Karen Spilka

Karen Spilka is an American politician and attorney currently serving as the 95th President of the Massachusetts Senate, a position she has held since 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2001 to 2005 before joining the State Senate. Throughout her career, Spilka has focused on education reform, economic development, and juvenile justice. She is noted for her legislative efforts to expand access to public transportation, promote the biotechnology industry, and advance LGBTQ rights. As Senate President, she has championed universal free community college and implemented significant internal reforms to improve transparency and staff diversity within the legislature.