John Gaskey
John Gaskey | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 2nd Plymouth district | |
| Assumed office 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Susan Williams Gifford |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 9, 1970 El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Coast Guard |
Years of service | 1989–2012 |
| Rank | Chief petty officer (United States) |
| Unit | USCGC Escanaba (WMEC-907) |
John Robert Gaskey (born February 9, 1970) is an American politician who is a Republican member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He has represented the 2nd Plymouth district since 2025.[1]
Background
Gaskey was born on February 9, 1970 in El Paso, Texas to a military family. His sister serves in the United States Marine Corps, his father was in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War, his grandfather served in World War II in the Pacific Theater, and his great-grandfather served in World War I. Gaskey's oldest son currently serves full-time in the National Guard.
As a member of the United States Coast Guard, Gaskey was stationed in Massachusetts during the September 11 attacks. During Gaskey's time in the Coast Guard, he served on the USCGC Escanaba. The Escanaba patrolled the New England coast enforcing federal and international fishing regulations, carried out migrant interdiction patrols in the Caribbean, and also passed through the Panama Canal to carry out drug interdiction missions in the Eastern Pacific.[2]
Elections
2024
Gaskey won election to the 2nd Plymouth District seat in 2024. He challenged eleven-term incumbent Susan Williams Gifford in the Republican primary, emphasizing his conservative stance on immigration issues, and ultimately defeated Gifford by eighteen points.[3] In the general election on November 5, 2024, Gaskey faced Democrat Sarah G. Hewins, a longtime member of the Carver Select Board who ran as a write-in candidate and obtained approximately 11% of the vote to 89% for Gaskey.[4][5]
2026
Gaskey has announced his intention to run for re-election in 2026.[6] He faces a challenge in the Republican primary from Carver selectman Mark Townsend, while his 2024 opponent Sarah Hewins has announced her intention to run again as a Democrat.[7][8]
Lawsuit
In August 2026, Gaskey was sued by a former State House aide, Kayla Churchill. Churchill claimed that Gaskey fired her after she would not have sex with him or entertain his advances. Additionally, Churchill alleges that she was terminated after Gaskey learned she was in a relationship with another man. Gaskey's Lawyer, Michael Walsh (who is also a Republican Candidate for Attorney General) claims that the House of Representatives did an ethics investigation and found no evidence. [9][10][11][12][13][14]
Committee Assignments
For the 2025-26 Session, Gaskey sits on the following committees in the House:[15]
- Ranking Minority, House Committee on Climate Action and Sustainability
- House Committee on Operations, Facilities and Security
- Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity
- Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
- Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs
References
- ↑ "State Representative John Gaskey". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- ↑ "State Representative John Gaskey". Gaskey Committee. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- ↑ Mancini, Ryan (September 4, 2024). "Mass. Primary 2024: GOP Rep. Susan Williams Gifford loses to John Gaskey". MassLive. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ↑ Grady, Bobby (September 24, 2024). "Gaskey and Hewins get ready for 2nd Plymouth District race". Wareham Week. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ↑ "PD43+ » 2024 State Representative General Election 2nd Plymouth District". PD43+. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ↑ Grady, Bobby (October 23, 2025). "Two candidates announce campaigns for 2026 2nd Plymouth District state representative race". Wareham Week. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ↑ Grady, Bobby (January 22, 2026). "Carver Select Board chair Mark Townsend enters 2nd Plymouth District representative seat race". Wareham Week. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ↑ Grady, Bobby (January 22, 2026). "Longtime Carver town official Sarah G. Hewins confirms candidacy for 2nd District Plymouth representative seat". Wareham Week. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ↑ Mossman, Nick (16 August 2026). "State Rep. John Gaskey accused of workplace sexual harassment | Wareham". theweektoday.com. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ Drysdale, Sam (14 August 2026). "Charges, counteraccusations fly over lawsuit against Mass. lawmaker". NBC Boston. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ Drysdale, Sam (12 August 2026). "Charges, counteraccusations fly over lawsuit against Rep. Gaskey". State Affairs.
- ↑ Deehan, Mike (12 August 2026). "Scoop: GOP state rep faces sexual harassment lawsuit". Axios. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ Nygard, Liesel (13 August 2026). "Mass. state rep. sued by former aide claiming sexual harassment, retaliation". masslive.
- ↑ Chen, Mike (13 August 2026). "Carver Rep. John Gaskey Sued by Ex-Aide Over Harassment, Firing Claims". Hoodline.
- ↑ "Representative John R. Gaskey". malegislature.gov. Retrieved 2025-07-18.