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Eric Lesser
Eric Lesser (Democratic Party) was a member of the Massachusetts State Senate, representing the 1st Hampden and Hampshire District. He assumed office on January 7, 2015. He left office on January 4, 2023.
Lesser (Democratic Party) ran for election for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. He lost in the Democratic primary on September 6, 2022.
Biography
Eric lesser grew up in Western Massachusetts and graduated from Longmeadow High School.[1] He earned his bachelor's degree in government from Harvard University in 2007 and his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2015.[2][3]
Lesser has been active in politics. He worked on the Obama 2008 presidential campaign. He went on to serve as the special assistant to Senior Advisor David Axelrod during the Obama-Biden presidential transition and in the White House. He then served as the director of strategic planning for the White House Council of Economic Advisers.[2]
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.
2021-2022
Lesser was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Ethics Committee, Chair
- Senate Ways and Means Committee
- Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Joint Committee, Senate chair
- Health Care Financing Joint Committee
- Judiciary Joint Committee, Senate vice chair
- Transportation Joint Committee
- Ways and Means Joint Committee
2019-2020
Lesser was assigned to the following committees:
- Export Development Committee (decommissioned)
- Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Joint Committee, Chair
- Financial Services Joint Committee
- Judiciary Joint Committee
- Ways and Means Joint Committee
- Transportation Joint Committee, Vice Chair
- Senate Ethics Committee, Chair
- Senate Ways and Means Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Massachusetts committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Intergovernmental Affairs |
| • Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Joint, Chair |
| • Elder Affairs Joint |
| • Financial Services Joint, Vice chair |
| • Health Care Financing Joint |
| • Higher Education Joint |
| • Transportation Joint |
| • Veterans and Federal Affairs Joint |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Lesser served on the following committees:
| Massachusetts committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Joint, Chair |
| • Financial Services Joint, Vice Chair |
| • Transportation Joint |
| • Veterans and Federal Affairs Joint |
| • Revenue Joint |
| • Public Health Joint |
| • Elder Affairs Joint |
| • Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Joint |
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
2022
Lieutenant Governor
See also: Massachusetts gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Kim Driscoll defeated Leah Cole Allen and Peter Everett in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kim Driscoll (D)  | 63.7 | 1,584,403 |
 | Leah Cole Allen (R) | 34.6 | 859,343 | |
| Peter Everett (L) | 1.6 | 39,244 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 2,806 | ||
| Total votes: 2,485,796 | |||
| = 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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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Kim Driscoll defeated Eric Lesser and Tami Gouveia in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts on September 6, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kim Driscoll | 46.6 | 332,712 |
 | Eric Lesser | 32.7 | 233,241 | |
 | Tami Gouveia | 20.6 | 147,224 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 1,094 | ||
| Total votes: 714,271 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Adam Hinds (D)
- Scott Donohue (D)
- Bret Bero (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Leah Cole Allen defeated Kate Campanale in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts on September 6, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Leah Cole Allen | 52.1 | 130,962 |
 | Kate Campanale | 47.6 | 119,516 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 759 | ||
| Total votes: 251,237 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Rayla Campbell (R)
State Senate
Eric Lesser did not file to run for re-election.
