Firsts in the Massachusetts State Legislature

A summary of the history of "firsts" in the Massachusetts General Court

First Black Legislators in Massachusetts: House 1867

Edward (Edwin) Garrison Walker (1830–1901)

On November 6, 1866, Massachusetts elected its first two African American members of the Massachusetts General Court: Edward Garrison Walker (also known as Edwin G. Walker), a lawyer from Charlestown, and Charles Lewis Mitchell, a printer from Boston's Ward 6. 

Charles Lewis Mitchell (1829-1912)

Walker was elected in a district that had only three Black voters, while Mitchell's district was the wealthiest ward in the state and had a large number of Black voters. Both men served concurrent one-year terms in the General Court. 

First Indigenous State Legislator in the United States: House 1886

Watson Freeman Hammond

First Women Elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives: 1923

Sylvia Donaldson and Susan Fitzgerald

First Woman Elected to the Massachusetts State Senate: 1937

Sybil Holmes (Brookline)

First Elected Black Woman State Legislator: House 1973

Doris Bunte 

Over one hundred years after the first Black man served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, in 1973 Doris Bunte became the first Black woman to be elected to the Massachusetts legislature.

First Elected Black State Senator: 1975

Bill Owens

First Openly Gay or Lesbian Candidate Elected to the State Legislature: House 1975

Elaine Noble

First Woman Elected to Statewide Office: Lieutenant Governor 1987

Evelyn Murphy

*the office of Lieutenant Governor is elected jointly with the Governor

First Elected Latino: House 1989

Nelson Merced

*first person of Hispanic descent elected to statewide office

First Elected Black Woman State Senator: 1993

Dianne Wilkerson

First Transgender Person Elected to Serve in a State Legislature in the United States: House 1993

Althea Garrison

First Elected Gay Legislator and Latino Elected to the Senate: House 1999 and Senate 2003

Jarrett Barrios 

House 1999-2002
Senate :2003-2007

First Asian American Legislator and First Female of Hispanic Descent Elected to the Senate: 2009

Sonia Chang-Díaz

2009-2023

First Cambodian American State Legislator in the United States: House 2015

Rady Mom

2015-2024

First Person of Puerto Rican Descent Elected to the State Legislature: Senate 2021

Adam Gomez

2021-

First Brazilian American Women Elected to the State Legislature: House 2023

Priscila Sousa 2023-

Rita Mendes 2023-

First Central American Elected to the State Legislature: House 2023

Judith García

2023-