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Portrait of John KeenanPhoto: malegislature.gov

MA · Officeholder

John Keenan

DState Senator · District Norfolk and Plymouth

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Massachusetts Senate Norfolk and Plymouth

Biography

John Keenan is a Democratic state senator representing the Norfolk and Plymouth District, in office since January 2011, and is on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot seeking re-election.[1][2] An attorney, he previously served on the Quincy City Council from 2003 to 2012.[1]

John Keenan earned a B.A. with honors in government from Harvard University in 1986 and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in 1989.[1] His professional experience includes working as a litigator and public defender and interning for former Representative Michael Morrissey and a former Attorney General.[1] Keenan is admitted to practice law in all Massachusetts state courts, the Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the Federal First Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.[1]

Keenan served on the Quincy City Council from 2003 to 2012 and assumed office in the State Senate on January 5, 2011.[1] In the 2025-2026 session he chaired the Joint Committee on Election Laws and was vice chair of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.[1] He advanced from the Democratic primary on September 1, 2026.[1]

  1. 1.John Keenan (Massachusetts State Senate) · 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 Norfolk and Plymouth

John Keenan is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Massachusetts Senate Norfolk and Plymouth as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Other candidates for this seat

Alexander MendezCandidateUnenrolledMassachusetts Senate Norfolk and 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 16 of 86 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (7), Health & care (4), Rights & public safety (1)

  • An Act promoting transparency and public access in state government

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 1–33, Republicans 5–0

    Jul 30, 2026Official record ↗

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

    Amends the bill to bar gas companies from recovering line extension costs from ratepayers, so new gas customers pay full costs, with exceptions for no feasible alternative, declared critical projects, and certain industrial uses. Tariff changes take effect July 31, 2029. (AI-written)

    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 no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 19–15, Republicans 0–5

    Jul 1, 2026Official record ↗

  • An Act modernizing the commonwealth’s cannabis laws

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 32–2, Republicans 1–4

    Apr 9, 2026Official record ↗

  • An Act modernizing the commonwealth’s cannabis laws

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 30–2, Republicans 0–5

    Nov 19, 2025Official record ↗

  • An Act modernizing the commonwealth’s cannabis laws

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 3–29, Republicans 5–0

    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

YesVOTED

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

NoVOTED

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

YesVOTED

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

NoVOTED

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

NoVOTED

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

NoVOTED

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

YesVOTED

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.