ou may have already voted, but we’re sure that even if you have, you still know people who haven’t yet.
TOMORROW — Tuesday, September 1st — is the last day to cast your ballot for the primary.
Polls will be open from 7 am to 8 pm. Find your polling location at wheredoivotema.com. (Note: Some polling locations have changed, so make sure to double check.)
If you still have your mail-in ballot, the best thing to do would be to drop your ballot off at the secure dropbox in your city/town. You need to do so by 8 pm tomorrow (the earlier, the better). You can find dropbox locations here. You cannot drop your mail-in ballot at a polling location tomorrow instead, but you can still vote in-person if you have not submitted your mail-in ballot.
If you have any issues casting a ballot, or see clear issues like long lines or closed polling places, call the Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
WHOM TO VOTE FOR
You can find a complete list of our 2020 endorsements below. Scroll down to find links to the full sets of questionnaires that we received, including for races in which we did not yet choose to endorse. We make all of the questionnaires we receive available to the public as a service to you, the voters.
NB: There are some races that are contested in the general (but not the primary) in which we haven’t endorsed. Stay tuned for more!
The Massachusetts primary is just over two weeks away. We’ve made some endorsements already this spring and summer, and we’re ready to announce a few more.
Do you have questions about voting safely this fall? Check out SafeElectionsMA.org.
MA Legislature
Adam Gomez for Hampden Senate District
Adam Gomez is the Vice President of the Springfield City Council, where he serves as chair of Economic Development, and holds positions on the committees for Casino Oversight, Finance, and Environment and Sustainability. Adam is running to build a community where everyone has a good-paying job they can get to, where everyone has a home in a safe and healthy neighborhood, and where everyone sends their children to a world-class school.
District: Parts of Chicopee, Springfield, and West Springfield
Orlando Ramos is the chair of the Public Safety Committee of the Springfield City Council, where he has spearheaded the passage of one of the first ordinances to ban facial surveillance technology, and a member of United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 336. He is running to continue the fight for police accountability and to ensure that cities like Springfield aren’t left behind, especially when it comes to equitable education funding.
The Massachusetts Governor’s Council is composed of eight individuals elected from districts, and the Lieutenant Governor who serves ex officio. The eight councillors are elected from their respective districts (consisting of five State Senate districts) every two years. The Council meets weekly to record advice and consent on warrants for the state treasury, pardons and commutations, and recording advice and consent to gubernatorial appointments such as judges, clerk-magistrates, public administrators, members of the Parole Board, Appellate Tax Board, Industrial Accident Board and Industrial Accident Reviewing Board, notaries, and justices of the peace.
Helina Fontes for Governor’s Council – District 6
Helina Fontes is a community organizer and an experienced human services and mental health program director. She is running to ensure that judges and parole board members are representative of the communities they serve, understand the unique challenges of those communities, and have demonstrated a personal commitment to jail and prison diversion, community integration, and racial justice.
Cities and Towns in District 6: Cambridge, Everett, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Marblehead, Medford, Melrose, Nahant, Reading, Saugus, Somerville, Stoneham, Swampscott, Wakefield, Winchester + parts of Boston (East Boston, