James Arena-DeRosa

James Arena-DeRosa

Democratic Party

Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District

Tenure

2023 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

2

Predecessor

Carolyn Dykema

Compensation

Base salary

$73,655.01/year

Per diem

$No per diem is paid.

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Xaverian Brothers High School

Personal

Profession

Community Advocate

Contact

Official website

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

James Arena-DeRosa (Democratic Party) is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 8th Middlesex District. He assumed office on January 4, 2023. His current term ends on January 6, 2027.

Arena-DeRosa (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives to represent the 8th Middlesex District. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

James Arena-DeRosa graduated from Xaverian Brothers High School. Arena-DeRosa's career experience includes working as a freelance community advocate, the president and CEO of Foodshare, the director of public advocacy of Oxfam America, the New England director of the Peace Corps under the Bill Clinton administration, the northeast regional administrator for the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service under the Barack Obama administration, and the special assistant to the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Arena-DeRosa has been affiliated with the SEIU Local 285, the board and executive committee on policy of Mass Farmers Markets, the board of directors of Miracle Of Help Sierra Leone, Africa, the board of governors of the Dante Alighieri Cultural Society, the Sons of Italy Scholarship Commission, the Xaverian Brothers High School Alumni Association, and the Harvard-Radcliffe Alumni Association/Reunion Committee.

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.

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

Arena-DeRosa was assigned to the following committees:

• Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Joint Committee
• Community Development and Small Businesses Joint Committee
• Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management
• Public Health Joint Committee

Elections

2024

See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District

Incumbent James Arena-DeRosa won election in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Arena-DeRosa (D)	98.2	20,170
		Other/Write-in votes	1.8	366

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 20,536
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District

Incumbent James Arena-DeRosa advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District on September 3, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Arena-DeRosa	99.4	4,295
		Other/Write-in votes	0.6	24

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,319
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Arena-DeRosa in this election.

2022

See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District

James Arena-DeRosa defeated Loring Barnes in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Arena-DeRosa (D)	65.0	12,916
	Submit photo	Loring Barnes (R)	35.0	6,947
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	10

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 19,873
= 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 Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District

James Arena-DeRosa defeated Connor Degan in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District on September 6, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Arena-DeRosa	57.1	3,070
		Connor Degan	42.9	2,307
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	2

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,379
= 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District

Loring Barnes advanced from the Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District on September 6, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Loring Barnes	99.8	1,524
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	3

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,527
= 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

To view Arena-DeRosa's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.

2014

See also: Massachusetts Lieutenant Gubernatorial election, 2014

Arena-DeRosa was running for election to the office of Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. Arena-DeRosa was eliminated from contention by state party delegates prior to the Democratic primary on September 9, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

James Arena-DeRosa did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

James Arena-DeRosa completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Arena-DeRosa's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

James is the grandson of Italian immigrants who made their way to Boston through Ellis Island. James is a lifelong Democrat and Massachusetts resident. James has held on to the lessons from those he met, and from an early age decided that his calling was the pursuit of social and economic justice. His activism further nurtured by the brothers at Xaverian High School, James went on to graduate from Harvard with honors where he was involved in numerous Democratic campaigns. Since coming to Holliston in the early 1990s the Arena-DeRosa family has been very involved in the community. James served on the Holliston Finance Committee and chaired the Democratic Town Committee, for several years his wife directed the Holliston Senior Center, was involved with public schools, taught CCD at St. Mary’s, and has been a long-time member of the Celebrate Holliston Committee as well. James loves politics and engaging in public policy but also enjoys the quiet contemplation of his garden – leaning to his Italian roots growing tomatoes, basil, garlic, green beans, eggplant and raspberries (which were planted with his sons when they were young children). Staying connected to healthy and local food initiatives, James serves on the Mass Farmers Markets Board of Directors. James is also a die hard Red Sox fan and finally got to see them win in 2004

