Representative Jim O'Day

James J. O'Day was born on May 23, 1954, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is a member of the Democratic Party and represents the 14th Worcester District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, which includes the town of West Boylston and portions of Worcester.

Before entering politics, O'Day worked as a social worker for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Social Services for 24 years. He is a Licensed Social Worker with extensive experience in education and group counseling at treatment facilities in central Massachusetts. O'Day is an active advocate for the recovery community and serves on the Advisory Board for Rockdale Recovery High School.

He is married to Marybeth Murphy and has four sons.

Education

O'Day attended Worcester Academy before pursuing higher education. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in urban studies and management from Worcester State University in 1983.

Political Experience

O'Day was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in a special election in April 2007 and was sworn in the following month. He has served continuously since then, representing the 14th Worcester District for nearly 20 years.

Within the legislature, O'Day holds several significant positions and committee assignments:

• Fourth Division Chair of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
• First Division Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
• Member of the House Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling
• Member of the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting
• Former chairman of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs
• Former chairman of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

O'Day authored and championed the Fair Share Amendment in 2021, a voter-approved surtax that has generated an additional $6.4 billion in funding for public education, students, and transportation projects. This initiative helped drive programs including universal free school meals, no-cost community college, and fare-free public transportation.

He has also secured over $15 million in state funding for Worcester and West Boylston to support local institutions, community organizations, and neighborhood projects, including funding for the Beaman Memorial Library, fire stations, housing authorities, and schools.