Jonathan Zlotnik

{{Short description|American politician (born 1990)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jonathan Zlotnik | image = Jonathan D Zlotnik.jpg | alt = Portrait of Zlotnik. | state_house = Massachusetts | district = 2nd Worcester | party = Democratic | term_start = January 2, 2013 | term_end = | predecessor = Richard M. Bastien | successor = | prior_term = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|05|07}} | birth_place = United States | education = University of Massachusetts Lowell (BA) | website = {{URL|https://www.jonzlotnik.com/}} }} '''Jonathan "Jon" D. Zlotnik''' (born May 7, 1990) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 2013.<ref name="telegram">{{cite news|last1=Barnes|first1=George|title=New lawmaker Jon Zlotnik, 22, prepares to take up mantle|url=http://www.telegram.com/article/20121109/NEWS/111099723|access-date=5 June 2017|work=Telegram & Gazette|date=9 Nov 2012|location=Worcester}}</ref>

==Early life and education== Born to Michael and Mary Ann, Zlotnik graduated from Gardner High School in 2008 and then from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a Bachelor of Arts in history in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Representative Jonathan D. Zlotnik Biography |url=https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/JDZ1/Biography |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525064228/https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/JDZ1/Biography |archive-date=25 May 2024 |url-status=live |publisher=The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |access-date=25 May 2024}}</ref> His thesis was titled ''Actors at the End of a Bad Play: The Struggle for Polish Independence, 1796–1945''.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Zlotnik |first=Jonathan D.|date=May 2, 2012 |title=Actors at the End of a Bad Play: The Struggle for Polish Independence 1796–1945 |url=https://uml.digication.com/honors-college-project-archive/history |type=B.A. |publisher=University of Massachusetts Lowell |access-date=25 May 2024}}</ref>

==Political career== Zlotnik gained initial political experience as a summer aide in 2007 and 2008 for Robert Rice.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Barnes|first=George|date=November 7, 2012|title=Zlotnik ousts Bastien in 2nd Worcester District|url=https://www.telegram.com/article/20121107/NEWS/121109653|website=telegram.com}}</ref>

In 2012, Zlotnik launched a campaign for the 2nd Worcester seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, while he was still a senior in college.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sweeney|first=Emily|date=April 3, 2014|title=Young College Grads, Doing it Their Way|url=https://www.uml.edu/news/news-articles/2014/globe-young-grads.aspx|access-date=2020-10-30|website=www.uml.edu|language=en}}</ref> Zlotnik ultimately defeated Republican nominee, Richard M. Bastien, in the election, and deferred plans to study at Suffolk University Law School and join the United States Navy. He now serves on the Joint Committee on Education.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mansfield|first=Andrew|date=May 1, 2019|title=State Rep. Jon Zlotnik talks about the recently passed House budget|url=https://www.thegardnernews.com/news/20190430/state-rep-jon-zlotnik-talks-about-recently-passed-house-budget|access-date=2020-10-30|website=The Gardner News|language=en}}</ref>

In 2020, Zlotnik endorsed Joe Biden and his presidential campaign, as well as Ed Markey for the 2020 Senate election in Massachusetts.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Buell|first=Spencer|date=July 30, 2020|title=In the Endorsement Battle with Joe Kennedy, Ed Markey Is Winning|work=Boston Magazine|url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2020/07/30/endorsement-guide-markey-kennedy/|access-date=2020-10-30}}</ref> In 2022, Zlotnik endorsed Lori Trahan for a seat in the House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts.

In 2023, Zlotnik ran for the Worcester and Hampshire district seat in the Massachusetts Senate when incumbent Democrat Anne Gobi resigned in June to take over as the state's Director of Rural Affairs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kate Campanale Considering Run For Massachusetts Senate |url=https://newbostonpost.com/around-new-england/kate-campanale-considering-run-for-massachusetts-senate/ |website=NewBostonPost |access-date=27 May 2023}}</ref> He was defeated by Republican Peter Durant.

In 2026, Zlotnik announced he would not seek re-election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Landry |first=Stephen |title=Why Gardner Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik is leaving office after 14 years |url=https://www.thegardnernews.com/story/news/politics/elections/state/2026/04/16/state-representative-jon-zlotnik-gardner-ma-announces-he-is-not-seeking-reelection/89632114007/ |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=The Gardner News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|https://www.jonzlotnik.com/}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zlotnik, Jonathan D.}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:People from Gardner, Massachusetts Category:University of Massachusetts Lowell alumni Category:Democratic Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Massachusetts General Court Category:Politicians from Worcester County, Massachusetts