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• As someone who both served as an elected local official and also advocated to the highest levels of government, I will stand with the leaders of Holliston, Hopkinton, Millis and Sherborn to help them meet community challenges including infrastructure, education and affordability for seniors and young adults.
• My wide breadth of experience prepares me for the vast array of policy issues facing the Commonwealth. I will continue to: Fight for affordable healthcare, protect the environment/incest in green technology, support local agriculture, collaborate with the business community, and ensure food security and justice for all.
• As a member of the Senior Executive Service, I have led a $12 billion government program during the Obama Administration. My leadership skills will connect the community to state and federal programs, help individuals meet their needs, and move the state forward during challenging times.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Many of my policy positions stem from two foundational ideas that have guided my career: everyone’s basic needs should be met, and people’s voices should be heard on the issues that touch their lives. If I can accomplish one thing on Beacon Hill in the coming years it will be to insist that small towns, local leaders, small businesses, workers, students, people of color, teachers, nurses, farmers, and all others have a voice when policymakers are debating public policy and setting a direction for the Commonwealth. For too long those with significant financial resources have leveraged and controlled too much of the agenda in the corridors of power and that must change.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to make positive change for my district and the state of Massachusetts. If I can accomplish one thing on Beacon Hill in the coming years it will be to insist that small towns, local leaders, small businesses, workers, students, people of color, teachers, nurses, farmers, and all others have a voice when policymakers are debating public policy and setting a direction for the Commonwealth.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Throughout high school and college, James worked 15-20 hours a week: pumping gas at his uncle’s gas station, working at the MGH lab, and enjoying a thriving disc jockey business until he decided to go help the farmworkers with Jerry Brown for $10 a day.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

For us to move forward, Massachusetts must have a legislature and Governor's office that are more transparent.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

There are many issues pertinent to Massachusetts. To name a few: Climate change, economic justice, reproductive freedom, racial justice, and voter suppression will be massive challenges we need to face together Nationwide but also as a state.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe my experience is one of my strongpoints that make me the most electable for this job. If elected, I will be working from day 1 onwards to get change done on Beacon Hill.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes, During my career I have endeavored to work with everyone, from leadership to those in the other party. I plan to stay true to my ideals but hope to be a bridge builder in the years ahead.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Our towns will miss the wonderful leadership provided by Representatives Carolyn Dykema and David Linsky. Both have emphasized to me the importance of providing local constituent services. Often a State Representative is the one person in government that a citizen can turn to for assistance. I pledge to serve in this role full time, make myself available for regular office house in each community, and maintain a rigorous constituent service program that will be responsive to individual consistent needs and help them navigate government bureaucracy as needed.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Compromise is desirable, but at the same time it will be my priority to ensure that small businesses, workers, students, people of color, teachers, nurses, farmers, and all others have a voice when policymakers are debating public policy and setting a direction for the Commonwealth. I intend to work with fellow Democratic legislators to address issues of concern across the Commonwealth and the country like climate change, economic justice, reproductive freedom, racial justice, and voter suppression.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

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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.

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James Arena-DeRosa campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District	Won general	$57,991	$0
2022	Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District	Won general	$152,464	$0
2014	Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor	Lost	$175,099	N/A**
Grand total			$385,554	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** 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

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show].

In 2024, the Massachusetts State Legislature was in session from January 3 to December 31. Formal session ended on July 31, 2024 and an informal session was convened from August 1, 2024 to December 31, 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."

2023

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show].
In 2023, the Massachusetts State Legislature was in session from January 4 to November 15. 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." The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Arena-DeRosa and Lina, live in Holliston with their two sons, Anthony and Alessandro. Lina and James married in 1986 and took each other’s last name as both a cultural tradition and a sign of gender equity. Lina is a director for the Holliston Senior Center. Arena-DeRosa is a member of his community's Finance Committee, a Little League Coach and a photographer for Holliston High School's theater group.

