Senator Joan B. Lovely Democrat - Second Essex

Senator Joan Lovely is in her fifth term as State Senator for the Second Essex District, comprised of Beverly, Danvers, Peabody, Salem and Topsfield. Senator Lovely has been serving in the Massachusetts Senate since January 2013.

After raising a family in Salem with her husband, Senator Lovely went back to school to earn degrees from Salem State University and the Massachusetts School of Law. She began her activism at the local level when she collaborated with neighbors and volunteers to rebuild a local playground for children and families in Salem.

In 1997, Senator Lovely successfully ran for a seat on the Salem City Council and served for 15 years, six as the Ward 3 Councillor, and 9 as a Councillor-at-Large. During that time, she served as City Council President, Acting Mayor, and was the Council Liaison to the Council on Aging and Commission on Disabilities.

Currently in her fifth term, Senator Lovely serves in Leadership as Assistant Majority Leader and the Chair on the Senate Committee on Rules. In addition, Senator Lovely serves as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Rules; and Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Bills in the Third Reading. Senator Lovely also serves as a member on the Joint Committee on Housing, and Senate Committees on Steering and Policy, Global Warming and Climate Change, and Reimagining Massachusetts Post-Pandemic Resiliency.

Outside of her committee work, Senator Lovely is the Senate Chair of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators and the Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression. She is also a member of the Massachusetts Legislative Food Systems Caucus, Coastal Caucus, Boating Caucus, Zero Waste Caucus, Gateway Cities Caucus, Protecting Animal Welfare (PAW) Caucus and Climate Alliance Caucus. She served as Chair of the Special Senate Committee to Review the Sexual Harassment Policies and Procedures, a member of the Legislative Commission on Ocean Acidification, Special Senate Committee on Opioid Addiction Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Options, and Special Legislative Commission on Public Records.

Senator Lovely is the proud parent of three children and 1 granddaughter, and currently resides in Salem with her husband, Stephen. She also enjoys her 4 labs, 1 cat, 2 chickens and 5 ducks.

Personal Information

Profession: Attorney

Spouse: Stephen

Children: 3

Grandchildren: 1

Pets: Yellow Lab “Maddie”; Black Lab “Ivy”; Black Lab “Charlie”; Yellow Lab "Pippa"; Black cat “Mo”; 2 chickens and 5 Call ducks. 

Interests: Boating, gardening, travel 

Career Highlights: Attorney, Lovely Law Group

Public Service:

MA Senate 2013 - present 

Salem City Council, 1998-2012

President, Salem City Council, 2001, 2012

Co-Chair Castle Hill Playground Committee  

Education: 

J.D., Massachusetts School of Law, 2009

B.S., Political Science Salem State University, 2006

A.A.S., Essex Agricultural and Technical Institute, 1978

Beverly High School, 1976