Joseph McKenna (Massachusetts)

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Joseph McKenna
Image of Joseph McKenna
Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District
Tenure

2015 - Present

Term ends

2025

Years in position

9

Compensation

Base salary

$73,655.01/year

Per diem

$No per diem is paid.

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Bentley University

Personal
Profession
Legislative staffer
Contact

Joseph McKenna (Republican Party) is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 18th Worcester District. He assumed office on January 7, 2015. His current term ends on January 1, 2025.

McKenna (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives to represent the 18th Worcester District. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Committee assignments

2023-2024

McKenna was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

McKenna was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

McKenna was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Massachusetts committee assignments, 2017
Community Development and Small Businesses Joint
Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Joint
Labor and Workforce Development Joint

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, McKenna served on the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2024

See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District

Incumbent Joseph McKenna won election in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joseph McKenna
Joseph McKenna (R)
 
98.9
 
20,544
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.1
 
220

Total votes: 20,764
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District

Incumbent Joseph McKenna advanced from the Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District on September 3, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joseph McKenna
Joseph McKenna
 
100.0
 
1,944

Total votes: 1,944
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for McKenna in this election.

2022

See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District

Incumbent Joseph McKenna won election in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joseph McKenna
Joseph McKenna (R)
 
98.8
 
13,642
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.2
 
169

Total votes: 13,811
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District

Incumbent Joseph McKenna advanced from the Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District on September 6, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joseph McKenna
Joseph McKenna
 
99.8
 
2,319
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
4

Total votes: 2,323
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2020

See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District

Incumbent Joseph McKenna won election in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joseph McKenna
Joseph McKenna (R)
 
98.7
 
18,238
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.3
 
246

Total votes: 18,484
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District

Incumbent Joseph McKenna advanced from the Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District on September 1, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joseph McKenna
Joseph McKenna
 
99.6
 
2,142
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.4
 
9

Total votes: 2,151
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District

Incumbent Joseph McKenna won election in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joseph McKenna
Joseph McKenna (R)
 
98.7
 
12,841
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.3
 
169

Total votes: 13,010
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District

Incumbent Joseph McKenna advanced from the Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District on September 4, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joseph McKenna
Joseph McKenna
 
100.0
 
1,908

Total votes: 1,908
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Massachusetts House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 8, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 7, 2016.

Incumbent Joseph McKenna ran unopposed in the Massachusetts House of Representatives Eighteenth Worcester District general election.[1][2]

Massachusetts House of Representatives, Eighteenth Worcester District General Election, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Joseph McKenna Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth



Incumbent Joseph McKenna ran unopposed in the Massachusetts House of Representatives Eighteenth Worcester District Republican Primary.[3][4]

Massachusetts House of Representatives, Eighteenth Worcester District Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Joseph McKenna Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Massachusetts House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election was held on September 9, 2014, and a general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 3, 2014. Mark Dowgiewicz defeated Dave Cortese and Brenda Ennis in the Democratic primary. Joseph McKenna defeated Charles Arakelian and Jesse Limanek in the Republican primary. McKenna defeated Dowgiewicz in the general election.[5]

Massachusetts House of Representatives, Eighteenth Worcester District General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJoseph McKenna 60.1% 7,809
     Democratic Mark Dowgiewicz 39.9% 5,187
Total Votes 12,996
Massachusetts House of Representatives, Eighteenth Worcester District Democratic Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMark Dowgiewicz 44.5% 847
David Cortese 32.7% 622
Brenda Ennis 22.9% 436
Total Votes 1,905
Massachusetts House of Representatives, Eighteenth Worcester District Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJoseph McKenna 56.2% 856
Jesse Limanek 30.4% 463
Charles Arakelian 13.3% 203
Total Votes 1,522

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Joseph McKenna did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Joseph McKenna did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Joseph McKenna did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2014

McKenna's website highlighted the following campaign themes:

Taxes

​ ​Early in 2013, the Democrat-dominated Massachusetts Legislature passed $500 million in new taxes; $1 per pack of cigarettes, 3 cents per gallon on the gas tax, and a targeted tax on computer services. Thanks to much hard work, the legislature came to its senses and quickly repealed the tech tax. I've been working on efforts to repeal language within the gas tax that allows it to automatically increase every year. It is wrong to have an automatic tax that our legislators don't vote on.

