Massachusetts House of Representatives' 1st Essex district is one of 160 districts included in the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court. It covers part of Essex County. Democrat Dawne Shand of Newburyport has represented the district since 2023.
Following redistricting efforts in 2021, the 1st Essex shifted slightly west. The district now includes the towns of Merrimac and Salisbury; the city of Newburyport; and part of the city of Amesbury. Previously, the 1st Essex District included all of the city of Amesbury.
Towns represented The district includes the following localities: Amesbury Merrimac Newburyport Salisbury
The current district geographic boundary overlaps with those of the Massachusetts Senate's 1st Essex and Middlesex and 2nd Essex and Middlesex districts.
Former locales The district previously covered the following: Gloucester, circa 1974 Rockport, circa 1974 West Newbury, circa 1872
Representatives
Winthrop O. Evans, circa 1859 Elbridge M. Morse, circa 1859 Charles Goss, circa 1888 John C. Risteen, circa 1888 George L. Briggs, circa 1920 Henry M. Duggan, circa 1951 Member Party Years Legis. Electoral history District towns David E. Harrison(Gloucester) Democratic 1965 –1971 165th166th167th Redistricted from 16th Essex district.Re-elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Lost re-election in 1970. Richard R. Silva(Gloucester) Republican 1971 –1979 168th169th170th171st Elected in 1970.Re-elected in 1972.Re-elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Redistricted to 5th Essex district. 1973–79: Rockport and part of Gloucester Nicholas J. Costello Democratic 1979 –1983 172nd173rd174th Elected in 1978.Re-elected in 1980.Re-elected in 1982.Elected to State Senate in 1983. Barbara Hildt(Amesbury) Democratic 1983 –1993 174th175th176th177th178th Elected in 1983.Re-elected in 1984.Re-elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Ran for U.S. House in 1992. Frank Cousins(Newburyport) Republican 1993 –1997 179th180th Elected in 1992.Re-elected in 1994.Elected Essex County Sheriff in 1996. Kevin L. Finnegan(Newburyport) Republican 1997 –2001 181st182nd Elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Retired. Paul Tirone(Amesbury) Democratic 2001 –2003 183rd Elected in 2000.Lost Democratic primary in 2002. Michael A. Costello(Newburyport) Democratic 2003 –September 15, 2014184th185th186th187th188th189th Elected in 2002.Re-elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Re-elected in 2010.Re-elected in 2012.Resigned September 15, 2014.2013–21: Amesbury, Newburyport, and Salisbury James Kelcourse(Amesbury) Republican 2015 – June 29, 2022 190th191st191st192nd Elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Re-elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020Resigned June 29, 2022. 2021–present: Merrimac, Newburyport, Salisbury, and part of Amesbury Dawne Shand(Newburyport)DemocraticJanuary 4, 2023 – present193rd194thElected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024.
See also List of Massachusetts House of Representatives elections Other Essex County districts of the Massachusetts House of Representatives: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th Essex County districts of the Massachusett Senate: 1st, 2nd, 3rd; 1st Essex and Middlesex; 2nd Essex and Middlesex List of Massachusetts General Courts List of former districts of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Images
References
External links Ballotpedia (State House district information based on U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey).