Cindy Friedman
Cindy Friedman (Democratic Party) is a member of the Massachusetts State Senate, representing the 4th Middlesex District. She assumed office on July 27, 2017. Her current term ends on January 6, 2027.
Friedman (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the Massachusetts State Senate to represent the 4th Middlesex District. She declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on September 1, 2026.[source]
Biography
Friedman earned her bachelor's degree in education from Roger Williams University and her master’s degree in special education from Lesley University. Her professional experience includes serving as the chief of staff for the late state Sen. Kenneth Donnelly (D) and as a kindergarten and elementary school teacher.[1]
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Friedman was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Ethics Committee
- Steering and Policy Committee, Chair
- Personnel and Administration Committee
- Senate Rules Committee, Vice Chair
- Joint Committee on Aging and Independence
- Health Care Financing Joint Committee, Chair
- Rules Joint Committee, Vice Chair
2023-2024
Friedman was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Ethics Committee
- Personnel and Administration Committee
- Senate Rules Committee, Vice Chair
- Senate Ways and Means Committee, Vice Chair
- Health Care Financing Joint Committee, Chair
- Rules Joint Committee, Vice Chair
- Ways and Means Joint Committee, Vice Chair
2021-2022
Friedman was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Ethics Committee
- Personnel and Administration Committee
- Senate Rules Committee
- Senate Ways and Means Committee, Vice chair
- Health Care Financing Joint Committee, Senate chair
- Rules Joint Committee
- Ways and Means Joint Committee, Senate vice chair
2019-2020
Friedman was assigned to the following committees:
- Health Care Financing Joint Committee, Chair
- Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Joint Committee
- Ways and Means Joint Committee, Vice Chair
- Rules Joint Committee
- Transportation Joint Committee
- Senate Ethics Committee
- Senate Rules Committee
- Senate Ways and Means Committee, Vice Chair
Sponsored legislation
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
2026
See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on September 1, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District
Incumbent Cindy Friedman (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District on September 1, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Cindy Friedman | |
| ||||
 = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2024
See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District
Incumbent Cindy Friedman won election in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cindy Friedman (D) | 98.3 | 70,460 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.7 | 1,235 | ||
| Total votes: 71,695 | |||
| = 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 4th Middlesex District
Incumbent Cindy Friedman advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District on September 3, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cindy Friedman | 99.6 | 17,808 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 70 | ||
| Total votes: 17,878 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Friedman in this election.
2022
See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District
Incumbent Cindy Friedman won election in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cindy Friedman (D) | 98.0 | 54,112 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.0 | 1,107 | ||
| Total votes: 55,219 | |||
| = 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 4th Middlesex District
Incumbent Cindy Friedman advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District on September 6, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cindy Friedman | 99.7 | 20,466 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 60 | ||
| Total votes: 20,526 | |||
| = 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 4th Middlesex District
Incumbent Cindy Friedman defeated Michael Robbins in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cindy Friedman (D) | 98.4 | 74,955 |
| Michael Robbins (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.3 | 232 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.3 | 1,023 | ||
| Total votes: 76,210 | |||
| = 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 4th Middlesex District
Incumbent Cindy Friedman advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District on September 1, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cindy Friedman | 99.5 | 37,189 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 184 | ||
| Total votes: 37,373 | |||
| = 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 4th Middlesex District
Incumbent Cindy Friedman won election in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cindy Friedman (D) | 98.9 | 59,993 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.1 | 686 | ||
| Total votes: 60,679 | |||
| = 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 4th Middlesex District
Incumbent Cindy Friedman advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District on September 4, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cindy Friedman | 100.0 | 19,479 |
| Total votes: 19,479 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2017
A special election for the position of Massachusetts State Senate Fourth Middlesex District was called for July 25, 2017. A primary election was held on June 27, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 23, 2017.[2]
The seat became vacant on April 2, 2017, when Kenneth Donnelly (D) died following an eight-month battle with a brain tumor.[3]
Cindy Friedman defeated state Rep. Sean Garballey and Mary Ann Stewart in the special Democratic primary. Friedman defeated Green-Rainbow candidate Ian Jackson in the special election.[4][5]
| Massachusetts State Senate, Fourth Middlesex District, Special Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Cindy Friedman |
90.4% | 7,874 | |
| Green-Rainbow | Ian Jackson | 9.6% | 832 | |
| Total Votes | 8,706 | |||
| Massachusetts State Senate, Fourth Middlesex District, Special Election Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|
Cindy Friedman |
51.3% | 7,079 |
| Sean Garballey | 45.7% | 6,300 |
| Mary Ann Stewart | 3% | 411 |
| Total Votes | 13,790 | |
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Cindy Friedman has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Cindy Friedman, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?
Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for. More than 25,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.
Help improve Ballotpedia - send us candidate contact info.
2024
Cindy Friedman did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Cindy Friedman did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Cindy Friedman did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
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.
Scorecards
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 scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Massachusetts General Court in 2025.
- Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance — Legislators are scored on bills of interest to an organization that pledges "to make government more transparent, make fiscally responsible choices, and to hold the line on taxes."
- Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — Legislators are scored on their sponsorship of legislation related to animal issues.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Massachusetts General Court in 2024.
- Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance — Legislators are scored on bills of interest to an organization that pledges "to make government more transparent, make fiscally responsible choices, and to hold the line on taxes."
- Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — Legislators are scored on their sponsorship of legislation related to animal issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Progressive Massachusetts — Legislators are scored by the organization on votes that "can show the distinction between a progressive legislator, and everyone else."
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Massachusetts General Court in 2023.
- Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance — Legislators are scored on bills related to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and holding the line on taxes.
- Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — Legislators are scored on their sponsorship of legislation related to animal issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Massachusetts General Court in 2022.
- Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance — Legislators are scored on transparency and tax-related issues.
- Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — Legislators are scored on their sponsorship of legislation related to animal issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on bills related to business issues.
- Progressive Massachusetts — Legislators are scored on votes that differentiate progressive lawmakers.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Massachusetts General Court in 2021.
- Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance — Legislators are scored on transparency and tax-related issues.
- Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — Legislators are scored on their sponsorship of legislation related to animal issues.
- Progressive Massachusetts — Legislators are scored on votes that identify progressive legislators.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Massachusetts General Court in 2020.
- Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance — Legislators are scored on transparency and fiscally responsible bills.
- Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group — Legislators are scored on public interest issues.
- Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — Legislators are scored on animal-related sponsorships.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on business issues.
- Progressive Massachusetts — Legislators are scored on progressive-priority votes.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Massachusetts General Court in 2019.
- Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance — Legislators are scored on transparency and taxation-related issues.
- Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — Legislators are scored on animal-related legislation sponsorship.
- Progressive Massachusetts — Legislators are scored on progressive-priority votes.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Massachusetts General Court in 2018.
- Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance — Legislators are scored on transparency and taxation-related bills.
- Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — Legislators are scored on animal-related legislation sponsorship.
- Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts — Legislators are scored on reproductive health legislation.
- Progressive Massachusetts — Legislators are scored on progressive-priority votes.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Massachusetts General Court in 2017.
- Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance — Legislators are scored on transparency and taxation-related issues.
- Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — Legislators are scored on animal-related legislation sponsorship.
- Progressive Massachusetts — Legislators are scored on progressive-priority votes.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on conservative issues.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Officeholder Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Cindy for Senate, "Meet Cindy," accessed July 31, 2017
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Special State Election Fourth Middlesex Senatorial District," accessed April 28, 2017
- ↑ Patch.com, "Sen. Kenneth Donnelly Dies at 66," accessed April 3, 2017
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "4th Middlesex Senate general election results," accessed July 31, 2017
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "4th Middlesex Senate primary election results," accessed July 31, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Massachusetts State Senate 4th Middlesex District 2017-Present |
Succeeded by - |