2020
See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Massachusetts State Senate 1st Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical)
Incumbent Eric Lesser won election in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate 1st Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical) on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Eric Lesser (D) | 97.0 | 66,944 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 3.0 | 2,105 | ||
| Total votes: 69,049 | |||
| = 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 1st Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical)
Incumbent Eric Lesser advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate 1st Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical) on September 1, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Eric Lesser | 99.2 | 30,186 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.8 | 253 | ||
| Total votes: 30,439 | |||
| = 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 1st Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical)
Incumbent Eric Lesser won election in the general election for Massachusetts State Senate 1st Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical) on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Eric Lesser (D) | 97.9 | 51,633 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.1 | 1,119 | ||
| Total votes: 52,752 | |||
| = 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 1st Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical)
Incumbent Eric Lesser advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts State Senate 1st Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical) on September 4, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Eric Lesser | 100.0 | 12,671 |
| Total votes: 12,671 | |||
| = 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
| Obama endorsement |
|---|
|
| During the 2016 election cycle Lesser was one of the candidates endorsed by President Barack Obama |
Full list of Obama's 2016 endorsements |
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 Eric Lesser defeated James Chip Harrington in the Massachusetts State Senate First Hampden & Hampshire District general election.[4][5]
| Massachusetts State Senate, First Hampden & Hampshire District General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Eric Lesser Incumbent |
55.90% | 44,602 | |
| Republican | James Chip Harrington | 44.10% | 35,188 | |
| Total Votes | 79,790 | |||
| Source: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth | ||||
Incumbent Eric Lesser ran unopposed in the Massachusetts State Senate First Hampden & Hampshire District Democratic Primary.[6][7]
| Massachusetts State Senate, First Hampden & Hampshire District Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Eric Lesser Incumbent (unopposed) | |
James Chip Harrington ran unopposed in the Massachusetts State Senate First Hampden & Hampshire District Republican Primary.[6][7]
| Massachusetts State Senate, First Hampden & Hampshire District Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | James Chip Harrington (unopposed) | |
This candidate ran in one of Ballotpedia's races to watch in 2016. Read more »
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. Eric Lesser defeated Timothy Allen, James Harrington, Thomas Lachiusa and Aaron Saunders in the Democratic primary. Debra Boronski was unopposed in the Republican primary. Independent Michael Franco ran under the America First banner. Lesser defeated Boronski and Franco in the general election.[8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Eric Lesser |
48.1% | 28,153 | |
| Republican | Debra Boronski | 42.6% | 24,964 | |
| Independent | Michael Franco (America First Party) | 4.6% | 2,705 | |
| None | Blank Votes | 4.5% | 2,637 | |
| None | All Others | 0.1% | 85 | |
| Total Votes | 58,544 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Eric Lesser |
35.4% | 5,374 |
| Timothy Allen | 34.1% | 5,182 |
| James Harrington | 27.6% | 4,189 |
| Aaron Saunders | 2.8% | 430 |
| Total Votes | 15,175 | |
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Eric Lesser did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Eric Lesser 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 Massachusetts scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2022
In 2022, the Massachusetts State Legislature was in session from January 5 to August 1.
- 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."
- Legislators are scored on their sponsorship of legislation related to animal issues.
- Legislators are scored by the organization on votes that "can show the distinction between a progressive legislator, and everyone else."
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2021, the Massachusetts State Legislature was in session from January 6 to January 4.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Massachusetts State Legislature was in session from January 1 to January 5.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Massachusetts General Court was in session from January 2 through December 31.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Massachusetts General Court was in formal session from January 3 to July 31. The legislature was in informal session from August 1 to December 31.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Massachusetts General Court was in session from January 4 through November 15. The legislature held an informal session from November 16 to January 2.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Massachusetts General Court was in session from January 6 through July 31.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Massachusetts General Court was in session from January 7, 2015, through January 5, 2016.
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See also
2022 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Eric Lesser, "About Eric," accessed August 3, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Information submitted through Ballotpedia's biographical submission form on July 29, 2014
- ↑ Ballotpedia staff, "Email correspondence with Eric Lesser's campaign," August 9, 2022
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, "2016 State election candidates," accessed October 3, 2016
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Election data lookup," accessed December 20, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Massachusetts Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Candidates (Democratic)," accessed June 20, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Secretary of the Commonweath of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Election Statistics," accessed October 14, 2016
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "2014 State Primary Candidates," accessed September 9, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Massachusetts State Senate 1st Hampden and Hampshire District (Historical) 2015-2023 |
Succeeded by - |
 |
State of Massachusetts Boston (capital) |
|---|---|
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