,581
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex District (Historical)

Incumbent William Brownsberger advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex District (Historical) on September 4, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of William Brownsberger
William Brownsberger
 
100.0
 
15,990

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 15,990
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

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.

Incumbent William Brownsberger ran unopposed in the Massachusetts State Senate Second Suffolk & Middlesex District general election.[2][3]

Massachusetts State Senate, Second Suffolk & Middlesex District General Election, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png William Brownsberger Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth


Incumbent William Brownsberger ran unopposed in the Massachusetts State Senate Second Suffolk & Middlesex District Democratic Primary.[4][5]

Massachusetts State Senate, Second Suffolk & Middlesex District Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png William Brownsberger Incumbent (unopposed)


2014

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election was held on September 9, 2014, and a general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 3, 2014. Incumbent William Brownsberger was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.[6]

2013

See also: Massachusetts' 5th Congressional District special election, 2013

Brownsberger was a 2013 Democratic candidate seeking election to the U.S. House representing the 5th Congressional District of Massachusetts.[7] The election was held to replace outgoing Rep. Ed Markey (D) who was elected to the U.S. Senate in the June 25th election for John Kerry's vacant seat after his appointment as Secretary of State.[8][9]

He was defeated by Katherine Clark in the Democratic primary on October 15, 2013.[10]

U.S. House, Massachusetts District 5 Special Democratic Primary, 2013
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngKatherine Clark 31.6% 21,983
Peter Koutoujian 22% 15,303
Carl Sciortino 16% 11,160
Will Brownsberger 14.6% 10,163
Karen Spilka 13.1% 9,088
John Paul Maisano 2.2% 1,520
Martin Long 0.6% 398
Total Votes 69,615
Source: Official Results from Massachusetts Elections Division

2012

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2012

Brownsberger won re-election in the 2012 election for Massachusetts State Senate Second Suffolk and Middlesex District. Brownsberger was unopposed in the September 6 Democratic primary and defeated Steven Aylward (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[11][12]

Massachusetts State Senate, Second Suffolk and Middlesex District, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngWilliam Brownsberger Incumbent 76.4% 45,852
     Republican Steven Aylward 23.6% 14,190
Total Votes 60,042

2012 special election

See also: State legislative special elections, 2012

Brownsberger won election in the special election for the 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex Senate District. He defeated fellow representative Jonathan Hecht (D) and two other candidates in the December 13, 2011 primary election. Brownsberger was unopposed in the special general election which took place on January 10, 2012.[13][14]

2010

See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2010

Brownsberger won re-election to the Twenty-fourth Middlesex Seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2010. He had no primary opposition. He defeated Lalig Musserian (I) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[15]

Massachusetts House of Representatives General Election, Twenty-fourth Middlesex District (2010)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png William Brownsberger (D) 12,732
Lalig Musserian (I) 3,656

2008

On November 4, 2008, Brownsberger won re-election in the Massachusetts House of Representatives election for the Twenty-Fourth Middlesex district.[16] In this election he raised $44,366; of that total $43,866 (98.9%) was from in state contributions and $500 (1.1%) was from out of state contributions.[17]

Massachusetts House of Representatives - Twenty-Fourth Middlesex district
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png William Brownsberger (D) 15,863
All Others 176
Blanks 6,338

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

William Brownsberger did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

William Brownsberger did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

William Brownsberger did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2012

Brownsberger's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[18]

  • Excerpt: "Will advocated for the major reforms in health and pension benefits achieved over the past two years and has been publicly recognized for his fair and thoughtful approach."
  • Excerpt: "As a result Will’s efforts, the House now has a public bidding process for large contracts and the contracts are accessible to House members."
  • Excerpt: "As a result of Will’s advocacy for greater transparency (together with advocacy by other legislators), state law now requires that all state spending be readily viewable by the public online."
  • Excerpt: "Will favors a much simpler business tax code. The state shouldn’t be in the business of picking business winners and losers and handing out special deals to particular businesses or industries."

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

William Brownsberger campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Massachusetts State Senate Suffolk and Middlesex DistrictWon general$94,903 $0
2022Massachusetts State Senate Suffolk and Middlesex DistrictWon general$107,091 $0
2020Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex District (Historical)Won general$86,870 N/A**
2016Massachusetts State Senate, District Second Suffolk And MiddlesexWon $104,935 N/A**
2014Massachusetts State Senate, Second Suffolk And MiddlesexWon $29,377 N/A**
2013U.S. House: Massachusetts District 5 - Special electionLost $659,406 N/A**
2012Massachusetts State Senate, Second Suffolk And MiddlesexWon $85,529 N/A**
2012Massachusetts State Senate, Second Suffolk And MiddlesexWon $96,790 N/A**
2010Massachusetts House of Representatives, Twenty-Fourth MiddlesexWon $65,130 N/A**
2008Massachusetts House of Representatives, Twenty-Fourth MiddlesexWon $44,366 N/A**
2006Massachusetts House of Representatives, Twenty-Fourth MiddlesexWon $96,217 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Massachusetts

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Massachusetts scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.


2024


2023


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012


Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Brownsberger and his wife, Carolyn, have three children.[19]

See also

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External links

Officeholder

Massachusetts State Senate Suffolk and Middlesex District
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Will Brownsberger, "About Will Brownsberger," accessed April 20, 2023
    2. ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, "2016 State election candidates," accessed October 3, 2016
    3. ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Election data lookup," accessed December 20, 2016
    4. ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Candidates (Democratic)," accessed June 20, 2016
    5. ↑ Secretary of the Commonweath of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Election Statistics," accessed October 14, 2016
    6. ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "2014 State Primary Candidates," accessed September 9, 2014
    7. ↑ WBUR "State Rep. Carl Sciortino Announces Congressional Bid" accessed June 27, 2013
    8. ↑ Boston.com, "Secretary of state to set Senate special election date of June 25," January 28, 2013
    9. ↑ The Boston Globe, "William ‘Mo’ Cowan to be interim US senator," January 30, 2013
    10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named dprimary
    11. ↑ 2012 State Primary Candidate List, "Massachusetts Secretary of State," accessed June 26, 2012
    12. ↑ 2012 Massachusetts Secretary of State, Official 2012 Primary Results
    13. ↑ Boston Herald, "Brownsberger on well-worn path to Mass. Senate," December 14, 2011
    14. ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, 2010 Second Suffolk and Middlesex Senate District special election candidates. Retrieved May 21, 2013
    15. ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Return of Votes - For Massachusetts State Election - November 2, 2010," accessed February 13, 2014
    16. ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Return of Votes For Massachusetts State Election - November 4, 2008," accessed March 18, 2014
    17. ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 campaign contributions," accessed December 29, 2014
    18. ↑ "mywillbrownsberger," Official Campaign Website
    19. ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed June 2, 2014

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -     		Massachusetts State Senate Suffolk and Middlesex District
    2023-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -     		Massachusetts State Senate 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex District (Historical)
    2012-2023    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -     		Massachusetts House of Representatives 24th Middlesex District
    2007-2012    		 Succeeded by
    -


    Current members of the Massachusetts State Senate
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