MassVoter.com← All legislators
Former State Senator
James T. Welch
Hampden District · Democrat
- 2019–2020 State Senator, Hampden · Democrat
An email with their new roll call votes when the Legislature votes, at most once a week.
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3
Your Nov 3 ballot: a short quiz for every race in your town, about a minute each.
Find my ballot →Record at a glance · 2019–2020 · Senate
468 of 471roll calls voted on (99%) · whole Senate 99%
57no votes (12% of votes cast) · whole Senate 13%
24 of 251split votes where Welch was in the minority (10%) · whole Senate 11%
0times voted “present”
How these numbers work
- Counted from the official House and Senate roll calls. Quorum calls are not counted, nor joint sessions and the vote electing the Senate President.
- “Roll calls voted on” matches the Missed votes figures below; voting “present” counts as voting.
- A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no (ties not counted). “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes.
- “Whole Senate” combines every member’s record for the same session. Percentages are shown only with at least 10 votes to count.
- Most bills pass or die without a roll call, so these numbers cover only part of a legislator’s work.
- Party is shown as the Legislature lists it, next to the district. MassVoter never compares, groups or ranks legislators by party.
These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates legislators.
Missed votes
2019–2020SenateMissed 3 of 471 roll callsRank 31 of 41 senators99%votedRoll calls this member did not vote on, while serving in the Senate. Ties share a rank. The record does not say why a member did not vote. See every senator →
Most divided votes
For each session, the 10 roll calls where the losing side was largest, with how James T. Welch voted. Most roll calls in the Massachusetts Legislature pass by wide margins, so these are where members split the most.
2019–2020
Authorizing and accelerating transportation investmentAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes14–25 · Amendment rejectedTo reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable, fair and just commonwealth that values Black lives and communities of colorAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes16–24 · Amendment rejectedTo reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable, fair and just commonwealth that values Black lives and communities of colorAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes16–24 · Amendment rejectedTo reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable, fair and just commonwealth that values Black lives and communities of colorAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes16–24 · Amendment rejectedRelative to voting options in response to COVID-19Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes14–25 · Amendment rejectedRelative to voting options in response to COVID-19Add a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes16–23 · Amendment rejectedRelative to automated enforcementAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes18–19 · Amendment rejectedRelative to automated enforcementAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes13–24 · Amendment rejectedRelative to educational opportunity for studentsAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: No14–24 · Amendment rejectedTo reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable, fair and just commonwealth that values Black lives and communities of colorAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes16–23 · Amendment rejectedVotes by topic
Roll calls sorted by subject, from the bill title and the question voted on. A vote can fall under more than one topic; budget amendments mostly fall under Taxes and budgets. Tap a topic to see each vote.
Taxes and budgets 230
Health and human services 46
Water, sewer and environment 31
Schools and education 28
Police, fire and public safety 25
Roads, traffic and transit 21
Appointments and hiring 9
Parks, recreation and libraries 7
Energy and utilities 5
Housing and zoning 1
Licenses and permits 1
How James T. Welch voted
479 recorded votes
Enabling partnerships for growthAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes39–0 · Amendment adoptedEnabling partnerships for growthAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes39–0 · Amendment adoptedRelative to the Revere & Son Heritage Trust CorporationFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes39–0 · PassedAuthorizing the town of Hopkinton to remove certain land from a conservation restrictionFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes39–0 · PassedResolve providing for the creation of a special commission relative to the seal and motto of the CommonwealthApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes39–0 · PassedCreating higher education opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilitiesApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Co-sponsor Voted: Yes39–0 · PassedTo prevent death and disability from strokeApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes40–0 · PassedRelative to craft brewersApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes40–0 · PassedResolve providing for the erection in the house chamber of a memorial containing the text of the address which Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.…Approve the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes40–0 · PassedAuthorizing the town of Hadley to convey certain a certain parcel of land dedicated for park purposesFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes39–0 · PassedRelative to the conveyance of a certain parcel of land in the city of LowellFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes39–0 · PassedAuthorizing the town of Hadley to convey a conservation restriction on certain parcels of landFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes39–0 · PassedAuthorizing the city of Lynn to use certain park land in said city for combined sewer overflow control purposesFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes39–0 · PassedAuthorizing the city of Fitchburg to change the use of a certain parcel of land acquired for park purposesFinal approval before the bill goes to the GovernorVoted: Yes39–0 · PassedAuthorizing and accelerating transportation investmentApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes36–4 · PassedAuthorizing and accelerating transportation investmentAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes14–25 · Amendment rejectedAuthorizing and accelerating transportation investmentAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: No8–31 · Amendment rejectedAuthorizing and accelerating transportation investmentAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes39–0 · Amendment adoptedAuthorizing and accelerating transportation investmentAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes40–0 · Amendment adoptedTo reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable, fair and just commonwealth that values Black lives and communities of colorApprove the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)Voted: Yes30–7 · PassedTo reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable, fair and just commonwealth that values Black lives and communities of colorAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: No3–36 · Amendment rejectedTo reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable, fair and just commonwealth that values Black lives and communities of colorAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes16–24 · Amendment rejectedTo reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable, fair and just commonwealth that values Black lives and communities of colorAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: Yes39–0 · Amendment adoptedTo reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable, fair and just commonwealth that values Black lives and communities of colorAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: No27–12 · Amendment adoptedTo reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable, fair and just commonwealth that values Black lives and communities of colorAdd a proposed change (amendment) to the billVoted: No10–29 · Amendment rejectedSource: official profile on malegislature.gov. Only roll call votes are listed; bills passed on a voice vote have no individual record. MassVoter never grades or scores legislators. How to read this