Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Karyn Polito
Karyn Polito (Republican Party) was the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. She assumed office on January 8, 2015. She left office on January 5, 2023.
Polito (Republican Party) ran for re-election for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. She won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
She ran on a joint ticket with the gubernatorial nominee, Charles D. Baker (R).
Polito was elected on the Republican ticket with Gov. Charles D. Baker on November 4, 2014.[1] She filled a vacancy that had existed since the June 2013 resignation of Tim Murray (D).[2]
She represented the Eleventh Worcester District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2001 to 2011, and she ran unsuccessfully for Massachusetts Treasurer in 2010.
Biography
Polito earned her bachelor's degree in management from Boston College in 1988 and her J.D. from the New England School of Law in 1991. Polito worked as an attorney prior to her election. She served as commissioner of the Massachusetts State Lottery from 1999 to 2000, and she served as a Shrewsbury Town Meeting member from 1993 to 2000 and as a Shrewsbury Selectman from 1995 to 1998.[3] Her affiliations include the Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce, Shrewsbury Education Foundation, Shrewsbury League of Women Voters, University of Massachusetts Memorial Foundation Board of Directors, and the Worcester County Bar Association.[4]
Political career
Lieutenant governor of Massachusetts (2015-2023)
Polito was first elected lieutenant governor in 2014 and assumed office in 2015. She was elected on the Republican ticket with Gov. Charles D. Baker.[1] She filled a vacancy that had existed since the June 2013 resignation of Tim Murray (D).[2]
Massachusetts House of Representatives (2001-2011)
Elections
2022
Karyn Polito did not file to run for re-election.
2018
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Incumbent Karyn Polito defeated Quentin Palfrey in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Karyn Polito (R) | 64.7 | 1,781,341 |
![]() | Quentin Palfrey (D) | 32.2 | 885,770 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 3.1 | 85,554 |
Total votes: 2,752,665 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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 Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Quentin Palfrey defeated Jimmy Tingle in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts on September 4, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Quentin Palfrey | 58.9 | 307,240 |
![]() | Jimmy Tingle | 41.1 | 214,204 |
Total votes: 521,444 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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 Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Incumbent Karyn Polito advanced from the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts on September 4, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Karyn Polito | 100.0 | 204,914 |
Total votes: 204,914 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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. |
2014
Polito ran for election to the office of Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. Polito was uncontested for the Republican nomination in the primary on September 9, 2014.[1][5] She and gubernatorial running mate Charles D. Baker faced the Democratic ticket of Martha Coakley and Steve Kerrigan and three independent tickets in the general election. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.
Results
Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, 2014 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
48.4% | 1,044,573 | |
Democratic | Martha Coakley/Steve Kerrigan | 46.5% | 1,004,408 | |
United Independent | Evan Falchuk/Angus Jennings | 3.3% | 71,814 | |
Independent | Scott Lively/Shelly Saunders | 0.9% | 19,378 | |
Independent | Jeffrey McCormick/Tracy Post | 0.8% | 16,295 | |
Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.1% | 1,858 | |
Total Votes | 2,158,326 | |||
Election results via Massachusetts Secretary of State |
2008
On November 4, 2008, Polito won re-election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Eleventh Worcester, unopposed.[6]
Polito raised $110,247 for her campaign.[7]
Massachusetts State House of Representatives, Eleventh Worcester (2008) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Candidates | Votes | |||
![]() |
17,241 | |||
All Others | 93 | |||
Blanks | 4,037 |
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.
Committee assignments
Polito represented the Eleventh Worcester District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2001 to 2011.
- Ways and Means
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Joint Committee
- State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Joint Committee
- Labor and Workforce Development Joint Committee
See also
Massachusetts | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
---|---|---|
|
|
|
External links
Campaign links - 2014
Campaign links - 2010
- Karyn Polito's 2010 campaign website
- Karyn Polito on Facebook
- Karyn Polito on Twitter
- Karyn Polito's YouTube Channel
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Boston.com, Charlie Baker names Karyn Polito as his running mate," December 3, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Governor of Massachusetts, "Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito," accessed January 8, 2015
- ↑ MetroWest Daily News, "Rep. Karyn Polito to run for state treasurer," March 2, 2010
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Karyn Polito's Political Summary," accessed July 21, 2018
- ↑ Karyn Polito for Lieutenant Governor 2014 Official campaign website, "Homepage," accessed December 31, 2013
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Return of Votes - For Massachusetts State Election - November 4, 2008," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2008 - General Election Results," accessed February 13, 2014
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by - |
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts 2015-2023 |
Succeeded by Kim Driscoll (D) |
Preceded by - |
Massachusetts House of Representatives 11th Worcester District 2001-2011 |
Succeeded by - |
|
|
![]() |
State of Massachusetts Boston (capital) |
---|---|
Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |