Barry R. Finegold, a Democrat from Andover, is running for reelection to the Massachusetts State Senate representing the Second Essex and Middlesex District. The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.

Finegold faces Republican Theodore Tom Semesnyei, according to BallotReady election data. The district covers parts of Essex and Middlesex counties, including Andover.

Candidate information

Finegold was born March 3, 1971, in Norwood and was raised in Andover and Tewksbury. Both of his parents taught in local school systems for 33 years. He lives in Andover with his wife, Amy, their three children, Ava, Ella and Max, and the family's bulldog, Otis, according to his NewDEAL Leaders profile.

Finegold earned a bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College in 1993 and a law degree from Massachusetts School of Law in 1996, according to his public profiles.

While at Harvard's Kennedy School, Finegold won the Fenn Award for Political Leadership in 1999 for his work bringing together legislators from New Hampshire and Massachusetts to address traffic problems on I-93. That effort led to the opening of the breakdown lane during rush hours. He was also selected as one of the top 100 young "Democrats to Watch" by the Democratic Leadership Council.

Experience and public service

Finegold became the youngest selectman in Andover's history at age 24. When elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, he was the youngest member of his freshman class. He served as a state representative for the 17th Essex District from 1997 to 2011, according to BallotReady.

Finegold served in the state Senate from 2011 to 2015 and returned in 2019. His legislative career has included committee leadership roles in election law, public service and economic development.

At age 29, Finegold founded the law firm Dalton & Finegold LLP, which specializes in residential and commercial real estate and ranks among the 100 largest law firms in Massachusetts.

He ran for state treasurer in 2014.

On the issues

Election law: As Senate chair of the Election Laws Committee, Finegold said he was the chief architect of the 2014 election law reform bill, which brought early voting to Massachusetts along with online voter registration, post-election audits and pre-registration of 16- and 17-year-olds.

Clean energy: Finegold said he championed renewable energy policies as chairman of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy in the House. Earlier in his legislative career, he proposed the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Road Map, a package that included research-and-development grants, tax incentives for companies developing fuel-cell technology and a $1,500 state tax credit for hybrid vehicle purchases. In 2014, the New England Clean Energy Council named him a Clean Energy Champion.

Education: Finegold said he was deeply involved with the Lawrence Turnaround Plan following the state receivership of Lawrence Public Schools. He said graduation rates increased from 47% to 72% and MCAS scores improved after the plan took effect.

School safety: In 2019 and 2021, Finegold filed the SAVE Students Act. The bill would require school districts to establish threat-assessment training and create an anonymous reporting system run by the state Department of Education. It would also provide middle and high school students with education on warning signs for violence and suicide.

Child welfare: Finegold authored the Safe Havens Act. The law allows parents unable to care for a newborn to leave the infant at a marked fire station, police station or emergency room without fear of prosecution.

Sources: Public campaign materials, published candidate profiles and the public records linked above. Policy statements are attributed to the candidate; funding or implementation details are included where available.

The Andover Ledger did not receive a direct questionnaire response from the candidate and does not endorse candidates.