Jim O’Day was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts and attended Worcester Academy and Worcester State College. Jim graduated with a Bachelor of Science, with a specialization in Urban Studies and Management. After college, Jim served as a social worker for the Department of Social Services (now Department of Children and Families), serving families in central Massachusetts for over twenty-four years. In 2007, Jim ran in a special election for an open seat in the 14th Worcester District (composed of the town of West Boylston and parts of Worcester) in a hotly contested race. He went on to win the election in April 2007 and was sworn into the House of Representatives in May of 2007.