Russell E. Holmes

Russell Earl Holmes is a Democratic member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing the Sixth Suffolk District. Born on August 17, 1969, in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, Holmes grew up with strong values centered on community service. He later purchased his first home in Mattapan, where he became actively involved in civic life.

Holmes began his public service career by addressing neighborhood concerns, initiating a street cleaning program that eventually expanded into a community-wide operation in partnership with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. As a community leader, he has focused on local economic development, education, and public transportation initiatives. He was instrumental in chairing the Mattapan Library Task Force, which resulted in Boston's first new public library since 2001.

Beyond his legislative work, Holmes has remained deeply engaged in his community by tutoring students at elementary, high school, and college levels, serving as a Big Brother with Big Brother Big Sisters, and teaching Sunday school with his wife, Sheree. He works as a Certified Financial Planner with Ameriprise outside of his legislative duties.

Education

Holmes earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Boston University in 1992 and received his MBA from Northeastern University in 2000. He completed the Emerging Leaders program at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and attended the 2012 Healthcare Summit at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Political Experience

Holmes was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in November 2010 and assumed office in January 2011. He has continued to serve his district through multiple terms, winning his most recent primary election in 2024 with 72% of the vote.

Throughout his tenure, Holmes has held several significant positions: Treasurer of the 187th General Court freshman class, Chair of the Black and Latino Caucus of Massachusetts, and Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Housing. He previously served on the Judiciary Committee and the Electronic Benefit Transfer Card Commission, and was a member of the Public Housing Sustainability and Reform Advisory Committee. Currently, he serves on the Joint Committees on Financial Services, Election Laws, and Ways and Means.