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Kenneth Gordon
2013 - Present
2027
12
Kenneth Gordon (Democratic Party) is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 21st Middlesex District. He assumed office on January 2, 2013. His current term ends on January 6, 2027.
Gordon (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives to represent the 21st Middlesex District. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
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
Gordon was assigned to the following committees:
2021-2022
Gordon was assigned to the following committees:
- Public Service Joint Committee, House chair
2019-2020
Gordon was assigned to the following committees:
- Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Joint Committee, Vice Chair
- Municipalities and Regional Government Joint Committee
- Human Resources and Employee Engagement Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Massachusetts committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets |
| • Community Development and Small Businesses Joint |
| • Election Laws Joint, Vice chair |
| • Transportation Joint |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Gordon served on the following committees:
| Massachusetts committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Global Warming and Climate Change |
| • Transportation Joint |
| • State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Joint |
| • Election Laws Joint, Vice Chair |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Gordon served on the following committees:
| Massachusetts committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Global Warming and Climate Change |
| • Steering, Policy and Scheduling |
| • Labor and Workforce Development 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
2024
See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District
Incumbent Kenneth Gordon won election in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kenneth Gordon (D) | 97.5 | 17,829 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.5 | 457 | ||
| Total votes: 18,286 | |||
 = 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 21st Middlesex District
Incumbent Kenneth Gordon advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District on September 3, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kenneth Gordon | 99.1 | 4,068 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 35 | ||
| Total votes: 4,103 | |||
| = 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 Gordon in this election.
2022
See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District
Incumbent Kenneth Gordon won election in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kenneth Gordon (D) | 97.1 | 13,510 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.9 | 409 | ||
| Total votes: 13,919 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District
Incumbent Kenneth Gordon defeated Timothy Sullivan in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District on September 6, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kenneth Gordon | 65.1 | 3,915 |
 | Timothy Sullivan | 34.9 | 2,096 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 2 | ||
| Total votes: 6,013 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District
Incumbent Kenneth Gordon won election in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kenneth Gordon (D) | 97.7 | 19,307 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.3 | 453 | ||
| Total votes: 19,760 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District
Incumbent Kenneth Gordon advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District on September 1, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kenneth Gordon | 99.4 | 8,601 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 53 | ||
| Total votes: 8,654 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District
Incumbent Kenneth Gordon won election in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kenneth Gordon (D) | 98.0 | 14,545 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.0 | 303 | ||
| Total votes: 14,848 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District
Incumbent Kenneth Gordon advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District on September 4, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kenneth Gordon | 100.0 | 3,120 |
| Total votes: 3,120 | |||
| = 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
Elections for the Massachusetts House of Representatives 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 Kenneth I. Gordon defeated Paul Girouard, Jr. in the Massachusetts House of Representatives Twenty-first Middlesex District general election.[1][2]
| Massachusetts House of Representatives, Twenty-first Middlesex District General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Kenneth I. Gordon Incumbent |
58.59% | 13,476 | |
| Republican | Paul Girouard, Jr. | 41.41% | 9,526 | |
| Total Votes | 23,002 | |||
| Source: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth | ||||
Incumbent Kenneth I. Gordon ran unopposed in the Massachusetts House of Representatives Twenty-first Middlesex District Democratic Primary.[3][4]
| Massachusetts House of Representatives, Twenty-first Middlesex District Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Kenneth I. Gordon Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Paul Girouard, Jr. ran unopposed in the Massachusetts House of Representatives Twenty-first Middlesex District Republican Primary.[3][4]
| Massachusetts House of Representatives, Twenty-first Middlesex District Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Paul Girouard, Jr. (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Massachusetts House of Representatives 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 Kenneth Gordon was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Paul Girouard, Jr. was unopposed in the Republican primary. Gordon defeated Girouard in the general election.[5]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kenneth Gordon Incumbent |
52.3% | 8,129 | |
| Republican | Paul Girouard, Jr. | 47.7% | 7,423 | |
| Total Votes | 15,552 | |||
2012
Gordon won election in the 2012 election for Massachusetts House of Representatives Twenty-First Middlesex District. He was selected as the Democratic candidate after the previous candidate, Charles Murphy, withdrew following the September 6 primary and defeated Walter Zenkin (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[6][7]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kenneth Gordon |
55.3% | 11,802 | |
| Republican | Walter Zenkin | 44.7% | 9,549 | |
| Total Votes | 21,351 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kenneth Gordon did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Kenneth Gordon did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Kenneth Gordon did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kenneth Gordon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gordon's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
