William N. Brownsberger (born March 21, 1957) is an American politician and the President pro tempore of the Massachusetts Senate representing the Suffolk and Middlesex District (Massachusetts General Court). which includes his hometown of Belmont, as well as Watertown, the Boston neighborhoods Allston and Brighton, part of Boston's Fenway–Kenmore area, and part of Cambridge. From 2007 to 2012, he was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He was a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2013 special election to succeed Ed Markey in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Early life and education Brownsberger was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in nearby Watertown. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College in 1978 and then went on to obtain his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1985.
He served three terms as a Belmont Selectman and as Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General for six years.
Massachusetts House of Representatives Brownsberger served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2007 to 2012, where he represented the 24th Middlesex district. He was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America while seeking reelection in 2010.
Massachusetts Senate
A member of the Democratic Party, he ran uncontested in a January 2012 special election to replace Steven Tolman in the Massachusetts Senate, having won a crowded Democratic primary. He was sworn in on January 24, 2012.General Election Results. Elect Will Brownsberger. He was then re-elected in November 2012 to a 2-year term to the 188th General Court.
Union opposition In 2022, Brownsberger joined Senate President Karen Spilka in opposing unionization effort by Senate staffers, stating "There would be a whole lot of conflict of interest issues if they're working with a union who has its own political agenda. You can't have people serving multiple masters, that’s just not acceptable."
Electoral history Brownsberger ran unsuccessfully in the 2013 special election to succeed U.S. Representative Ed Markey, who resigned in June 2013 to take a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Massachusetts Senate
Brownsberger won a special election in December 2011 to fill the Massachusetts Senate seat vacated by Steven Tolman.
U.S. House of Representatives Brownsberger was a candidate in the special election Democratic primary held on October 15, 2013, to fill the United States House of Representatives seat vacated by Ed Markey.
Massachusetts House of Representatives
Personal life Brownsberger resides in Belmont, Massachusetts. He is married with three daughters. He is also a marathoner, triathlete, and cyclist. Amidst the Pride parades of June 2023, he came out as bisexual while explaining that his announcement would not change his married lifestyle.
See also 2019–2020 Massachusetts legislature 2021–2022 Massachusetts legislature
References
External links Legislative website State House website Campaign website
Meet the candidates for state Senate: Will Brownsberger, Boston Globe, November 30, 2011