Massachusetts House of Representatives' 1st Essex district in the United States is one of 160 legislative districts included in the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court. It covers part of Essex County.[1] Republican James Kelcourse of Amesbury served the district from 2015-2022. Following Kelcourse's resignation in late-June 2022, the seat remained vacant until the election of Democrat Dawne Shand of Newburyport. Rep. Shand took office on January 4, 2023.
Following redistricting efforts in 2021, the 1st Essex shifted slightly west. The district now includes the towns of Merrimac and Salisbury; the city of Newburyport; and part of the city of Amesbury. Previously, the 1st Essex District included all of the city of Amesbury.
The district includes the following localities:
The current district geographic boundary overlaps with those of the Massachusetts Senate's 1st Essex and Middlesex and 2nd Essex and Middlesex districts.
The district previously covered the following:
| Member | Party | Years | Legis. | Electoral history | District towns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | David E. Harrison(Gloucester) | Democratic | nowrap | 1965 – 1971 | 165th 166th 167th | Redistricted from 16th Essex district. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Lost re-election in 1970. | ||
| align=left | Richard R. Silva(Gloucester) | Republican | nowrap | 1971 – 1979 | 168th 169th 170th 171st | Elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Redistricted to 5th Essex district. | 1973–79: Rockport and part of Gloucester | |
| align=left | Nicholas J. Costello | Democratic | nowrap | 1979 – 1983 | 172nd 173rd 174th | Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Elected to State Senate in 1983. | ||
| align=left | Barbara Hildt(Amesbury) | Democratic | nowrap | 1983 – 1993 | 174th 175th 176th 177th 178th | Elected in 1983. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Ran for U.S. House in 1992. | ||
| align=left | Frank Cousins(Newburyport) | Republican | nowrap | 1993 – 1997 | 179th 180th | Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Elected Essex County Sheriff in 1996. | ||
| align=left | Kevin L. Finnegan(Newburyport) | Republican | nowrap | 1997 – 2001 | 181st 182nd | Elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Retired. | ||
| align=left | Paul Tirone(Amesbury) | Democratic | nowrap | 2001 – 2003 | 183rd | Elected in 2000. Lost Democratic primary in 2002. | ||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Michael A. Costello[7] (Newburyport) | rowspan=2 | Democratic | nowrap rowspan=2 | 2003 – September 15, 2014 | 184th 185th 186th 187th 188th 189th | Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Resigned September 15, 2014. | |
2013–21: Amesbury, Newburyport, and Salisbury | ||||||||
James Kelcourse(Amesbury) | Republican | 2015 – June 29, 2022 | 190th 191st 191st 192nd | Elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020 Resigned June 29, 2022. | ||||
| 2021–present: Merrimac, Newburyport, Salisbury, and part of Amesbury | ||||||||
Dawne Shand(Newburyport) | Democratic | January 4, 2023 – present | 193rd | Elected in 2022. |