| Benjamin Downing | |
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| Downing speaking at the grand opening of the Berkshire Athenaeum Local History and Reference Department (October 2008). | |
| Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 11, 1981 Great Barrington, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Pittsfield, Massachusetts |
| Alma mater | Providence College, Tufts University |
| Profession | political assistant |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Benjamin Brackett Downing (born 11 September 1981) is a Democratic member of the Massachusetts Senate, representing the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin District since 2006.
The oldest of four children, Benjamin Downing was born in Pittsfield to Gerard, the late Berkshire County District Attorney, and Pamela Downing. He attended Providence College in Rhode Island, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 2003. He then moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked for U.S. Representatives Bill Delahunt and Richard Neal before joining the staff of John Olver. He served as Olver's senior advisor on housing, budget, tax, homeland security, and foreign affairs for two years.
In 2004, he returned to Massachusetts and began his graduate studies at Tufts University. While a student at Tufts, he successfully ran for an open seat in the Massachusetts Senate in 2006. He won re-election in 2008. He is the youngest member of the Senate.
He received a Master of Arts degree in Urban & Environmental Policy from Tufts in 2008.
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