Kate Lipper-Garabedian Secures 5th Middlesex District State Senate Seat

MELROSE, MA — State Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian has won the Fifth Middlesex District seat in the Massachusetts Senate following an uncontested race.

The Melrose Democrat was the only candidate on the ballot in Tuesday's election and will succeed State Sen. Jason Lewis, who announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection after nearly 12 years representing the district. Lipper-Garabedian secured the Democratic nomination in September after defeating Malden City Councilors Carey McDonald and Ryan O'Malley.

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Lipper-Garabedian received 10,594 votes in her hometown of Melrose and 7,182 votes in Stoneham, according to unofficial results from the two communities. Melrose had all 14 precincts reporting and listed 241 unresolved write-in votes in the Senate race, while Stoneham reported 204 write-in votes.

"I am honored to be the State Senator-elect for the Fifth Middlesex District!" Lipper-Garabedian said in a statement. "Thank you to every resident of Malden, Melrose, Stoneham, Reading, Wakefield, and Winchester who took the time to vote in this election in hopes for a strong future for our District and our Commonwealth."

Lipper-Garabedian has represented the 32nd Middlesex District in the House of Representatives since winning a special election in March 2020 after previously serving on the Melrose City Council. Her House district includes Melrose and portions of Malden and Wakefield. She currently serves as chair of the House Committee on Ethics and previously served as vice chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs for two legislative sessions. In her statement, Lipper-Garabedian thanked her campaign team, friends and family, including her sons Harrison and Oscar. She said her team knocked on thousands of doors and made calls to reach voters throughout the campaign.

"Together, we worked to ensure that the 5th Middlesex is represented by someone who believes passionately about the role government can play in supporting individuals and their families," Lipper-Garabedian said.

The Melrose resident earned a bachelor's degree in English and history from the University of Virginia before earning a law degree from Harvard Law School. Her career prior to joining the Legislature included working as a judicial clerk on the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and as chief legal counsel at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education from 2015 to 2020. She also previously taught seventh-grade English and reading in Atlanta and chaired the Appropriations Committee while serving on the Melrose City Council.

During her Senate campaign, Lipper-Garabedian emphasized addressing affordability, supporting public education, protecting reproductive freedom and healthcare access, and continuing climate resiliency efforts. Her recent legislative work included sponsoring a bill authorizing Wakefield to establish a means-tested property tax exemption for qualifying senior residents. The measure was signed into law on Sept. 4.

Lewis announced his retirement on Feb. 24 and said he would continue serving constituents through the end of the legislative term. Lipper-Garabedian had announced her campaign for the open seat in February.

"Today's result means that our seat will be held by someone who listens carefully and works hard and by someone who will get things done," Lipper-Garabedian said. "I am humbled and excited by your support, and I will work hard to continue to earn it."

The Fifth Middlesex District includes Malden, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham and Wakefield, along with Precincts 1, 2, 3 and 8 in Winchester.