The Economy​
​ Everyone remembers the economic downturn of the mid 2000's. That led to a lengthy recession that persists today. A recession that has negatively impacted individuals, businesses, and the government alike. I understand that one of the major roles of government is to create an environment in which private industry can thrive and grow. We have too much burdensome regulation and government oversight stifling economic activity as it is, we certainly don't need any more.

Jobs​

Unemployment in the Commonwealth continues to hover around 7%. This means that far too many people are not able to find work to provide for their families. While I can't hire everyone, I am committed to cut down some of the government overregulation that stifles economic growth and job creation. We need to do better to support our neighborhood small businesses, the best employers we have.

Education​
​ I am a product of Massachusetts' public schools and am a strong believer that our teachers are the true unsung heroes of our communities. Our legislature must continue to support our schools, from preschools through our state colleges and universities. Providing a core education is a primary role of any government and I am committed to supporting the work of our school teachers and administrators.

Local Aid​
​ I believe that our cities and towns are most effective at spending tax dollars. The towns know what is most important to them and their citizens, and can most effectively direct money where it is needed. I will do everything in my power to protect and in fact increase local aid funding.

The Second Amendment​
​ I'm a proud supporter of the second amendment and am a gun owner myself. This is a right that is protected by the constitution, and I feel that most gun control measures do nothing to prevent crime; they simply penalize law abiding citizens. We need measures to prevent crime and curb violence, not take guns away.

Healthcare​
​ Minimizing the number of people who are uninsured is a laudable goal, but Obama-care is a bad policy. When there is a broad mandate it has unintended consequences, and Obama care has failed. It drives costs up for everyone, especially small businesses, and forces insurance companies to change the plans offered and who is covered and is bringing us dangerously close to a socialized system of healthcare that is not healthy for the Country.

Our Growing Drug Problem

We have a growing drug problem and it really is very sad. We must reframe the conversation to treatment and rehabilitation rather than prosecution. Incarceration is not only expensive, but it too often fails the individual who does not get rehabilitative treatment. It is more efficient to use limited resources to try and truly help these individuals. Some of the avenues we have include drug courts, and more beds in treatment centers.[6][7]

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Joseph McKenna campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester DistrictWon general$12,145 $0
2022Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester DistrictWon general$16,658 $0
2020Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester DistrictWon general$9,330 N/A**
2016Massachusetts House of Representatives, District Eighteenth WorcesterWon $27,607 N/A**
2014Massachusetts House of Representatives, District Eighteenth WorcesterWon $41,818 N/A**
Grand total$107,558 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Massachusetts

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Massachusetts scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].


2023


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015



See also


External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
-
Massachusetts House of Representatives 18th Worcester District
2015-Present
Succeeded by
-


Leadership
Speaker of the House:Ronald Mariano
Majority Leader:Michael Moran
Representatives
Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket District
1st Barnstable District
1st Berkshire District
1st Bristol District
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Kip Diggs (D)
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6th Suffolk District
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John Lawn (D)
10th Norfolk District
10th Plymouth District
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11th Middlesex District
Kay Khan (D)
11th Norfolk District
11th Plymouth District
11th Suffolk District
11th Worcester District
12th Bristol District
12th Essex District
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12th Middlesex District
12th Norfolk District
12th Plymouth District
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12th Worcester District
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Rady Mom (D)
18th Suffolk District
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37th Middlesex District
Democratic Party (132)
Republican Party (24)
Independent (1)
Vacancies (3)