See also

2024 Elections

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Candidate

Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District

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Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Carolyn Dykema (D)	Massachusetts House of Representatives 8th Middlesex District 2023-Present	Succeeded by -

[show]

Current members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Ronald Mariano

Majority Leader:Michael Moran

Representatives

Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket District

Thomas Moakley (D)

1st Barnstable District

Chris Flanagan (D)

1st Berkshire District

John Barrett (D)

1st Bristol District

Michael Chaisson (R)

1st Essex District

Dawne Shand (D)

1st Franklin District

Natalie Blais (D)

1st Hampden District

Todd Smola (R)

1st Hampshire District

Lindsay Sabadosa (D)

1st Middlesex District

Margaret Scarsdale (D)

1st Norfolk District

Bruce Ayers (D)

1st Plymouth District

Michelle Badger (D)

1st Suffolk District

Adrian Madaro (D)

1st Worcester District

Kimberly Ferguson (R)

2nd Barnstable District

Kip Diggs (D)

2nd Berkshire District

Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D)

2nd Bristol District

James Hawkins (D)

2nd Essex District

Kristin Kassner (D)

2nd Franklin District

Susannah Whipps (U)

2nd Hampden District

Brian Ashe (D)

2nd Hampshire District

Homar Gomez (D)

2nd Middlesex District

James Arciero (D)

2nd Norfolk District

Tackey Chan (D)

2nd Plymouth District

John Gaskey (R)

2nd Suffolk District

Daniel Ryan (D)

2nd Worcester District

Jonathan Zlotnik (D)

3rd Barnstable District

David Vieira (R)

3rd Berkshire District

Leigh Davis (D)

3rd Bristol District

Lisa Field (D)

3rd Essex District

Andy Vargas (D)

3rd Hampden District

Nicholas Boldyga (R)

3rd Hampshire District

Mindy Domb (D)

3rd Middlesex District

Kate Hogan (D)

3rd Norfolk District

Ronald Mariano (D)

3rd Plymouth District

Joan Meschino (D)

3rd Suffolk District

Aaron Michlewitz (D)

3rd Worcester District

Michael Kushmerek (D)

4th Barnstable District

Hadley Luddy (D)

4th Bristol District

Steven Howitt (R)

4th Essex District

Estela Reyes (D)

4th Hampden District

Kelly Pease (R)

4th Middlesex District

Danielle Gregoire (D)

4th Norfolk District

James Murphy (D)

4th Plymouth District

Patrick Joseph Kearney (D)

4th Suffolk District

David Biele (D)

4th Worcester District

Natalie Higgins (D)

5th Barnstable District

Steven Xiarhos (R)

5th Bristol District

Justin Thurber (R)

5th Essex District

Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D)

5th Hampden District

Patricia Duffy (D)

5th Middlesex District

David Linsky (D)

5th Norfolk District

Mark Cusack (D)

5th Plymouth District

David DeCoste (R)

5th Suffolk District

Christopher Worrell (D)

5th Worcester District

Donald Berthiaume (R)

6th Bristol District

Carole Fiola (D)

6th Essex District

Hannah Bowen (D)

6th Hampden District

Michael Finn (D)

6th Middlesex District

Priscila Sousa (D)

6th Norfolk District

William Galvin (D)

6th Plymouth District

Kenneth Sweezey (R)

6th Suffolk District

Russell Holmes (D)

6th Worcester District

John Marsi (R)

7th Bristol District

Alan Silvia (D)

7th Essex District

Manny Cruz (D)

7th Hampden District

Aaron Saunders (D)

7th Middlesex District

Jack Lewis (D)

7th Norfolk District

Richard Wells (D)

7th Plymouth District

Alyson Sullivan (R)

7th Suffolk District

Chynah Tyler (D)

7th Worcester District

Paul Frost (R)

8th Bristol District

Steven Ouellette (D)

8th Essex District

Jenny Armini (D)

8th Hampden District

Shirley Arriaga (D)

8th Middlesex District

James Arena-DeRosa (D)

8th Norfolk District

Edward Philips (D)

8th Plymouth District

Dennis Gallagher (D)

8th Suffolk District

Jay Livingstone (D)

8th Worcester District

Michael Soter (R)

9th Bristol District

Christopher Markey (D)

9th Essex District

Donald Wong (R)

9th Hampden District

Orlando Ramos (D)

