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Portrait of Dennis GallagherPhoto: malegislature.gov

MA · Officeholder

Dennis Gallagher

DState Representative · District 8th Plymouth

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Massachusetts House 8th Plymouth

Biography

Dennis Gallagher is a Democratic state representative from Massachusetts who has represented the 8th Plymouth District since January 2025 and is seeking re-election on November 3, 2026.[1][2] He served in the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 1985.[1]

Gallagher graduated from East Bridgewater High School and served in the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 1985.[1] He earned a bachelor's degree from Worcester State College in 1989 and a graduate degree from the Suffolk University School of Management in 1996.[1]

Gallagher assumed office on January 1, 2025, succeeding Angelo D'Emilia, and advanced from the Democratic primary on September 1, 2026.[1] For the 2025-2026 session he was assigned to the House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs, the Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee, and the Joint Committees on Labor and Workforce Development and on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.[1]

  1. 1.Dennis Gallagher · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference

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

Massachusetts House 8th Plymouth

Dennis Gallagher is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Massachusetts House 8th Plymouth as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Other candidates for this seat

John NorrisCandidateRMassachusetts House 8th PlymouthMassachusetts

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 Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 3 of 107 party-divided votes on file.

  • An Act prioritizing patient access to care

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 118–9, Republicans 0–24

    Jul 22, 2026Official record ↗

  • An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2027 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities of the commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund, and serial bond requirements, and for certain permanent improvements

    Amends the bill to give state, county and municipal public health and safety workers who worked in person during the COVID-19 emergency a retirement credit equal to its length (March 2020 to June 2021), with local governments opting in. (AI-written)

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 9–118, Republicans 25–0

    Apr 28, 2026Official record ↗

  • An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2026 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities of the commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund, and serial bond requirements, and for certain permanent improvements

    Amends the bill to bar the housing office and the Attorney General from enforcing any MBTA Communities zoning law (chapter 40A, section 3A) requirement before December 31, 2026. (AI-written)

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 5–125, Republicans 25–0

    Apr 29, 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.

H5595 · MA HOUSE

An Act prioritizing patient access to care

NoVOTED

Motion: On Engrossment

Passed 119–33·Substantive·Jul 22, 2026Roll call ↗
H5562 · MA HOUSE

An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth

YesVOTED

Motion: On passing to be engrossed as amended

Passed 148–2·Substantive·Jul 8, 2026Roll call ↗
H5562 · MA HOUSE

An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth

YesVOTED

Motion: On adoption of consolidated amendment A

Passed 145–6·Substantive·Jul 8, 2026Roll call ↗
H5555 · MA HOUSE

An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2027 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities of the commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund, and serial bond requirements, and for certain permanent improvements

YesVOTED

Motion: On Enactment Land Taking

Passed 142–6·Substantive·Jul 1, 2026Roll call ↗
H5555 · MA HOUSE

An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2027 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities of the commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund, and serial bond requirements, and for certain permanent improvements

YesVOTED

Motion: On acceptance of conference report

Passed 142–6·Substantive·Jul 1, 2026Roll call ↗
H5493 · MA HOUSE

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

YesVOTED

Motion: On passing to be engrossed

Passed 154–2·Substantive·Jun 10, 2026Roll call ↗
H5493 · MA HOUSE

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

NoVOTED

Motion: On adoption of amendment #12

Amends the bill to bar distribution of the $22.5 million No Cost Call Trust Fund transfer until the budget secretary presents a plan to keep annual spending from the item under $10 million. (AI-written)

Failed 28–128·Substantive·Jun 10, 2026Roll call ↗
S2726 · MA HOUSE

An Act regarding free expression

YesVOTED

Motion: On passing to be engrossed, as amended

Passed 153–3·Substantive·Jun 10, 2026Roll call ↗
S2726 · MA HOUSE

An Act regarding free expression

NoVOTED

Motion: On adoption of amendment #4

Amends the bill to let school committees remove school library materials only after a public hearing and a finding, by clear and convincing evidence, that the material has no educational, literary, artistic, personal or social value or is not age appropriate for any student. (AI-written)

Failed 23–133·Substantive·Jun 10, 2026Roll call ↗
S2726 · MA HOUSE

An Act regarding free expression

NoVOTED

Motion: On adoption of amendment #3

Failed 2–154·Substantive·Jun 10, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 165 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.