Stephen F. Lynch
DemocratU.S. Representative, MA-8| Age | 71 (b. 1955-03-31) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 2001-10-23 (~24 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | White (Irish-American) |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Education | B.S. in Construction Management, Wentworth Institute of Technology (1988, cum laude); J.D., Boston College Law School (1991); M.P.A., Harvard University Kennedy School of Government (1999) |
| Prior occupation | Structural ironworker (1973–1991); union president, Ironworkers Local 7; attorney in private practice |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | South Boston, Massachusetts |
| Marital status | married — Margaret Shaughnessy Lynch |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence | South Boston, Massachusetts |
Pending research: languages · notable relatives · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2001 |
| Previous offices | Massachusetts House of Representatives (1995–1996) · Massachusetts State Senate (1996–2001) |
| Committees | House Committee on Financial Services – Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence · House Committee on Financial Services – Subcommittee on Capital Markets · House Committee on Financial Services – Subcommittee on Financial Institutions · House Committee on Oversight and Accountability |
| Caucuses | Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus (co-founder) · Congressional Steel Caucus · Postal Preservation Caucus |
| Leadership | Acting Ranking Member, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability (April 28 – June 24, 2025) |
| Ideology | Moderate Democrat; has described himself as a 'moderate, common-sense Democrat'; known for conservative positions on social issues (opposed ACA, initially anti-abortion, initially opposed same-sex marriage) while strongly pro-labor; GovTrack positions him in centrist-Democrat territory |
| Signature legislation | Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 (co-sponsor; signed into law by President Biden, April 2022) · Afghanistan Security and Reconstruction Transparency Act (introduced 2020) · H.R. 1129 – Ironworker Training for Native Americans (passed House 329-75, 2008) · Chinese Support for Afghan Illicit Finance Study Act (introduced 2023) |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed + (2022) · estimate
| Jason Terrace property, Boston, MA (rental real estate) | real_estate · $500,001–$1,000,000 · 2022 |
| Bank of America (bank account) | other · $15,001–$50,000 · 2022 |
| Cisco Systems (IRA) | stock · $1,001–$15,000 · 2022 |
| Dell Technologies (IRA) | stock · $1,001–$15,000 · 2022 |
| Intel Corporation (IRA) | stock · $1,001–$15,000 · 2022 |
Top donors: Iron Workers Union (International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers)
Top industries: Labor unions / building trades · Real estate · Lawyers / law firms · Finance / financial services · Health professionals
Scandals & crimes ledger
closed — Marijuana Possession Arrest — $50 Misdemeanor Fine
Lynch was arrested for smoking marijuana at a Willie Nelson concert at the Illinois State Fair in 1977. The matter was resolved with a $50 misdemeanor fine. He had not yet entered politics at this time.
dismissed — Assault and Battery Arrest — Charges Dropped
Lynch was arrested in 1979 for alleged assault and battery of six Iranian students who were attending an anti-American protest in Boston. Charges were subsequently dropped and no conviction resulted. He had not yet entered politics at this time.