My top priorities are to modernize public transportation, roads and bridges and make this infrastructure financially efficient. It is to assist working families access good jobs (and fill current job openings to benefit local business) by providing transportation, childcare and training assistance. And it is to address climate change through thoughtful assistance to clean, efficient, renewable energy sources.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I have been an employment lawyer for more than 20 years, and for that reason I am personally passionate about supporting workers rights, especially in the area of civil rights/discrimination and sexual harassment.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I look up to any government leader who focuses on policy over politics, looking for a way to accomplish goals that are positive for the community, rather than seeking self-satisfaction
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
I have been influenced and affected by many writings, but not one in particular can sum up my philosophy.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Honesty and the ability to tell people one's position, whether they want to hear it or not.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
For six years I have listened to my constituents and advocate for their priorities but I recognize that I represent a district with many, sometimes conflicting, points of view. I believe I was elected to use my judgment and therefore I do so in a way that sometimes does not please everyone, but that cannot be the goal.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
The core responsibility is to listen and be willing to learn, and then when that step is taken to act in a way that brings people together to get the job done.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I would like to be known as an honest public servant who tried to use the best strategy to do the most good for the most people.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
I was three years old when JFK was assassinated.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
My very first job was at a department store the summer after my junior year in high school. However, my first job in a newspaper, where I engaged in my first career, was at the Norwich Bulletin in Connecticut that lasted through my senior year in high school and the next summer. My first job with significant hours worked was at the Boston Globe and my first full-time job was at the Pensacola News-Journal in Florida.
What happened on your most awkward date?
I am not willing to embarrass the person with whom I was on such a date.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, because we get together with friends and family for a lasting visit, involving nothing more than good food and good people.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My favorite thing is anything that my son enjoys.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Thunder Road.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
My weight.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
Because one chamber is four times larger than the other, the larger chamber requires a lot of work that goes on before a bill comes to the floor of the legislature, that can't be done at the last minute.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?
I appreciate the two chambers because it give our communities two voices the state two ways of focusing on issues.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
Yes it is a benefit, but there are other benefits from experience in other areas, such as in my case advocating in a courtroom. People who have experience outside government and have lived the issues that others are told about is valuable as well. It takes a combination of people with both of these backgrounds to make the best legislature.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Solving our transportation infrastructure.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
One of check and balance, and mutual respect.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Of course. We only succeed by coalition building, and the best way to do it is build a relationship built on trust.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
I think it should be done as fairly as possible.
If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?
I am Vice-Chair of Election Laws, which deals with the most fundamental right of Americans, the right to vote and for their voice to be heard. I am on the Transportation Committee, which is where we must solve one of our most pressing problems.
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
I am most interesting in working on the policy matters that affect my constituents the most. If my colleagues wish to select me for a leadership position, I would consider it.
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Former Senator Ken Donnelly. He always listened, was respectful and considerate, and then when he made a decision he paid attention to make sure it was correct.
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
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.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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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.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Massachusetts State Legislature was in session from January 4 to November 15.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Massachusetts State Legislature was in session from January 5 to August 1.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Massachusetts General Court was in session from January 14 through August 1.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Massachusetts General Court was in session from January 2 to December 31.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Massachusetts House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District |
Officeholder Massachusetts House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, "2016 State election candidates," accessed October 3, 2016
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Election data lookup," accessed December 20, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Massachusetts Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Candidates (Democratic)," accessed June 20, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 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
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "2012 State Primary Results," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Return of Votes - For Massachusetts State Election - November 6, 2012," accessed February 13, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Massachusetts House of Representatives 21st Middlesex District 2013-Present |
Succeeded by - |
