Campaign finance regulators dinged a top Beacon Hill budget writer for taking in excess donations from lobbyists and filing late expense reports with the state, according to a filing from last week.
Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, a Gloucester Democrat who serves as the vice chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, took in $1,025 in excess contribution from five lobbyists and did not immediately disclose the details of $29,301 in credit card payments using campaign funds, the Office of Campaign Finance said in a May 27 letter to the lawmaker.
“The delay in filing required reports frustrates the public’s interest in accurate and timely disclosure of campaign finance activity during the relevant periods. Because appropriate remedial actions have taken place as outlined above, OCPF has determined that no further action is warranted at this time,” OCPF Director William Campbell wrote in the letter.
Ferrante paid the state $1,025 from her campaign account to resolve the excess donations and filed the credit card reports in April 2025 for payments made between July and November 2024, according to state regulators.
Lobbyists can only donate $200 to a candidate for elected office or elected official running for reelection in a calendar year, according to state law.
The Democratic lawmaker also did not timely file reports for two reimbursements for various campaign expenditures and did not file on-time reports clarifying $22,000 worth of expenditures, regulators said. Both issues were eventually resolved.
Ferrante said she fell behind in some filings because of serious health conditions and the death of her father.
“Although challenging issues may arise, I understand these responsibilities are mine and must be fulfilled. Therefore, I have put systems in place to better manage them. As such, OCPF has concluded, ‘that no further action is warranted at this time,’” Ferrante said in a statement to the Herald.
Ferrante was reelected to her seat in November after cruising through the Democratic primary unopposed and earning 66% of the more than 29,000 votes cast in her general election matchup against unenrolled candidate Steven LeBlanc, Jr., according to state data.
She had just over $18,000 in campaign cash on hand as of the end of April, state records showed.
Ferrante is the second House lawmaker this year that the Office of Campaign and Political Finance has said violated state campaign finance laws.
Rep. John Lawn, a Watertown Democrat who co-chairs the Health Care Financing Committee, was penalized in February for “inadequate” record keeping, filing finance reports late, and receiving excess contributions.
He purged $14,000 in donations, appointed a new campaign treasurer, and personally paid the state $500 to resolve the issues.
Originally Published: June 3, 2025 at 2:21 PM EDT
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