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Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District
Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District is represented by Thomas Walsh (D).
As of the 2020 Census, Massachusetts state representatives represented an average of 43,959 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 40,998 residents.
About the office
Members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Massachusetts legislators assume office the first Wednesday in January after the election.[1]
Qualifications
Article CI, Section 1 of the Massachusetts Constitution states: "Every representative, for one year at least immediately preceding his election, shall have been an inhabitant of the district for which he is chosen and shall cease to represent such district when he shall cease to be an inhabitant of the Commonwealth."[2]
According to the Massachusetts Secretary of State's office, an individual must be a registered voter to run for office.[3]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[4] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $73,655.01/year | No per diem is paid. |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Massachusetts General Court, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. The election must be held on the next regularly scheduled date on the election calendar.[5] Local governments that conduct special elections can receive reimbursement from the state treasurer's office for costs incurred.[6][7]
See sources: Massachusetts Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54, § 141 and Massachusetts Const. Amend. Art. 24
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed the state's new legislative maps into law on November 4, 2021.[8] The state House passed the maps by a vote of 158-1 on October 21, 2021. The state Senate approved the legislative plans on October 27, 2021 by a vote of 36-3. The legislature began consideration of the state's redistricting plans on October 19, 2021.[9] These maps took effect for Massachusetts' 2022 legislative elections.
After the redistricting plans were enacted, Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin (D) issued a statement expressing concern regarding how the maps would be implemented: "I am extremely disappointed that these bills were signed into law in their current form and I think it is a devastating blow to the voters of Massachusetts. With local precincts divided multiple ways, it will inevitably lead to chaos at the polls and make it impossible for voters to understand who their elected representatives are."[10] After the legislature approved the maps, State Sen. William Brownsberger (D) said, "It’s a quality final product. We have used every minute we’ve had to keep vetting, to keep adjusting . . . and to respond to input that we’ve received."[11]
How does redistricting in Massachusetts work? In Massachusetts, congressional and state legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature. The lines drawn by the state legislature are subject to veto by the governor.[12]
State statutes require that state legislative district boundaries be contiguous and "reasonably preserve counties, towns, and cities intact, where otherwise possible." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[12]
Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District
until January 3, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District
starting January 4, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District
Incumbent Thomas Walsh won election in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Thomas Walsh (D) | 97.4 | 17,194 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.6 | 464 | ||
| Total votes: 17,658 | |||
 = 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 12th Essex District
Incumbent Thomas Walsh advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District on September 3, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Thomas Walsh | 99.4 | 3,534 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 20 | ||
| Total votes: 3,554 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2022
General election
General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District
Incumbent Thomas Walsh won election in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Thomas Walsh (D) | 97.3 | 12,021 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.7 | 335 | ||
| Total votes: 12,356 | |||
| = 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 12th Essex District
Incumbent Thomas Walsh advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District on September 6, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Thomas Walsh | 99.4 | 4,463 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 26 | ||
| Total votes: 4,489 | |||
| = 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
General election
General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District
Incumbent Thomas Walsh won election in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Thomas Walsh (D) | 97.6 | 17,578 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.4 | 437 | ||
| Total votes: 18,015 | |||
| = 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 12th Essex District
Incumbent Thomas Walsh advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District on September 1, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Thomas Walsh | 99.5 | 7,089 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 39 | ||
| Total votes: 7,128 | |||
| = 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 12th Essex District
Incumbent Thomas Walsh won election in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Thomas Walsh (D) | 98.2 | 13,250 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.8 | 246 | ||
| Total votes: 13,496 | |||
| = 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 12th Essex District
Incumbent Thomas Walsh advanced from the Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District on September 4, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Thomas Walsh | 100.0 | 2,523 | |
| Total votes: 2,523 | |||
| = 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
General election
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 Thomas Walsh ran unopposed in the Massachusetts House of Representatives Twelfth Essex District general election.[13][14]
| Massachusetts House of Representatives, Twelfth Essex District General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic |  Thomas Walsh Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth | ||
Incumbent Thomas Walsh ran unopposed in the Massachusetts House of Representatives Twelfth Essex District Democratic Primary.[15][16]
| Massachusetts House of Representatives, Twelfth Essex District Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Thomas Walsh Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Special election
