S3188 · MA SENATE
An Act authorizing the Buzzards Bay Water District to convey non-exclusive easements over a certain parcel of land
Motion: Question on passing the bill to be enacted (2/3) Senate
Photo: malegislature.govMA · Officeholder
Vanna Howard
DState Senator · District First Middlesex
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Massachusetts Senate First Middlesex
Biography
Vanna Howard is a Democratic state senator representing the 1st Middlesex District, a seat she won in a March 3, 2026 special election, and she is on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot seeking a full term.[1][2] She previously served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2021 to 2026 and has worked as a nonprofit executive.[1]
Vanna Howard studied at Revere High School, Middlesex Community College, the University of Massachusetts, and Harvard Business School.[1] Her career experience includes working as chief of external relations at the Lowell Community Health Center, as Greater Lowell regional director for former U.S. Representative Niki Tsongas, and with the Middlesex and Suffolk County District Attorney's Offices.[1] Ballotpedia lists her affiliations as including the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, Mill City Grows, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell, the Lowell Housing Authority and the American Red Cross.[1]
Howard represented the 17th Middlesex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2021 to 2026, succeeding David Nangle.[1] In the 2025-2026 session she was assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee and to joint committees on Community Development and Small Businesses, Higher Education, Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion, and Ways and Means.[1] She won the special general election for the 1st Middlesex District Senate seat on March 3, 2026, assumed office on March 18, 2026, and advanced from the September 1, 2026 Democratic primary; Ballotpedia lists Republican Sam Meas and Joseph Espinola III (Unenrolled) as the other general election candidates.[1]
- 1.Vanna Howard · Ballotpedia Reference
- 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 Middlesex
Vanna Howard is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Massachusetts Senate First Middlesex as D. 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 Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
Jobs & cost of living20 with · 0 against20 votes
Most contested
- Yes
An Act to save people money, repair the climate and grow the economy
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 from residential electricity contracts; requires low- and moderate-income utility discounts; and allows bonds to refinance utility costs.
Jul 1, 2026 · Failed 19–20 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- No
May 21, 2026 · Failed 9–30 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth
Jul 23, 2026 · Passed 31–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Rights & public safety9 with · 0 against9 votes
Most contested
- No
An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment
May 7, 2026 · Failed 10–29 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- No
An Act promoting transparency and public access in state government
Jul 30, 2026 · Failed 6–33 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
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 ↗
- No
Climate & energy7 with · 0 against7 votes
Most contested
- Yes
An Act to save people money, repair the climate and grow the economy
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 from residential electricity contracts; requires low- and moderate-income utility discounts; and allows bonds to refinance utility costs.
Jul 1, 2026 · Failed 19–20 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
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 ↗
- Yes
An Act to build resilience for Massachusetts communities
Apr 15, 2026 · Passed 36–3 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Health & care5 with · 0 against5 votes
Most contested
- No
An Act relative to primary care for you
Jun 18, 2026 · Failed 5–33 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
An Act modernizing the commonwealth’s cannabis laws
Apr 9, 2026 · Passed 33–6 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
An Act relative to primary care for you
Jun 18, 2026 · Passed 35–4 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- No
Education & families1 with · 0 against1 vote
Most contested
- Yes
An Act protecting children from addictive social media feeds
Jul 9, 2026 · Passed 38–2 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Technology & privacy1 with · 0 against1 vote
Most contested
- Yes
An Act protecting children from addictive social media feeds
Jul 9, 2026 · Passed 38–2 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Where they stood out
Voted with most of their party on all 33 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
An Act to save people money, repair the climate and grow the economy
With most of their party · Failed 19–20 · Yes 19–No 20 · Democrats 19–15, Republicans 0–5
Jul 1, 2026Official record ↗
- No
An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment
With most of their party · Failed 10–29 · Yes 10–No 29 · Democrats 5–29, Republicans 5–0
May 7, 2026Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Failed 9–30 · Yes 9–No 30 · Democrats 4–30, Republicans 5–0
May 21, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth
With most of their party · Passed 31–8 · Yes 31–No 8 · Democrats 31–3, Republicans 0–5
Jul 23, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
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 ↗
- No
An Act promoting transparency and public access in state government
With most of their party · Failed 6–33 · Yes 6–No 33 · Democrats 1–33, Republicans 5–0
Jul 30, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 33–6 · Yes 33–No 6 · Democrats 33–1, Republicans 0–5
May 28, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
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 ↗
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.
YesVOTED
H5469 · MA SENATE
An Act promoting transparency and public access in state government
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 ↗
S3200 · MA SENATE
An Act promoting transparency and public access in state government
Motion: Question on adoption of the amendment
S3178 · MA SENATE
An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth
Motion: Question on adoption of the amendment 343
S3178 · MA SENATE
An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth
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)
S3178 · MA SENATE
An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth
Motion: Question on adoption of the amendment 235
S3178 · MA SENATE
An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth
Motion: Question on adoption of the amendment 41
S3178 · MA SENATE
An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth
Motion: Question on adoption of the amendment 418
S3175 · MA SENATE
An Act protecting children from addictive social media feeds
Motion: Question on passing the bill to be engrossed
H5175 · MA SENATE
An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power and economic competitiveness
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 ↗
Showing 10 of 36 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.