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William N. Brownsberger

Democratic Party

Incumbent

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What is William N. Brownsberger running for?

William N. Brownsberger is not currently running for office on Civoren.

Most recent race
Massachusetts State Senate District Suffolk and Middlesex
Incumbent
Yes

William N. Brownsberger is an experienced, independent, progressive Democrat serving as State Senator for Massachusetts' Suffolk and Middlesex District since January 2012 and as Senate President Pro Tempore since 2019. A Belmont resident, he previously served as State Representative for the 24th Middlesex District (2007-2012) and as a Belmont Selectman (1998-2007). He earned a B.A. from Harvard College (1978) and a J.D. from Harvard Law School (1983), and has worked as a defense attorney, Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General, and criminal-justice and drug-policy researcher.

Where does William N. Brownsberger stand on the issues?

William N. Brownsberger has a recorded position on 10 issues. Each is Civoren's summary of the campaign's own public material, with the source linked.

  • Affordable Housing

    Mixed

    Led the conference committee for the 2024 Affordable Homes Act and supported tenant protections and higher investment in public/affordable housing, but opposes rent control, calling it 'a disaster' and arguing 'we can't subsidize our way out of a housing crisis.'

    “Brownsberger calls it 'a disaster' and says we can't subsidize our way out of a housing crisis”

    wgbh.orgAs of August 2026

  • Criminal Justice Reform

    Supports

    Longtime criminal justice reform advocate who led the 2018 criminal justice reforms and the 2020 police reforms, and says 'We've cut our prison population by half... a very significant shift from locking people up toward lifting people up.'

    “We've cut our prison population by half. It's a very significant shift from locking people up toward lifting people up.”

    votebrownsberger.comAs of August 2026

  • Energy

    Supports

    Prioritizes bringing down energy costs for families while continuing to decarbonize to meet climate goals, and preparing for climate impacts already underway - including helping communities prepare for flooding and protecting the MBTA from rising seas; touts his leadership on the Global Warming Solutions Act and building decarbonization.

    “Bringing down energy costs while meeting our climate goals”

    votebrownsberger.comAs of August 2026

  • Government Transparency & Accountability

    Supports

    Advocates legislative transparency and supports applying the public records law to the legislature: 'If the question is transparency, the answer has to be yes... I support applying the public records law to the legislature.'

    “If the question is transparency, the answer has to be yes... I support applying the public records law to the legislature.”

    votebrownsberger.comAs of August 2026

  • Healthcare Access & Affordability

    Supports

    Prioritizes protecting the MassHealth program (covering care for about 2 million Massachusetts residents), holding down health insurance costs especially for low-income people, and improving access to mental and behavioral health care.

    votebrownsberger.comAs of August 2026

  • Housing & Development

    Supports

    Supports increasing housing production and reforming zoning to allow more housing; agrees with his opponent on improved zoning for housing projects and backs ballot Question 7 (allowing single-family homes on residential lots of at least 5,000 square feet and duplexes), saying encouraging developers to build in Boston is the best way forward.

    “encouraging developers to build in Boston is the best way forward”

    wgbh.orgAs of August 2026

Education

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Endorsements for William N. Brownsberger

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Support for William N. Brownsberger · 9/19/2026

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Past Elections

Past Campaign

Massachusetts State Senate District Suffolk and Middlesex

Primary election

Massachusetts State Senate District Suffolk and Middlesex, MAEnded 9/1/2026· Democratic Party

Past campaign details are available on the full race page.

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Contact

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