Karyn Polito | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official photo, 2018 | |
| 72ndLieutenant Governor of Massachusetts | |
| In office January 8, 2015 – January 5, 2023 | |
| Governor | Charlie Baker |
| Preceded by | Tim Murray |
| Succeeded by | Kim Driscoll |
| Member of theMassachusetts House of Representatives from the11th Worcester district | |
| In office January 8, 2001 – January 8, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Ronald Gauch |
| Succeeded by | Matthew Beaton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Karyn Ellen Polito (1966-11-11)November 11, 1966 (age 59) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Stephan Rodolakis |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Boston College (BS) New England School of Law (JD) |
Karyn Ellen Polito (born November 11, 1966) is an American attorney, businesswoman, and politician who served as the 72ndlieutenant governor of Massachusetts from 2015 to 2023. Polito was a Republican member of theMassachusetts House of Representatives for the 11thWorcester district from 2001 to 2011. Polito was first elected lieutenant governor in 2014 with her running mate,Charlie Baker. They were both re-elected in2018, and declined to seek reelection in2022.
Polito is a lifelong resident ofShrewsbury, Massachusetts.[1] She graduated fromHoly Name Central Catholic High School.[1] Shortly after graduating fromBoston College with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1988,[2] she received her Juris Doctor fromNew England Law in 1991.[3]
An attorney,[4] Polito co-owns and operates a commercial real estate development firm.[5][1]
Polito is a member of theRepublican Party.[6] Her experience in politics and government includes stints as a ShrewsburyTown Meeting member (1993–2000), a member of the Shrewsbury Zoning Board of Appeals (1994–1995), and a Shrewsburyselectman (1995–1998). Polito was the commissioner of theMassachusetts Lottery from 1999 to 2000.[2][3] In 1998, Polito ran for theMassachusetts Senate in theSecond Worcester district. However, she lost the general election toGuy Glodis.[7]
In 2000, Polito was elected State Representative for the11th district of Worcester, which covers the town of Shrewsbury and precincts 1 and 4 of the adjacent town ofWestborough inWorcester County. She served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2001 to 2011,[8] winning every election without any opposition.[9]
On March 1, 2010, Polito announced she would run for the office oftreasurer and receiver-general of Massachusetts.[10] She was unopposed in the Republican primary. Polito lost in the general election to Democratic candidateSteve Grossman, but won 45% of the vote, receiving the most votes of any Republican running for office in Massachusetts in2010.[11]
On December 3, 2013, Polito announced her candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. The leading GOP candidate for Governor,Charlie Baker, endorsed her candidacy.[12] She was not opposed in the September 2014 primary. Baker and Polito won the2014 gubernatorial election, defeating Democratic candidatesMartha Coakley andSteve Kerrigan, respectively, 48.40% to 46.54%.[13]
In August 2018, Baker and Polito formally launched their re-election campaign.[14] Both were successful in the Republican primary election held on September 4, 2018, with Polito running unopposed.[15] Baker and Polito faced challengersJay Gonzalez andQuentin Palfrey of theDemocratic Party in the general election. The Baker/Polito ticket defeated the Gonzales/Palfrey ticket by a margin of 1,781,341 votes to 885,770.[16]
Karyn Polito has been described as a socially moderate Republican who is generally conservative on most other issues.[17][18]On the Issues, a non-partisan organization that records a politician's position on issues, considers her to be a "Moderate Conservative."[19] Polito did not vote for PresidentDonald Trump in 2016 and announced that she did not support Trump's re-election.[20]
Polito resides inShrewsbury, Massachusetts with her husband, Stephan M. Rodolakis, and their two children.[32] Rodolakis is an attorney specializing in bankruptcy proceedings.[33]
| Massachusetts House of Representatives 11th District Election, 2000 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Karyn Polito | 18,182 | 98.6 |
| Write-ins | Write-ins | 262 | 1.4 |
| Massachusetts House of Representatives 11th District Election, 2002 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Karyn Polito (inc.) | 12,637 | 99.6 |
| Write-ins | Write-ins | 46 | 0.4 |
| Massachusetts House of Representatives 11th District Election, 2004 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Karyn Polito (inc.) | 15,813 | 99.2 |
| Write-ins | Write-ins | 129 | 0.8 |
| Massachusetts House of Representatives 11th District Election, 2006 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Karyn Polito (inc.) | 12,995 | 99.3 |
| Write-ins | Write-ins | 92 | 0.7 |
| Massachusetts House of Representatives 11th District Election, 2008 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Karyn Polito (inc.) | 17,241 | 99.5 |
| Write-ins | Write-ins | 93 | 0.5 |
| Massachusetts State Treasurer Election, 2010 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Steve Grossman | 1,208,098 | 54.8 |
| Republican | Karyn Polito | 993,127 | 45.1 |
| Write-ins | Write-ins | 1,785 | 0.1 |
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vacant Title last held by Daniel Grabauskas2002 | Republican nominee forTreasurer of Massachusetts 2010 | Succeeded by Mike Heffernan |
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forLieutenant Governor of Massachusetts 2014,2018 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Tim Murray2013 | Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts 2015–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Lieutenant Governor |
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| Secretary of Administration and Finance |
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| Secretary of Education |
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| Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs |
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| Secretary of Health and Human Services |
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| Secretary of Housing and Economic Development |
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| Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development |
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| Secretary of Public Safety and Security |
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| Secretary of Transportation |
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| Secretary of Technology Services and Security |
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| Secretary of Veterans' Services |
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