A special election for the position of Massachusetts House of Representatives Twelfth Essex District was called for March 1. A primary election took place on February 2. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 29, 2015.[17]
The seat was vacant following Leah Cole's (R) resignation on September 28, 2015. She resigned to focus on her nursing career.[18]
Thomas Walsh defeated James Moutsoulas and Craig Welton in the Democratic primary. Stephanie Peach defeated Jaclyn Corriveau in the Republican primary. Christopher Gallagher ran as an unenrolled candidate.[19] Walsh defeated Peach and Gallagher in the special election.[20][21][22][23][24]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Thomas Walsh |
57.8% | 7,138 | |
| Republican | Stephanie Peach | 37.6% | 4,644 | |
| Unenrolled | Christopher Gallagher | 4.7% | 576 | |
| Total Votes | 12,358 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Thomas Walsh |
62.7% | 1,672 |
| James Moutsoulas | 20.1% | 537 |
| Craig Welton | 17.2% | 459 |
| Total Votes | 2,668 | |
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Stephanie Peach |
55.4% | 568 |
| Jaclyn Corriveau | 44.6% | 458 |
| Total Votes | 1,026 | |
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. Beverley Griffin Dunne defeated James Moutsoulas in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Leah Cole was unopposed in the Republican primary. Cole defeated Dunne in the general election.[25]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Leah Cole Incumbent |
51.5% | 7,265 | |
| Democratic | Beverley Griffin Dunne | 48.5% | 6,830 | |
| Total Votes | 14,095 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Beverley Griffin Dunne |
58.8% | 2,625 |
| James Moutsoulas | 41.2% | 1,838 |
| Total Votes | 4,463 | |
2013
Leah Cole (R) won election in the special election for Massachusetts House of Representatives Twelfth Essex District. The seat was vacant following the death of Joyce Spiliotis (D) on November 29, 2012. Cole defeated Gregory S. Bunn in the March 5 Republican primary and defeated Beverly A. Griffin Dunne (D) and Dave Gravel (I) in the special election which took place on April 2, 2013.[26][27] [28][29]
| Massachusetts House of Representatives, Twelfth Essex District, Special Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Leah Cole |
35.2% | 1,878 | |
| Democratic | Beverly A. Griffin Dunne | 33.8% | 1,805 | |
| Independent | Dave Gravel | 31% | 1,655 | |
| Total Votes | 5,338 | |||
| Massachusetts House of Representatives, Twelfth Essex District Republican Primary, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|
Leah Cole |
52.7% | 512 |
| Gregory S. Bunn | 47.3% | 460 |
| Total Votes | 972 | |
2012
Elections for the office of Massachusetts House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on September 6, 2012 and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 29, 2012.[30] Incumbent Joyce Spiliotis (D) was unopposed in the general election and the Democratic primary.[31][32]
Campaign contributions
From 2012 to 2024, candidates for Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District raised a total of $260,588. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $32,574 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $24,861 | 1 | $24,861 |
| 2022 | $14,392 | 1 | $14,392 |
| 2020 | $58,795 | 1 | $58,795 |
| 2016 | $44,151 | 1 | $44,151 |
| 2014 | $104,764 | 3 | $34,921 |
| 2012 | $13,625 | 1 | $13,625 |
| Total | $260,588 | 8 | $32,574 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Massachusetts Constitution, "Article LXXXII," accessed February 12, 2021
- ↑ The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Constitution," accessed May 21, 2025
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "How to Run for Office in Massachusetts," accessed May 27, 2025 (page 5)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 50, Section 6A)
- ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 3: Section 10A)
- ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 54: Section 141)
- ↑ MassLive, "As Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker OKs new districts, Secretary of State William Galvin warns of chaos," November 4, 2021
- ↑ Boston Globe, "Lawmakers poised to send new political maps, increasing number of majority-minority districts, to Baker," October 27, 2021
- ↑ Boston Globe, "Lawmakers poised to send new political maps, increasing number of majority-minority districts, to Baker," October 27, 2021
- ↑ Boston Globe, "Lawmakers poised to send new political maps, increasing number of majority-minority districts, to Baker," October 27, 2021
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 All About Redistricting, "Massachusetts," accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, "2016 State election candidates," accessed October 3, 2016
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Election data lookup," accessed December 20, 2016
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Candidates (Democratic)," accessed June 20, 2016
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonweath of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Election Statistics," accessed October 14, 2016
- ↑ Peabody Patch, "Dates Set for State Rep. Special Election," accessed October 22, 2015
- ↑ salemnews.com, "Peabody state rep Leah Cole resigning," accessed September 21, 2015
- ↑ Patch.com, "Six Candidates Seek State Rep Seat," accessed January 5, 2016
- ↑ masslive.com, "Democrats sweep three House special elections," accessed March 2, 2016
- ↑ The Salem News, "Walsh and Peach win primaries," accessed February 3, 2016
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special General Election," accessed March 28, 2016
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Democratic Primary," accessed March 28, 2016
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2016 State Representative Special Republican Primary," accessed March 28, 2016
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "2014 State Primary Candidates," accessed September 9, 2014
- ↑ TheRepublic.com, "Candidates set for special elections to fill 2 vacant Mass. House seats," March 7, 2013
- ↑ bostonglobe.com, "Newcomer, political veteran win Mass. House elections," April 3, 2013
- ↑ sec.state.ma.us, "Official Republican primary results," accessed November 8, 2013
- ↑ electionstats.state.ma.us, "Official special election results," accessed November 8, 2013
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, “A Candidate’s Guide to the 2012 State Election.” Retrieved November 2, 2013
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, 2012 primary election results. Retrieved November 2, 2013
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, 2012 general election results. Retrieved November 2, 2013
