Meet Christine

State Representative | 34th Middlesex District | Medford & Somerville

Christine P. Barber is State Representative for the 34th Middlesex District, which includes neighborhoods in Medford & Somerville.

Christine was first sworn in after winning a 2015 election and is the first woman to represent the 34th Middlesex District, continuing her career of fighting for justice and equity.

Now in her sixth term in the House, Christine’s priorities stem from her core progressive values and include working for affordable housing, immigrant justice, disability rights, early childhood education, affordable health care, reproductive rights, addressing climate change and improving public transportation.

Christine is Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. As Chair, Christine priortizes investments that ensure that Massachusetts continues to lead in a sustainable and equitable future. She also serves as House Chair of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators which focuses on improving the lives of women, girls, and families across the Commonwealth.

Within the Women's Caucus she also serves as Co-Chair of the Task Force on Justice-Involved Women. Christine is a active member of the House Progressive Caucus and the Massachusetts Autism Commission.

Christine brings her health care policy and public health expertise to Beacon Hill. Before being elected State Representative, Christine spent eight years as a health policy expert for national health care advocacy organization Community Catalyst, where she worked with advocates and policymakers to ensure that everyone has access to quality, affordable health care. Christine led a number of health care campaigns on issues ranging from organizing groups around the country to enact the Affordable Care Act, starting grassroots outreach programs to enroll people in health coverage, and ensuring health insurance coverage for transgender individuals.

Earlier in her career, Christine served as a staffer in the State House. Her proudest accomplishment was working on the team that drafted the landmark 2006 Massachusetts health reform bill, Chapter 58. This law became a blueprint for the Affordable Care Act.

Recent awards include the Greater Boston Food Bank's Advocate of the Year Award, Advocates of Autism of Massachusetts' Autism Champion Award, the Disability Policy Consortium's Thomas Menino Award for Public Service, and Metropolitan Area Planning Council's Legislator of the Year.

Christine’s work on drafting and advocating for legislation is centered on listening and working closely with her constituents and grassroots groups. Some of Christine’s recent accomplishments include passing bills she filed such as: the Work and Family Mobility Act, a bill that allows all people to apply for a driver’s license, regardless of immigration status; Salary Range Transparency which requires employers to disclose the pay range in job postings and track salary information; and the eliminating copays for insulin, inhalers, and other drugs to address affordable prescriptions.

The daughter of a public school teacher and manufacturing plant manager, Christine earned a Master’s of Public Policy and Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester.

Christine lives in Somerville with her partner, Ryan, and their two cats, Rafi and Roscoe.