Mike Connolly

Mike Connolly graduated from Norwood High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Duke University in 2003 and a law degree from Boston College Law School in 2009. His career experience includes working as an attorney at law.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

In my five terms in office, I have consistently been ranked as having the most progressive voting record in the Mass. House by Progressive Massachusetts, the state’s leading grassroots advocacy group. At the same time, I have delivered real results by passing groundbreaking legislation to better protect tenants and homeowners, improve transit infrastructure, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and make the political process more accessible.

My passion for public service comes from my background. I was born in Dorchester and after my parents divorced, my mother and I moved to public housing in Norwood. Soon thereafter, my mom faced some health challenges, and I spent time in foster care while she recovered. Growing up, I benefited from government programs like Head Start, free school lunch, fuel assistance and local food pantries.

Those opportunities helped me overcome adversity. I attended Duke University on a football scholarship, earned a degree from Boston College Law School, and became an attorney, activist, organizer, legislative aide, and now, state representative. But many kids I grew up with were not so fortunate. That is what drives me: I want everyone, no matter their circumstances, to have at least the same opportunities I did.

Since first being elected ten years ago, I have rejected the false choice between standing up for our principles and getting results. I have worked to do both, and I will continue to serve that way if honored with another term.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

My top priority is housing and affordability. As co-chair of the legislature's Housing for All caucus, I am recognized as a leader in the fight to resolve the housing affordability emergency.

To accomplish this goal, I support a comprehensive approach that includes more housing production, strong tenant protections, reasonable rent controls, support for homeowners and those looking to buy, Housing First programs and wraparound services to end homelessness, and big public investments in social housing, transit and infrastructure.

To pay for this, I also support increased taxes on the very wealthy and on large corporations. I’ve stood up in the House of Representatives to fight for tax fairness so we can make the investments we need.I am also focused on defending our community from the Trump agenda. I have been on the front lines of the fight to protect our immigrant neighbors and defend everyone’s constitutional rights. I have also passed legislation to expand abortion access and defend reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, gender-affirming care, and data privacy.

This is why I have earned the endorsement of every major progressive organization that has endorsed in this race, including Reproductive Equity Now, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts, MassEquality PAC, and the Bay State Stonewall Democrats.

My campaign website features extensive accounts of all of this work, including legislation passed and my specific goals for the next term.I am dedicated to making state government work for my constituents. My staff and I work tirelessly to help our constituents with state-related issues, from Unemployment Assistance (DUA) to MassHealth and various licensing boards. I have also successfully pushed for big investments and improvements to state infrastructure, from the MBTA to MassDOT and DCR roads, parks, and facilities.

I pride myself on being very accessible to my constituents. If you wish to discuss legislative matters or have requests for constituent services, please contact my office or contact me directly. I make my personal email and cellphone number available on my campaign website and in various campaign literature. And when you see me in the community, say hello!

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Housing for All (aka Housing as a Human Right). Investing in world-class transit infrastructure, bike and pedestrian safety, and fixing the T. A livable planet and a Green New Deal. World-class public education. Economic justice and affordability. Healthcare as a human right (aka Medicare for All). Community safety, unarmed alternative response, and police accountability. Immigrant justice. LGBTQ+ rights and equality. Data privacy. Taxing the rich and big corporations (aka tax fairness). Transparency and democratic reform. And a moratorium on new data centers along with strong regulations on AI that are based in the public interest. For more details on these items, please see my campaign website or reach out to me directly.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Reproductive Equity Now

Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Mass.

Progressive Massachusetts

Massachusetts AFL-CIO

MassEquality

Bay State Stonewall Democrats

Abundant Housing Massachusetts

Our Revolution Cambridge

Somerville For Palestine

Cambridge Bike Safety

Somerville YIMBY

Sierra Club Massachusetts

Massachusetts Nurses Association

Massachusetts Teachers Association

Boston Teachers Union

350 Mass Action

IBEW Local 103

Iron Workers Local 7

Mass Peace Action

IfNotNow Boston

CAIR Action

National Association of Social Workers

SEIU State Council and several locals

Massachusetts Voters for Animals

Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund

State Senator Lydia Edwards

State Auditor Diana DiZoglio

And dozens of others, too many to list.

Mike Connolly did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Mike Connolly did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Mike Connolly did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Connolly's campaign website highlighted the following issues:

Invest in Transit Infrastructure

Complete the Green Line Extension — it's been 26 years since the state was ordered to build the GLX.

Raise revenue for the MBTA; address the $7.3 billion maintenance backlog.

Replace the McGrath Highway with a green, at-grade boulevard.

Complete the Somerville Community Path.

Complete the Grand Junction Path.

Promote bike safety and Vision Zero.

Protect Affordable Housing

Protect existing affordable housing.

Create more and varied kinds of affordable housing, through more aggressive inclusionary zoning, support for community land trusts, and better public-private partnerships.

Provide tax relief to homeowners who are "house rich, cash poor."

Reinvest in public housing.

Tax big developers and speculators; use this revenue to subsidize affordable rentals and retail.

Require universities to provide affordable housing to grad students and postdocs.

Achieve "Net Zero" Carbon Emissions

Support for at least 2 gigawatts/year offshore wind.

Put a price on carbon, such as a "revenue neutral" carbon tax.

Eliminate solar net metering caps.

Establish declining block grants for SRECs.

Accelerate the Renewable Portfolio Standard.

Increase energy efficiency.

Fix gas leaks and stop the pipelines.

Oppose pipeline tax/fee; electric ratepayers shouldn't be forced to pay for dangerous gas pipelines.

Strengthen Public Education

Universal Pre-K, early-education, and after school programs.

Save Our Public Schools — Keep the Cap on charter schools.

Less Testing, More Learning.

Support educators by repealing so-called "district-determined measures" that place an excessive focus on standardized tests and make it more difficult to fill high-need teaching assignments.

Raise revenue for new programs and update the Ch. 70 funding formula.

Increased funding for music, the arts, STEAM, and physical education.

Debt-Free Higher Education.

Increased state aid for UMass Boston (and our entire system of public higher-education).

Fight for Economic Justice

$15 minimum wage, indexed to inflation.

Equal Pay for Women.

Paid Family Medical Leave.

Earned Sick Time.

Support for Organized Labor.

Fair Share Amendment to tax millionaires.

Organize for a more progressive tax system.[9]

—Mike Connolly[10]