Senator Cindy F. Friedman represents the Fourth Middlesex District in the Massachusetts Senate, which includes Arlington, Billerica, Burlington, Woburn, and precincts 1-2 and 4-7 of Lexington. Elected in a special election on July 25, 2017, she has served continuously since then, distinguishing herself as a policy-focused legislator and advocate for vulnerable populations. Notable achievements include championing legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, implement paid family and medical leave, reform the criminal justice system, combat the opioid crisis, increase school and workforce training funding, and expand access to mental health and substance use services. She holds key leadership positions such as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Steering & Policy, Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules, and member of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators .

Education and Political Experience

Friedman worked as a public school teacher, a senior manager in the high-tech industry, and nearly a decade as chief of staff to the late Senator Ken Donnelly, where she helped author legislation on education funding, worker protections, homeless services, mental health, criminal justice reform, transportation, and workforce development. Early in her career, she served as a community organizer for Planned Parenthood, advocating for reproductive rights. In Arlington, where she moved in 1980 and raised her family, she became a Town Meeting member, co-founded the Arlington Education Foundation and Schools are a Priority in Our Town , chaired the Arlington No Place for Hate Committee, and managed campaigns for Don Berwick's gubernatorial run, Deval Patrick, and Ken Donnelly. She is a member of the Progressive Caucus and has served on committees addressing mental health, public service, labor, ethics, aging, and COVID-19 response.