Benjamin Downing
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Brackett Downing (born 11 September 1981) is a Democratic
member of the Massachusetts Senate
, representing the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin District since 2006.
The oldest of four children, Benjamin Downing was born in Pittsfield
to Gerard, the late Berkshire County
District Attorney
, and Pamela Downing. He attended Providence College
in Rhode Island
, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in political science
in 2003. He then moved to Washington, D.C.
, where he worked for U.S. Representatives
Bill Delahunt
and Richard Neal
before joining the staff of John Olver
. He served as Olver's senior advisor on housing, budget, tax, homeland security, and foreign affairs for two years.
In 2004, he returned to Massachusetts and began his graduate studies at Tufts University
. While a student at Tufts, he successfully ran for an open seat in the Massachusetts Senate
in 2006. He won re-election in 2008. He is the youngest member of the Senate.
He received a Master of Arts
degree in Urban & Environmental Policy from Tufts in 2008.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
, representing the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin District since 2006.
The oldest of four children, Benjamin Downing was born in Pittsfield
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Its area code is 413. Its ZIP code is 01201...
to Gerard, the late Berkshire County
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County is a non-governmental county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,219. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield...
District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
, and Pamela Downing. He attended Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in 2003. He then moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where he worked for U.S. Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Bill Delahunt
Bill Delahunt
William D. Delahunt is a former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1997 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Delahunt did not seek re-election in 2010, and left Congress in January 2011. He was replaced by Norfolk County District Attorney Bill Keating...
and Richard Neal
Richard Neal
Richard Edmund Neal is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He is a former city councilor and mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts....
before joining the staff of John Olver
John Olver
John Walter Olver is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1991. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Early in his career, he was a chemistry professor and served in both chambers of the Massachusetts General Court....
. He served as Olver's senior advisor on housing, budget, tax, homeland security, and foreign affairs for two years.
In 2004, he returned to Massachusetts and began his graduate studies at Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
. While a student at Tufts, he successfully ran for an open seat in the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
in 2006. He won re-election in 2008. He is the youngest member of the Senate.
He received a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in Urban & Environmental Policy from Tufts in 2008.
External links
- http://www.senatordowning.com Official policy and constituent services website
- Massachusetts General Court - State Senator Benjamin B. Downing official MA House website
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Benjamin Brackett Downing (MA) profile
- Follow the Money - Benjamin Brackett Downing
- 2006 campaign contributions