Karyn Ellen Polito (born November 11, 1966) is an American attorney, businesswoman, and politician who served as the 72nd lieutenant governor of Massachusetts from 2015 to 2023. Polito was a Republican member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 11th Worcester district from 2001 to 2011. Polito was first elected lieutenant governor in 2014 with her running mate, Charlie Baker. They were both re-elected in 2018, and declined to seek reelection in 2022.
An attorney,[4] Polito co-owns and operates a commercial real estate development firm.[5][1]
Polito is a member of the Republican Party.[6] Her experience in politics and government includes stints as a Shrewsbury Town Meeting member (1993-2000), a member of the Shrewsbury Zoning Board of Appeals (1994-1995), and a Shrewsbury selectman (1995-1998). Polito was the commissioner of the Massachusetts Lottery from 1999 to 2000.[2][3] In 1998, Polito ran for the Massachusetts Senate in the Second Worcester district. However, she lost the general election to Guy Glodis.[7]
Massachusetts House of Representatives
In 2000, Polito was elected State Representative for the 11th district of Worcester, which covers the town of Shrewsbury and precincts 1 and 4 of the adjacent town of Westborough in Worcester County. She served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2001 to 2011,[8] winning every election without any opposition.[9]
2010 state treasurer campaign
On March 1, 2010, Polito announced she would run for the office of treasurer and receiver-general of Massachusetts.[10] She was unopposed in the Republican primary. Polito lost in the general election to Democratic candidate Steve Grossman, but won 45% of the vote, receiving the most votes of any Republican running for office in Massachusetts in 2010.[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 the 2014 gubernatorial election, defeating Democratic candidates Martha Coakley and Steve 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 challengers Jay Gonzalez and Quentin Palfrey of the Democratic 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]
Issues and record
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 President Donald Trump in 2016 and announced that she did not support Trump's re-election.[20]
As State Representative in 2007, Polito voted yes on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman.[28] She did support same-sex civil unions.[29] In 2013, however, Polito reversed her position and expressed public support for same-sex marriage.[30]
Polito opposed Donald Trump's executive order to build a wall on the southern border of the United States.[31]
Personal life
Polito resides in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts with her husband, Stephan M. Rodolakis, and their two children.[32] Rodolakis is an attorney specializing in bankruptcy proceedings.[33]
Electoral history
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
^Reporter, By Christian M. Wade Statehouse (December 26, 2019). "Income tax rate to drop to 5%". The Andover Townsman. Archived from the original on December 26, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
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