Michael J. Soter
Republican · MA · Massachusetts State Representative, 8th Worcester District
State representative for Bellingham, Blackstone, Medway, Millville and Uxbridge since 2019, a businessman, and former chairman of the Bellingham Board of Selectmen. His priorities are school funding, infrastructure, and public safety.
Where Michael J. Soter stands, based on their records
Supports
Limit Foreign Influence (1 record), Personal Income Tax Reduction (1 record)
Opposes
Healthcare Affordability (1 record), Immigration (2 records), Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (2 records),
Mixed record
Environment and Public Health (1 support · 2 oppose), Government Spending Reduction (4 support · 2 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Healthcare Affordability
Healthcare Affordability · 1 oppose
Voted against a $2.25 billion budget bill that sent $1.67 billion to MassHealth (H.4601). It passed 141-14.
October 15, 2025Opposes Healthcare Affordability
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 support · 2 oppose
Voted against the final 2024 clean energy bill that sped up permits for clean energy projects (S.2967). It passed 128-17.
November 14, 2024Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the 2021 climate law setting a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 (S.9). It passed 144-14.
January 28, 2021Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against the 2019 law banning flavored tobacco and vaping products and taxing e-cigarettes (H.4196). It passed 119-33.
November 20, 2019Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Immigration
Immigration · 2 oppose
Voted against a bill limiting when local police may ask about a person's immigration status (H.5305). It passed 134-21.
March 25, 2026Opposes Immigration
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against overriding Gov. Baker's veto of the law letting residents get driver's licenses regardless of immigration status (H.4805). The override passed 119-36.
June 8, 2022Opposes Immigration
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 4 support · 2 oppose
Voted for the final state budget for fiscal year 2027 (H.5555). It passed 142-6.
July 1, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against a $2.25 billion budget bill that sent $1.67 billion to MassHealth (H.4601). It passed 141-14.
October 15, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against the final $425 million emergency shelter bill that also tightened shelter eligibility rules (H.58). It passed 127-23.
February 26, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the final 2024 economic development bill, which authorized state borrowing for business and job programs (H.5100). It passed 137-8.
November 14, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against final passage of the Affordable Homes Act, a state borrowing bill for housing programs (H.4977). It passed 128-24.
August 1, 2024Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against a $251 million budget bill for emergency family shelters that also set a nine-month shelter stay limit (H.4582). It passed 123-35.
April 25, 2024Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 2 oppose
Voted against final passage of the law giving people in state prisons and county jails free phone calls (H.4052). It passed 132-26.
November 8, 2023Opposes Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against final passage of the 2020 police reform law, which created a police certification board (S.2963). It passed 107-51.
December 23, 2020Opposes Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 oppose
Voted against final passage of the Affordable Homes Act, a state borrowing bill for housing programs (H.4977). It passed 128-24.
August 1, 2024Opposes Housing Affordability
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 2 oppose
Voted against the final $425 million emergency shelter bill that also tightened shelter eligibility rules (H.58). It passed 127-23.
February 26, 2025Opposes Social Programs and Welfare
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against a $251 million budget bill for emergency family shelters that also set a nine-month shelter stay limit (H.4582). It passed 123-35.
April 25, 2024Opposes Social Programs and Welfare
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 1 oppose
Voted against a bill banning student cellphone use in schools and limiting social media for young children (S.2581). It passed 129-25.
April 8, 2026Opposes Public Education Quality
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 2 oppose
Voted against the final 2024 gun law, which cracked down on untraceable ghost guns (H.4885). It passed 124-33.
July 18, 2024Opposes Gun Control
Source: malegislature.gov
Filed a bill (H.2526) to let medical marijuana patients get gun licenses and firearm ID cards. The House sent it to a study order in September 2022.
September 8, 2022Opposes Gun Control
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 2 oppose
Voted against a bill letting doctors provide abortions later in pregnancy based on their medical judgment (H.5595). It passed 119-33.
July 22, 2026Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against final passage of a law shielding abortion and gender-affirming care providers and patients from out-of-state investigations (S.2543). It passed 132-24.
July 31, 2025Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Limit Foreign Influence
Limit Foreign Influence · 1 support
Filed a bill (H.102) to protect state residents from social media companies tied to foreign adversaries. The House sent it to a study order in February 2026.
February 12, 2026Supports Limit Foreign Influence
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Personal Income Tax Reduction
Personal Income Tax Reduction · 1 support
Filed a bill (H.3251) to exempt workers' tips from state income tax. The House sent it to a study order in April 2026.
April 21, 2026Supports Personal Income Tax Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 oppose
Voted against the 2022 VOTES Act, which made mail-in voting permanent and expanded early voting (S.2924). It passed 126-29.
June 16, 2022Opposes Civil Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — General
General · 3 records
Voted against a bill opening some legislative and governor's office records to the public while limiting the auditor's review of the Legislature (H.5469). It passed 125-28.
June 3, 2026
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against a House energy bill that cut about $1 billion from the Mass Save energy efficiency program (H.5151). It passed 128-27.
February 26, 2026
Source: malegislature.gov
Filed a bill (H.102) to protect state residents from social media companies tied to foreign adversaries. The House sent it to a study order in February 2026.
February 12, 2026
Source: malegislature.gov
Past race Michael J. Soter ran in:
- Massachusetts State Representative 8th Worcester District · November 3, 2026 · 8th Worcester District; Massachusetts · incumbent