Chart of the Week: Which Massachusetts Politicians Have the Most Money?

We take a look at the biggest war chests of the state's incumbent lawmakers.

Incumbent Massachusetts lawmakers had nearly $9 million, collectively, in their campaign accounts at the end of 2013, according to year-end finance reports. But much of that wealth is concentrated among relatively few hands—mostly veterans who have used key posts to accumulate funds over years—as in society at large.

Mark Montigny of New Bedford, for example, has been compiling a war chest over 20 years as state senator, including at various times heading up powerful committees and taking a run at top leadership. John Binienda of Worcester (who may retire at the end of this year due to health reasons) has been in the House since 1987 and chairs the powerful Rules Committee. And just about anyone on the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee can find eager donors.

One name you won’t find among the biggest war chests these days, however, is the most powerful lawmaker of them all: Senate President Therese Murray. She spent the bulk of her funds in a tough 2012 re-election campaign, and is now closing in on the term-limited end of her leadership run.

You’ll also notice a lack of Bostonians on this list. Sal DiDomenico is the only one in the top 20 who represents a portion of the city, although he lives in Everett. State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz of Jamaica Plain just misses the list with $109,263. Of course, most Boston incumbents have little trouble winning re-election, and don’t need to build their bank—unless they’re looking ahead at running for a higher office.

Here are the top money-holders among state senators and representatives, with their current leadership positions or other items of note:

Name of LegislatorHouse (H) / Senate (S)Democrat (D) / Republican (R)Cash on Hand, 12/31/2013Position / Circumstance
Montigny, MarkSD$1,057,160Assistant Majority Whip
Finegold, BarrySD$434,813Expected to run for State Treasurer
Petrolati, ThomasHD$418,087Former Speaker Pro Tempore
Mariano, RonHD$394,897Majority Leader
Binienda, JohnHD$361,689Rules Committee Chair
Dempsey, BrianHD$291,214Ways and Means Chair
Puppolo, AngeloHD$225,394Expected to run for State Senate
Tarr, BruceSR$207,745Minority Leader
Kennedy, ThomasSD$197,676Consumer Protection Committee Chair
Chandler, HarrietteSD$182,870Assistant Majority Leader
DeLeo, RobertHD$151,291Speaker
Keenan, John Jr.HD$147,016Telecommunications Committee Chair
Hedlund, BobSR$138,216Assistant Minority Leader
Jones, BradleyHR$132,519Minority Leader
Moore, RichardSD$131,471President Pro Tempore
DiDomenico, SalSD$128,713Ways and Means Assistant Vice Chair
Brewer, StephenSD$121,862Ways and Means Chair
Candaras, GaleSD$120,997Community Development Committee Chair
Haddad, PatriciaHD$119,801Speaker Pro Tempore
Lewis, JasonHD$109,723Running for State Senate