Joseph W. McGonagle
Democratic · MA · Massachusetts State Representative, 28th Middlesex District
Joe McGonagle has represented Everett in the Massachusetts House since 2015, chairs the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, and is a former Everett alderman and small business owner. He focuses on transportation, economic development, education, and homeownership in Everett.
Where Joseph W. McGonagle stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (4 records), Reduce Wealth Gap (1 record), Labor Rights (2 records),
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (4 records)
Mixed record
Public Safety and Crime Control (1 support · 1 oppose), Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (1 support · 1 oppose), Women's Reproductive Rights (3 support · 1 oppose),
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 4 support
Voted for the 2024 climate law that sped up permits for clean energy projects and expanded electric vehicle charging. The House vote was 128-17.
November 14, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the 2022 clean energy law that boosted offshore wind and let 10 cities and towns ban fossil fuel hookups in new buildings. The House vote was 146-7.
July 21, 2022Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the 2021 climate law that set a legally binding goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The House vote was 145-14.
March 18, 2021Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the 2019 law that banned the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products, including menthol cigarettes, and added a 75% tax on e-cigarettes. The House vote was 119-33.
November 21, 2019Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Reduce Wealth Gap
Reduce Wealth Gap · 1 support
Voted for the 2018 'grand bargain' law that raised the state minimum wage to $15 an hour over five years and created paid family and medical leave. The House vote was 119-24.
June 20, 2018Supports Reduce Wealth Gap
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Labor Rights
Labor Rights · 2 support
Wrote the bill, first filed in 2021, that became a law signed December 12, 2025 (Chapter 79 of the Acts of 2025). It extends the state's tougher penalties for assaulting public employees to public transit workers.
December 12, 2025Supports Labor Rights
Source: everettindependent.com
Voted for the 2018 'grand bargain' law that raised the state minimum wage to $15 an hour over five years and created paid family and medical leave. The House vote was 119-24.
June 20, 2018Supports Labor Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Immigration
Immigration · 2 support
Voted for the PROTECT Act, which banned civil immigration arrests in courthouses without a judge's warrant and limited police help with federal immigration enforcement. The House vote was 134-21.
March 25, 2026Supports Immigration
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for overriding Gov. Charlie Baker's veto of the Work and Family Mobility Act, which let residents get a driver's license regardless of immigration status. The House vote was 119-36.
June 8, 2022Supports Immigration
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 4 oppose
Voted for a spending bill that added $425 million for the emergency shelter system and tightened eligibility, including a six-month limit on stays. The House vote was 127-23.
February 26, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the Affordable Homes Act, a $5.16 billion housing bond law that also allowed accessory apartments by right statewide. The House vote was 128-24.
August 1, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for a spending bill that added $251 million for the emergency family shelter system and set a nine-month limit on shelter stays. The House vote was 123-35.
April 25, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for overriding Gov. Charlie Baker's veto of 2017 pay raises for legislative leaders, judges, the governor and other top state officials. The House vote was 116-43.
February 2, 2017Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support · 1 oppose
Wrote the bill, first filed in 2021, that became a law signed December 12, 2025 (Chapter 79 of the Acts of 2025). It extends the state's tougher penalties for assaulting public employees to public transit workers.
December 12, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: everettindependent.com
Voted against the 2020 police reform law, which created a state board to certify police officers and remove certification for misconduct, and limited chokeholds and no-knock warrants. The House vote was 91-67.
December 1, 2020Opposes Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 1 support · 1 oppose
Voted against the 2020 police reform law, which created a state board to certify police officers and remove certification for misconduct, and limited chokeholds and no-knock warrants. The House vote was 91-67.
December 1, 2020Opposes Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the 2018 criminal justice reform law, which ended some mandatory minimum sentences for low-level drug crimes and raised the age at which children can be charged with crimes. The House vote was 148-5.
April 4, 2018Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 support
Voted for the Affordable Homes Act, a $5.16 billion housing bond law that also allowed accessory apartments by right statewide. The House vote was 128-24.
August 1, 2024Supports Housing Affordability
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 2 support
Voted for a spending bill that added $425 million for the emergency shelter system and tightened eligibility, including a six-month limit on stays. The House vote was 127-23.
February 26, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for a spending bill that added $251 million for the emergency family shelter system and set a nine-month limit on shelter stays. The House vote was 123-35.
April 25, 2024Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 1 support
Voted for the final 2024 gun law, which banned untraceable 'ghost guns' and expanded the assault-weapons ban and the red flag law. The House vote was 124-33.
July 18, 2024Supports Gun Control
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 3 support · 1 oppose
Voted for the bill that removed the 24-week limit on abortion, leaving later abortions to a doctor's medical judgment. The House vote was 119-33.
July 22, 2026Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the 2025 law that barred state agencies from helping out-of-state or federal investigations into abortion or gender-affirming care that is legal in Massachusetts. The House vote was 132-24.
July 31, 2025Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the 2022 law that protected abortion and gender-affirming care providers and patients from out-of-state legal action. The House vote was 137-16.
July 26, 2022Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against overriding Gov. Charlie Baker's veto of the ROE Act, which allowed abortion after 24 weeks for fatal fetal diagnoses and let 16- and 17-year-olds get an abortion without a parent's or judge's consent. The House vote was 107-46.
December 28, 2020Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Personal Income Tax Reduction
Personal Income Tax Reduction · 1 support
Voted for the 2023 tax relief law that raised the child tax credit and cut the estate tax and the short-term capital gains tax. The House vote was 155-1.
September 27, 2023Supports Personal Income Tax Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 3 support · 1 oppose
Voted for the 2025 law that barred state agencies from helping out-of-state or federal investigations into abortion or gender-affirming care that is legal in Massachusetts. The House vote was 132-24.
July 31, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the 2022 law that protected abortion and gender-affirming care providers and patients from out-of-state legal action. The House vote was 137-16.
July 26, 2022Supports Civil Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the VOTES Act, which made mail-in voting permanent and expanded early voting. The House vote was 126-29.
June 16, 2022Supports Civil Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against the 2016 law that banned discrimination against transgender people in public places such as restaurants, stores and restrooms. The House vote was 118-36.
July 7, 2016Opposes Civil Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Voted for the 2024 climate law that sped up permits for clean energy projects and expanded electric vehicle charging. The House vote was 128-17.
November 14, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — General
General · 3 records
Endorsed U.S. Sen. Ed Markey for re-election in 2026, as reported on May 27, 2026.
May 27, 2026
Source: everettindependent.com
Voted for a bill banning student cellphone use in public schools during the school day and banning social media accounts for children under 14. The House vote was 129-25.
April 8, 2026
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the 2017 law that rewrote the voter-approved recreational marijuana law, raising the top tax rate to 20% and letting towns ban pot shops. The House vote was 136-11.
July 19, 2017
Source: malegislature.gov
Past race Joseph W. McGonagle ran in:
- Massachusetts State Representative 28th Middlesex District · November 3, 2026 · 28th Middlesex District; Massachusetts · incumbent