Tamisha L. Civil, a Democrat, is seeking reelection to the Massachusetts Governor’s Council District 2 seat in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. She faces Republican Francis T. Crimmins Jr., according to the state’s candidate list.

The Governor’s Council approves or rejects gubernatorial nominees for judgeships, clerk-magistrate positions and the Parole Board, among other appointments. It also acts on pardons, commutations and treasury warrants.

“I believe the people of Massachusetts deserve a justice system that is fair, accountable and accessible to everyone,” Civil said in the Surround Sound News candidate questionnaire.

Civil said her commitment stems partly from her cousin’s experience spending 27 years in prison for a crime she said he did not commit.

Candidate information

Party: Democrat.

Education: Civil said she graduated from Dover-Sherborn Regional High School in 1999, earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Johnson & Wales University in 2003 and earned a master’s degree in criminal justice and leadership from Northeastern University in 2011.

Family: Civil described herself as the daughter of Haitian immigrants and the first person in her family to graduate from college.

Relatives in government: Civil reported none in her questionnaire response.

Experience and public service

Civil won the District 2 seat in 2024. According to her campaign biography, she was sworn in Jan. 2, 2025, becoming the first woman of color to hold the district’s seat.

Civil said she also works as an adjunct professor. Before joining the council, she said, she served as an associate probation officer with the Massachusetts Probation Service and as a victim-witness advocate in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

She also described working at a domestic violence shelter, supporting women and children affected by violence and crime.

On the issues

Judicial nominees: Civil said she evaluates nominees’ judgment, temperament and understanding of issues that come before the courts, including mental health, substance use, domestic violence and racial discrimination.

“I would vote against a judicial nominee when, after careful review, I believe the nominee has not demonstrated the understanding, judgment, and temperament necessary to fairly serve the people of Massachusetts,” she said.

Public safety and defendants’ rights: Civil said the justice system should protect victims and communities while respecting constitutional rights.

“I believe public safety and defendants’ rights are not opposing principles,” she said.

Reproductive rights: Civil said she supports nominees who uphold Massachusetts laws protecting reproductive freedom and constitutional rights.

Commitment to the office: Civil said voters should pay attention to the council because its decisions affect families and communities. She also expressed support for making the councillor position full-time.

“The responsibilities are too important to be treated as part-time work,” she said.

Candidate responses were collected through a Surround Sound News questionnaire and have been excerpted or paraphrased for length.