William Q.
MacLean Jr., an American politician, died on February 20, 2026, at age 91. He served in the Massachusetts General Court from 1961 to 1993, including 20 years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and 12 years in the Massachusetts Senate.
A Democrat, he held House leadership posts from 1972 to 1978, serving as majority whip and then majority leader before resigning amid a conflict with Speaker Thomas W. McGee. He was known as “Mr. December” for his ability to win passage of bills late in legislative sessions. MacLean did not seek reelection in 1992 and was convicted in 1993 of violating a conflict-of-interest law.
William Quincy MacLean Jr. (November 4, 1934 – February 20, 2026) was an American politician who served in the Massachusetts General Court from 1961 to 1993, serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1961 to 1981 and in the Massachusetts Senate from 1981 to 1993. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a part of House leadership from 1972 to 1978, serving as majority whip and then majority leader until he resigned from leadership amid a conflict with Speaker Thomas W. McGee. He gained the nickname “Mr. December” for his ability to get bills passed in the final month of a legislative session. He did not seek reelection in 1992 and was convicted of violating a conflict-of-interest law in 1993, paying the largest conflict-of-interest fine in state history and losing his pension.