9th Middlesex District

Thomas Stanley (D)

9th Norfolk District

Marcus Vaughn (R)

9th Plymouth District

Bridget Plouffe (D)

9th Suffolk District

John Moran (D)

9th Worcester District

David Muradian (R)

10th Bristol District

Mark Sylvia (D)

10th Essex District

Dan Cahill (D)

10th Hampden District

Carlos Gonzalez (D)

10th Middlesex District

John Lawn (D)

10th Norfolk District

Jeffrey Roy (D)

10th Plymouth District

Michelle DuBois (D)

10th Suffolk District

Bill MacGregor (D)

10th Worcester District

Brian Murray (D)

11th Bristol District

Christopher Hendricks (D)

11th Essex District

Sean Reid (D)

11th Hampden District

Bud Williams (D)

11th Middlesex District

Amy Sangiolo (D)

11th Norfolk District

Paul McMurtry (D)

11th Plymouth District

Rita Mendes (D)

11th Suffolk District

Judith García (D)

11th Worcester District

Hannah Kane (R)

12th Bristol District

Norman Orrall (R)

12th Essex District

Thomas Walsh (D)

12th Hampden District

Angelo Puppolo (D)

12th Middlesex District

Greg Schwartz (D)

12th Norfolk District

John Rogers (D)

12th Plymouth District

Kathleen LaNatra (D)

12th Suffolk District

Brandy Oakley (D)

12th Worcester District

Meghan Kilcoyne (D)

13th Bristol District

Antonio Cabral (D)

13th Essex District

Sally Kerans (D)

13th Middlesex District

Carmine Gentile (D)

13th Norfolk District

Joshua Tarsky (D)

13th Suffolk District

Daniel Hunt (D)

13th Worcester District

John Mahoney (D)

14th Bristol District

Adam Scanlon (D)

14th Essex District

Adrianne Ramos (D)

14th Middlesex District

Simon Cataldo (D)

14th Norfolk District

Alice Peisch (D)

14th Suffolk District

Rob Consalvo (D)

14th Worcester District

James O'Day (D)

15th Essex District

Ryan Hamilton (D)

15th Middlesex District

Michelle Ciccolo (D)

15th Norfolk District

Tommy Vitolo (D)

15th Suffolk District

Sam Montaño (D)

15th Worcester District

Mary Keefe (D)

16th Essex District

Francisco Paulino (D)

16th Middlesex District

Rodney Elliott (D)

16th Suffolk District

Jessica Giannino (D)

16th Worcester District

Daniel Donahue (D)

17th Essex District

Frank Moran (D)

17th Middlesex District

Vanna Howard (D)

17th Suffolk District

Kevin Honan (D)

17th Worcester District

David LeBoeuf (D)

18th Essex District

Tram Nguyen (D)

18th Middlesex District

Tara Hong (D)

18th Suffolk District

Michael Moran (D)

18th Worcester District

Joseph McKenna (R)

19th Middlesex District

David Allen Robertson (D)

19th Suffolk District

Jeffrey Turco (D)

19th Worcester District

Kate Donaghue (D)

20th Middlesex District

Bradley Jones (R)

21st Middlesex District

Kenneth Gordon (D)

22nd Middlesex District

Marc Lombardo (R)

23rd Middlesex District

Sean Garballey (D)

24th Middlesex District

David Rogers (D)

25th Middlesex District

Marjorie Decker (D)

26th Middlesex District

Mike Connolly (D)

27th Middlesex District

Erika Uyterhoeven (D)

28th Middlesex District

Joseph McGonagle (D)

29th Middlesex District

Steven Owens (D)

30th Middlesex District

Richard Haggerty (D)

31st Middlesex District

Michael Day (D)

32nd Middlesex District

Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D)

33rd Middlesex District

Steven Ultrino (D)

34th Middlesex District

Christine Barber (D)

35th Middlesex District

Paul Donato (D)

36th Middlesex District

Colleen Garry (D)

37th Middlesex District

Danillo Sena (D)

Democratic Party (134)

Republican Party (25)

Unenrolled (1)