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2026 State House Eighteenth Essex District

The Massachusetts House of Representatives comprises 160 members, each representing a district of approximately 40,000 people and elected to a two-year term with no term limits. As required by the Massachusetts Constitution, the House meets year-round in either formal or informal sessions to consider statewide legislation. The Massachusetts House is led by the Speaker of the House, who is elected by the members of the body at the beginning of each two-year legislative session.

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  • Candidate picture

    Connor A. Murray
    (Dem)

  • Candidate picture

    Christopher C. Shepley
    (Rep)

Biographical Information

What legislation would you support to address the rising costs-of-living for any of the following: housing, childcare, transportation, utilities and groceries?

Discuss your thoughts on how to best balance energy affordability with the state’s clean energy goals.

How do you propose to make health care more affordable in Massachusetts?

How can the state increase funding to municipalities that have difficulties providing basic needs without Proposition 2 ½ overrides?

How would you propose to ensure the security and independence of state elections in the face of possible interference by federal agents and activists?

How do you plan to protect the legal rights and safety of immigrants and their families?

Campaign Phone 518-669-9910
Campaign/Contact Email murray4ma@gmail.com
Massachusetts must increase the supply of affordable housing and expand programs that help first-time homebuyers, while ensuring municipalities have the resources to meet growing demand.

We must secure permanent funding for Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants and strong investments in reliable, regular public transportation that connects our communities and benefits urban, rural, and suburban residents alike.

As a longtime environmental policy advocate, I strongly believe the Commonwealth must prioritize legislation that simultaneously reduces household energy bills and upholds our state's commitment to climate.

Finally, I will support local agriculture and the expansion of SNAP benefits to address rising food insecurity.
Massachusetts does not have to choose between affordable energy and the climate. Clean energy has lower long-term costs, creates good-paying jobs, and reduces our dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets.

I support lowering transmission and distribution costs by modernizing our electric grid and accelerating solar and offshore wind deployment.

We should expand consumer rebate programs, weatherization assistance, and incentives for heat pumps and energy-efficient appliances.

Furthermore, major polluters should bear responsibility for the environmental costs they create rather than shifting those costs onto consumers.
Health care should be a right, not a privilege determined by income or employment.

I support moving Massachusetts toward a universal single-payer system that guarantees coverage for every resident while reducing costs for families, small businesses, and municipalities. I also support increasing loan repayment and workforce development programs for medical professionals to address workforce shortages that contribute to rising costs and longer wait times.

Furthermore, it is essential that we lower prescription drug costs, improve price transparency, expand access to community health centers, strengthen our primary care workforce, and hold large health systems accountable for excessive cost growth.
The Commonwealth has a responsibility to ensure municipalities receive predictable, equitable funding that reflects today's economic realities.

I support responsibly increasing local aid, modernizing Chapter 70 education funding where necessary, and expanding state investments that recognize differences in municipal needs, infrastructure costs, and population growth.

The state should also pursue more progressive and sustainable revenue sources that reduce overreliance on local property taxes while ensuring communities can adequately fund schools, public safety, libraries, public works, and other essential services.
Democracy is strongest when elections are both secure and accessible.

Massachusetts should continue investing in modern voting infrastructure, robust cybersecurity protections, post-election audits, and the reliability of state and local election officials. Election workers must always receive the resources, training, and legal protections necessary to administer elections safely and independently.

At the same time, we should make voting easier by passing measures such as same-day voter registration while maintaining rigorous verification procedures that protect both election integrity and public confidence.

Intimidation, harassment, or interference at polling locations must never be tolerated.
Immigrants are essential members of our communities. Protecting their rights strengthens our economy, enriches our civic life, and reflects the values of fairness and opportunity that Massachusetts has long embraced.

Our state resources - including law enforcement - should remain dedicated to public safety within our communities rather than carrying out federal civil immigration enforcement.

I support ending participation in 287(g) agreements, ensuring immigrants have access to legal representation in removal proceedings, and passing stronger protections that prevent the use of schools, hospitals, libraries, and other essential public spaces as venues for immigration enforcement.
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