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DState Senator · District Middlesex and Norfolk
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Massachusetts Senate Middlesex and Norfolk
Karen Spilka is a Democratic state senator representing the Middlesex and Norfolk District and has served as Senate president since July 2018; she is on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot seeking re-election.[1][2] Ballotpedia lists her tenure in the State Senate as beginning in 2005, and she worked as a social worker, small business owner, and attorney.[1]
Karen Spilka was born in 1953 in New York, New York.[1] She received a bachelor's degree in social work from Cornell University and a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law, and she worked as a social worker, small business owner, and attorney.[1]
Spilka served as chair and vice-chair of the Ashland School Committee and as a member of Ashland's Democratic Town Committee, Fiscal Affairs Committee, Charter Review Committee, and Personnel Board.[1] She served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2001 to 2002, filling a midterm vacancy, and was first elected to the State Senate in 2004.[1] The State Senate elected her Senate president on July 26, 2018.[1] According to Spilka's official biography as summarized by Ballotpedia, her priorities as Senate president included the chamber's response to COVID-19, the Student Opportunity Act, a police reform bill, legislation to transition from fossil fuels, and efforts to increase accessibility to mental health care.[1]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Karen Spilka is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Massachusetts Senate Middlesex and Norfolk as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
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
Most contested
May 22, 2025 · Failed 12–28 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power and economic competitiveness
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.
Jul 1, 2026 · Passed 32–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Feb 26, 2025: 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 12, 2025 · Passed 33–6 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
An Act regarding free expression
Nov 13, 2025 · Failed 6–32 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Resolves that the Senate will voluntarily give the State Auditor records for four requests covering fiscal 2021-2024 budgets, audits, balance-forward transactions and settlements, without conceding the Senate may be audited, and reserves its right to object to any audit.
May 28, 2026 · Passed 33–6 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
An Act promoting transparency and public access in state government
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.
Jul 30, 2026 · Passed 34–6 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
An Act modernizing the commonwealth’s cannabis laws
Apr 9, 2026 · Passed 33–6 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
An Act relative to primary care for you
Jun 18, 2026 · Passed 35–4 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
An Act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth
Jul 31, 2025 · Passed 37–3 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power and economic competitiveness
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.
Jul 1, 2026 · Passed 32–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
An Act to build resilience for Massachusetts communities
Apr 15, 2026 · Passed 36–3 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
An Act protecting children from addictive social media feeds
Jul 9, 2026 · Passed 38–2 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
An Act to promote student learning and mental health
On the version voted Apr 8, 2026: 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.
Jul 31, 2025 · Passed 38–2 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
An Act protecting children from addictive social media feeds
Jul 9, 2026 · Passed 38–2 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
An Act to promote student learning and mental health
On the version voted Apr 8, 2026: 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.
Jul 31, 2025 · Passed 38–2 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
On the version voted Feb 26, 2025: 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 12, 2025 · Passed 33–6 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Voted with most of their party on all 19 party-divided votes on file.
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
With most of their party · Failed 12–28 · Yes 12–No 28 · Democrats 7–28, Republicans 5–0
May 22, 2025Official record ↗
An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power and economic competitiveness
With most of their party · Passed 32–8 · Yes 32–No 8 · Democrats 32–3, Republicans 0–5
Jul 1, 2026Official record ↗
An Act regarding free expression
With most of their party · Failed 6–32 · Yes 6–No 32 · Democrats 1–32, Republicans 5–0
Nov 13, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 33–6 · Yes 33–No 6 · Democrats 33–1, Republicans 0–5
May 28, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 33–6 · Yes 33–No 6 · Democrats 33–1, Republicans 0–5
Feb 12, 2025Official record ↗
An Act promoting transparency and public access in state government
With most of their party · Passed 34–6 · Yes 34–No 6 · Democrats 34–1, Republicans 0–5
Jul 30, 2026Official record ↗
Resolutions rescinding previous Article V Convention applications
With most of their party · Failed 5–33 · Yes 5–No 33 · Democrats 0–33, Republicans 5–0
Nov 19, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Failed 5–35 · Yes 5–No 35 · Democrats 0–35, Republicans 5–0
May 7, 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.
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.
Motion: Question on passing the bill to be engrossed
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.
Motion: Question on passing the bill to be enacted (2/3) Senate
Motion: Question on passing the bill to be engrossed
Motion: Question on acceptance of conference committee report
Motion: Question on adoption of the resolutions
Resolves that the Senate will voluntarily give the State Auditor records for four requests covering fiscal 2021-2024 budgets, audits, balance-forward transactions and settlements, without conceding the Senate may be audited, and reserves its right to object to any audit.
Motion: Question on adoption of the amendment 815
Motion: Question on passing the bill to be engrossed
Motion: Question on suspension of the Rules
Showing 10 of 28 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.