BOSTON — As the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators continues its 50th anniversary celebration, today marks a symbolic milestone: the 243rd day of the year, and the 243rd woman elected to serve in the Massachusetts Legislature.
To commemorate this moment, the caucus launched a campaign earlier this year to highlight every woman who has ever served in the Massachusetts Legislature, one woman per day throughout 2025. With just 243 women elected in the entire 401-year history of the General Court, this year-long recognition honors both the trailblazers who came before and the leaders shaping the state today.
“Our 50th anniversary has been a time of reflection, celebration, and recommitment,” said state Rep. Jessica Giannino, D-Revere, chair of the 50th Anniversary Committee. “We’ve now highlighted 243 extraordinary women, past and present, whose service transformed Massachusetts. And while our social media campaign will continue into the fall as we grouped several women in each post per week, today we acknowledge a stark truth: we are out of women to highlight. That should both inspire and challenge us.”
Since 1923, only 243 women have been elected to the Massachusetts Legislature. Just 31 of them served before the caucus was founded in 1975. This year, the caucus has not only paid tribute to their legacies but also underscored how much more work lies ahead to build a truly representative government.
“The fact that we can honor every woman who’s served in fewer than 250 days speaks volumes about how far we still have to go,” said state Sen. Robyn Kennedy, D-Worcester, Senate co-chair. “As we continue this historic celebration, we’re calling attention to the need for more women to enter and lead in public service.”
The caucus’s campaign, featuring daily social media tributes, historical retrospectives, and storytelling from current and former legislators, will continue throughout the year as part of a broader effort to reflect on the past 50 years and inspire the next generation of public servants.
“As the second woman to serve the First Essex in the House of Representatives and the 232nd in our state’s history to be a member of the Massachusetts Legislature, I’m proud to follow in the footsteps of trailblazers. I honor Barbara Hildt, the first woman to hold this seat from 1983 to 1993. Her remarkable legacy is a reminder of the progress we’ve made and the work we have ahead of us to achieve gender parity,” said state Rep. Dawne Shand, D-Newburyport.
Founded in 1975 by just 14 women, the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators is now the longest continuously operating bipartisan and bicameral women’s caucus in the United States. Throughout the year, the caucus has hosted events, educational programs, and legislative briefings to mark this milestone year.
“This work has never been about one woman or one moment. It’s about ensuring that women’s voices are not the exception, they’re the expectation,” said state Rep. Christine Barber, D-Somerville, House co-chair. “We hope this year of recognition leads to even more women stepping forward to serve.”
To learn more about the caucus and follow the ongoing 50th anniversary, follow along on Instagram @mawomenscaucus.