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Portrait of Bruce TarrPhoto: malegislature.gov

MA · Officeholder

Bruce Tarr

RState Senator · District First Essex and Middlesex

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Massachusetts Senate First Essex and Middlesex

Biography

Bruce Tarr is a Republican state senator from Massachusetts who has represented the 1st Essex and Middlesex District since 1995 and is seeking re-election on November 3, 2026.[1][2] An attorney, he served in the state House from 1991 to 1995 and is the ranking minority member on several Senate and joint committees.[1]

Tarr was born on January 2, 1964, and earned a bachelor's degree in management from Suffolk University in 1987 and a juris doctor from the Suffolk University School of Law in 1990.[1] His professional experience includes working as an attorney.[1]

Tarr represented the 5th Essex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995.[1] He assumed office in the Senate in 1995.[1] For the 2025-2026 session he is the ranking minority member of the Senate Bills in the Third Reading Committee, the Steering and Policy Committee, and the Joint Committees on Financial Services, on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion, and on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.[1]

  1. 1.Bruce Tarr · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.

Massachusetts Senate First Essex and Middlesex

Bruce Tarr is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Massachusetts Senate First Essex and Middlesex as R. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 9 of 86 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (3), Rights & public safety (3), Climate & energy (2)

  • An Act to save people money, repair the climate and grow the economy

    What it does: As reported to the Senate, replaces utility efficiency programs with one statewide efficiency and building-decarbonization plan, at least 20% for low-income households; lets cities and towns bar competitive suppliers…

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 34–0, Republicans 1–4

    Jul 1, 2026Official record ↗

  • An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 35–0, Republicans 2–3

    Jun 4, 2026Official record ↗

  • An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 35–0, Republicans 2–3

    May 7, 2026Official record ↗

  • An Act to build resilience for Massachusetts communities

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 34–0, Republicans 2–3

    Apr 15, 2026Official record ↗

  • Resolutions rescinding previous Article V Convention applications

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 32–1, Republicans 2–3

    Nov 19, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

S3188 · MA SENATE

An Act authorizing the Buzzards Bay Water District to convey non-exclusive easements over a certain parcel of land

YesVOTED

Motion: Question on passing the bill to be enacted (2/3) Senate

Passed 38–1·Substantive·Jul 31, 2026Roll call ↗
H5469 · MA SENATE

An Act promoting transparency and public access in state government

NoVOTED

Motion: Question on passing the bill to be engrossed

On the version voted Jun 3, 2026: Lets the State Auditor audit administrative functions of the House, Senate and joint legislative operations, sets a public-records process for legislative records, covers the governor's office under the public records law, and appropriates $250,000 each for implementation.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 34–6·Substantive·Jul 30, 2026Roll call ↗
S3200 · MA SENATE

An Act promoting transparency and public access in state government

YesVOTED

Motion: Question on adoption of the amendment

Failed 6–33·Substantive·Jul 30, 2026Roll call ↗
S3178 · MA SENATE

An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth

YesVOTED

Motion: Question on adoption of the amendment 343

Failed 5–34·Substantive·Jul 23, 2026Roll call ↗
S3178 · MA SENATE

An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth

NoVOTED

Motion: Question on adoption of the amendment 14

Amends the bill to bar the chapter 62F tax credit in any fiscal year when net state tax revenues are below 7.5 percent of total statewide personal income, as determined by the Department of Revenue. (AI-written)

Passed 31–8·Substantive·Jul 23, 2026Roll call ↗
S3178 · MA SENATE

An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth

YesVOTED

Motion: Question on adoption of the amendment 235

Failed 7–32·Substantive·Jul 23, 2026Roll call ↗
S3178 · MA SENATE

An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth

YesVOTED

Motion: Question on adoption of the amendment 41

Failed 5–34·Substantive·Jul 23, 2026Roll call ↗
S3178 · MA SENATE

An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth

YesVOTED

Motion: Question on adoption of the amendment 418

Failed 7–32·Substantive·Jul 23, 2026Roll call ↗
S3175 · MA SENATE

An Act protecting children from addictive social media feeds

YesVOTED

Motion: Question on passing the bill to be engrossed

Passed 38–2·Substantive·Jul 9, 2026Roll call ↗
H5175 · MA SENATE

An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power and economic competitiveness

NoVOTED

Motion: Question on passing the bill to be engrossed

Restructures energy-efficiency programs into a statewide building decarbonization and energy efficiency investment plan, mandates discounted rates for low- and moderate-income customers, and sets management and operations audits of gas and electric distribution companies.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 32–8·Substantive·Jul 1, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 102 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.