Representing the MetroWest communities of the 2nd Middlesex & Norfolk district—comprised of Ashland, Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopkinton, Medway and Natick—Senate President Spilka is dedicated to the advancement of progressive social causes and a pragmatic fiscal policy of balancing investments in education, infrastructure, and economic opportunity with saving for the future. She has championed issues such as mental health, juvenile justice and services for the elderly and disabled communities. During her career, Senate President Spilka has been a social worker, small business owner and attorney, and she went on to become one of the first legislators in the nation to vote in favor of marriage equality and transgender protections.
Senate President Spilka has always believed that everyone in Massachusetts—and in the United States—should have the right to love and marry whomever they choose, and to BE who they are. She was an early and ardent supporter of equal marriage and transgender protections.
While there are civil rights issues that easily catch the headlines, Senate President Spilka is aware that there are less visible struggles that can severely impact the ability of individuals and families to reach their full potential. She knows that access to justice should not be limited because of a person’s income level, race, background, gender or sexual orientation, or level of ability. She has fought fiercely for diversion of youth from the criminal justice system to break the school to prison pipeline, has argued for safe and adequate housing for all, and believes that the right to counsel and a fair trial is fundamental for all residents.