Joseph D. McKenna
Republican · MA · Massachusetts State Representative, 18th Worcester District
Joe McKenna of Sutton was first elected to the Massachusetts House in 2014 and is the ranking Republican on the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. His priorities are lower taxes and utility costs.
Where Joseph D. McKenna stands, based on their records
Supports
Government Spending Reduction (4 records)
Opposes
Healthcare Affordability (1 record), Environment and Public Health (2 records), Labor Rights (1 record),
Mixed record
Social Programs and Welfare (1 support · 1 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Healthcare Affordability
Healthcare Affordability · 1 oppose
Voted against H.4009, a bill guaranteeing no-cost birth control coverage in state-regulated health plans. The House vote on engrossment was 140-16.
November 8, 2017Opposes Healthcare Affordability
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 2 oppose
Voted against S.9, the climate law setting a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The House vote on re-enactment was 145-14.
March 18, 2021Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against H.4196, a law banning the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products, including menthol cigarettes. The House vote on enactment was 119-33.
November 21, 2019Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Labor Rights
Labor Rights · 1 oppose
Voted against H.4640, the "grand bargain" law raising the state minimum wage and creating paid family and medical leave. The House vote on enactment was 119-24.
June 20, 2018Opposes Labor Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Immigration
Immigration · 2 oppose
Voted against H.5305, the PROTECT Act limiting how state and local police take part in federal civil immigration enforcement. The House vote on engrossment was 134-21.
March 25, 2026Opposes Immigration
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against H.4805, the Work and Family Mobility Act letting residents get a driver's license regardless of immigration status, over the governor's veto. The House vote on veto override was 119-36.
June 8, 2022Opposes Immigration
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 4 support
Voted against H.5555, the final fiscal year 2027 state budget. The House vote on conference report was 142-6.
July 1, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against H.57, a supplemental budget adding money for the state's emergency family shelter system. The House vote on engrossment was 126-26.
February 6, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against H.4977, the Affordable Homes Act, a multibillion-dollar housing bond bill. The House vote on enactment was 128-24.
August 1, 2024Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against H.58, pay raises for legislative leaders, judges and top state officials, over the governor's veto. The House vote on veto override was 116-43.
February 2, 2017Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 2 oppose
Voted against H.4052, a law making phone calls from prisons and jails free for incarcerated people. The House vote on re-enactment was 132-26.
November 8, 2023Opposes Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against S.2963, the police reform law that created a state board to certify police officers. The House vote on re-enactment was 107-51.
December 23, 2020Opposes Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 oppose
Voted against H.4977, the Affordable Homes Act, a multibillion-dollar housing bond bill. The House vote on enactment was 128-24.
August 1, 2024Opposes Housing Affordability
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 1 support · 1 oppose
Voted against H.57, a supplemental budget adding money for the state's emergency family shelter system. The House vote on engrossment was 126-26.
February 6, 2025Opposes Social Programs and Welfare
Source: malegislature.gov
Filed H.104, a foster parents' bill of rights, as lead sponsor in January 2017. A committee folded it into a new draft (H.4492) that never reached a House floor vote.
January 19, 2017Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 1 oppose
Voted against S.2581, a bill requiring schools to limit student cell phone use during the school day. The House vote on engrossment was 129-25.
April 8, 2026Opposes Public Education Quality
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 3 oppose
Voted against H.4885, the final gun law that banned untraceable "ghost guns" and expanded the assault-style weapons ban. The House vote on conference report was 124-33.
July 18, 2024Opposes Gun Control
Source: malegislature.gov
Filed H.860 in 2023 to end the state ban on carrying a handgun while hunting. The environment committee sent it to a study order in April 2024, so it did not pass.
April 16, 2024Opposes Gun Control
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against H.4670, the "red flag" law letting courts temporarily remove guns from people found to be dangerous. The House vote on enactment was 133-15.
June 28, 2018Opposes Gun Control
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 6 oppose
Voted against H.5595, a bill removing the state's 24-week limit on abortion and leaving the decision to a doctor's judgment. The House vote on engrossment was 119-33.
July 22, 2026Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Filed H.2493 in 2025 to bar state-funded ad campaigns that criticize pregnancy resource centers, which do not provide abortions. The public health committee sent it to a study order in March 2026, so it did not pass.
March 16, 2026Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against S.2543, a law expanding legal protections for people who provide or receive abortion and gender-affirming care. The House vote on enactment was 132-24.
July 31, 2025Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against H.5090, a law shielding abortion and gender-affirming care providers and patients from out-of-state legal action. The House vote on enactment was 137-16.
July 26, 2022Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against H.5179, the ROE Act expanding abortion access, over the governor's veto. The House vote on veto override was 107-46.
December 28, 2020Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against H.4009, a bill guaranteeing no-cost birth control coverage in state-regulated health plans. The House vote on engrossment was 140-16.
November 8, 2017Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 4 oppose
Voted against S.2543, a law expanding legal protections for people who provide or receive abortion and gender-affirming care. The House vote on enactment was 132-24.
July 31, 2025Opposes Civil Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against H.5090, a law shielding abortion and gender-affirming care providers and patients from out-of-state legal action. The House vote on enactment was 137-16.
July 26, 2022Opposes Civil Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against S.2924, the VOTES Act making mail-in and early voting permanent. The House vote on enactment was 126-29.
June 16, 2022Opposes Civil Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against S.735, the bill banning discrimination against transgender people in public places such as restaurants and stores. The House vote on engrossment was 116-36.
June 1, 2016Opposes Civil Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 oppose
Voted against H.4508, a House transportation funding bill that raised the gas tax and fees on ride-hailing trips. The House vote on engrossment was 113-40.
March 4, 2020Opposes Public Infrastructure
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — General
General · 2 records
Voted against H.5151, the House energy affordability bill, which cut $1 billion from the Mass Save efficiency program to lower utility bills. The House vote on engrossment was 128-27.
February 26, 2026
Source: malegislature.gov
Sponsored H.4955, which exempted certain Webster police jobs from the state civil service hiring system. The governor signed it into law on December 23, 2020 (Chapter 237 of the Acts of 2020).
December 23, 2020
Source: malegislature.gov
Past race Joseph D. McKenna ran in:
- Massachusetts State House of Representatives District 18th Worcester · November 3, 2026 · 18th Worcester District; Massachusetts · incumbent