Chris Van Buskirk is the state politics reporter at WBUR, covering everything from the daily happenings of the governor to the way taxpayer dollars are spent, how the Legislature runs and elections in Massachusetts.
He joined the station in October 2025 after more than two and a half years across town at The Boston Herald, where he also covered local politics. Van Buskirk had previous stints at MassLive and the State House News Service, a local independent wire service covering state government.
Van Buskirk is fascinated by the way elected officials spend public money, craft policies, and wield power and influence. He is a nerd for public records and can often be found picking through the latest campaign finance reports.
Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Van Buskirk grew up in Dallas, Texas. He graduated from Emerson College in 2021.
Recently published
Mass. is increasingly unaffordable. But not for the GOP hopefuls for governor
All three Republican gubernatorial candidates have blasted Gov. Maura Healey over the cost of living in Massachusetts. Public records show each owns at least one multi-million-dollar home and additional high-end...
Mass. Senate wants to put more money toward legal defense fund for immigrants
The program was created over the summer as part of the state budget and has helped hundreds of immigrants facing deportation retain lawyers at no cost. Senate President Karen Spilka...
Immigrants in Mass. can get free legal help. Beacon Hill is debating the program's future
The program, known as the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative, provides pro bono legal assistance to low-income immigrants facing removal.
GOP’s Brian Shortsleeve taps New Bedford's Shawn Oliver as running mate
Brian Shortsleeve, a former MBTA chief administrator vying for Massachusetts governor as a Republican, tapped New Bedford City Councilor Shawn Oliver as his running mate, Shortsleeve’s campaign announced Thursday.
House lawmakers send bill to Senate on restricting ICE from Mass. courthouses
Massachusetts House lawmakers passed legislation Wednesday that would ban warrantless civil immigration arrests in courthouses, bar local law enforcement from asking about immigration status and ban new agreements that allow...
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Mass. House plans to vote on bill banning warrantless civil immigration arrests in courthouses
Massachusetts House lawmakers will vote this spring on legislation that bans warrantless civil immigration arrests at courthouses and prohibits local law enforcement officers from initiating contact with U.S. Immigration and...
Auditor DiZoglio’s lawsuit over auditing the Legislature moves to full Supreme Judicial Court
DiZoglio argues the Legislature is breaking state law by not allowing her audit. State lawmakers counter that the auditor is violating the separation of powers in the state constitution. The...
Massachusetts lawmakers rally around ban on warrantless civil immigration arrests
Massachusetts lawmakers are coalescing around a push to bar warrantless civil immigration arrests at courthouses, teeing up a debate this year over new protections for immigrants during President Trump’s immigration...
How the state's economic development chief is trying to make Mass. competitive and affordable
Paley, a longtime venture capitalist, is in charge of recruiting businesses and helping drive down expenses in the state, at a time when affordability is the biggest buzz word in...
Massachusetts lawmakers weigh ban on ICE arrests in courthouses for civil immigration matters
Advocates and state lawmakers are pressing for legislation that bans warrantless civil immigration arrests in and around courthouses in Massachusetts.