H5595 · MA HOUSE
An Act prioritizing patient access to care
Motion: On Engrossment
Photo: malegislature.govMA · Officeholder
Joe McKenna
RState Representative · District 18th Worcester
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Massachusetts House 18th Worcester
Biography
Joe McKenna is a Republican state representative from the 18th Worcester District who has served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since January 2015 and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2] He is the ranking minority member of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.[3]
Joe McKenna graduated from Shepherd Hill Regional High School in Dudley in 2006 and from Bentley University's Honors Program in 2010 with a degree in economics and finance.[4] He worked for three years as chief of staff to State Representative Peter Durant of Spencer, and was elected to the House in 2014 in his first race for public office.[4]
McKenna took office on January 7, 2015.[1] In addition to his ranking minority role, he serves on the House Committees on Post Audit and Oversight and on Ways and Means and the Joint Committees on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets and on Ways and Means.[3]
- 1.Joseph McKenna - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.Joe McKenna - Committees · Massachusetts Legislature Official record
- 4.Joe McKenna - Biography · Massachusetts Legislature Official record
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Massachusetts House 18th Worcester
Joe McKenna is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Massachusetts House 18th Worcester as R. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
Other candidates for this seat
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
Jobs & cost of living93 with · 9 against102 votes
Most contested
- Yes
Apr 28, 2026 · Failed 34–119 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Apr 29, 2025 · Failed 30–126 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Jun 10, 2026 · Failed 28–128 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Climate & energy16 with · 0 against16 votes
Most contested
- No
An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power and economic competitiveness
Requires the Department of Energy Resources to return at least 70% of alternative compliance payments to ratepayers in some years, creates an online utility bill dashboard, mandates discounted rates for low- and moderate-income customers, and orders an inspector general review of Mass Save.
Feb 26, 2026 · Passed 128–27 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- No
Rights & public safety12 with · 1 against13 votes
Most contested
- No
An Act promoting transparency and public access in state government
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.
Jun 3, 2026 · Passed 125–28 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- No
An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment
Mar 25, 2026 · Passed 130–25 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
An Act to protect against election misinformation
Feb 11, 2026 · Failed 25–132 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- No
Education & families11 with · 0 against11 votes
Most contested
- Yes
An Act promoting safe technology use and distraction-free education for youth
Apr 8, 2026 · Failed 27–128 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy.
Oct 29, 2025 · Failed 23–131 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- No
An Act to promote student learning and mental health
Requires each district to have a policy prohibiting student use of personal electronic devices during the school day, with exceptions for disability, health and emergencies, and to teach social media risks. Bars social media accounts for under-14s, and for ages 14-15 without parental consent.
Apr 8, 2026 · Passed 129–25 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Health & care11 with · 0 against11 votes
Most contested
- No
An Act prioritizing patient access to care
Jul 22, 2026 · Passed 119–33 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
An Act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth
Jul 16, 2025 · Failed 30–129 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
An Act requiring automated external defibrillators at sporting events
Jan 28, 2026 · Failed 26–130 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- No
Housing & rent7 with · 0 against7 votes
Most contested
- No
Appropriates $425 million for emergency shelter for homeless families, requires adult applicants to disclose criminal convictions and be checked against state records, and limits emergency housing assistance to six consecutive months with hardship extensions.
Feb 6, 2025 · Passed 126–26 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- No
Appropriates $425 million for emergency shelter for homeless families, requires adult applicants to disclose convictions and pending serious charges, caps eligibility at six consecutive months with hardship waivers, and limits temporary respite stays to 30 days.
Feb 26, 2025 · Passed 127–23 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- No
Technology & privacy4 with · 0 against4 votes
Most contested
- Yes
An Act promoting safe technology use and distraction-free education for youth
Apr 8, 2026 · Failed 27–128 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- No
An Act to promote student learning and mental health
Requires each district to have a policy prohibiting student use of personal electronic devices during the school day, with exceptions for disability, health and emergencies, and to teach social media risks. Bars social media accounts for under-14s, and for ages 14-15 without parental consent.
Apr 8, 2026 · Passed 129–25 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
An Act relative to civil rights and technology
May 20, 2026 · Passed 155–1 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Where they stood out
Voted with most of their party on all 101 party-divided votes on file.
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
- Yes
With most of their party · Failed 34–119 · Yes 34–No 119 · Democrats 9–118, Republicans 25–0
Apr 28, 2026Official record ↗
- No
An Act prioritizing patient access to care
With most of their party · Passed 119–33 · Yes 119–No 33 · Democrats 118–9, Republicans 0–24
Jul 22, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Failed 30–126 · Yes 30–No 126 · Democrats 5–125, Republicans 25–0
Apr 29, 2025Official record ↗
- No
An Act promoting transparency and public access in state government
With most of their party · Passed 125–28 · Yes 125–No 28 · Democrats 124–3, Republicans 0–25
Jun 3, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
An Act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth
With most of their party · Failed 30–129 · Yes 30–No 129 · Democrats 5–128, Republicans 25–0
Jul 16, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Failed 28–128 · Yes 28–No 128 · Democrats 3–127, Republicans 25–0
Jun 10, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
An Act promoting safe technology use and distraction-free education for youth
With most of their party · Failed 27–128 · Yes 27–No 128 · Democrats 2–127, Republicans 25–0
Apr 8, 2026Official record ↗
- No
An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power and economic competitiveness
With most of their party · Passed 128–27 · Yes 128–No 27 · Democrats 127–2, Republicans 0–25
Feb 26, 2026Official record ↗
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.
NoVOTED
H5562 · MA HOUSE
An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth
Motion: On passing to be engrossed as amended
H5562 · MA HOUSE
An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth
Motion: On adoption of consolidated amendment A
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
Motion: On Enactment Land Taking
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
Motion: On acceptance of conference report
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.
Motion: On passing to be engrossed
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.
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)
S2726 · MA HOUSE
An Act regarding free expression
Motion: On passing to be engrossed, as amended
S2726 · MA HOUSE
An Act regarding free expression
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)
S2726 · MA HOUSE
An Act regarding free expression
Motion: On adoption of amendment #3
Showing 10 of 165 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.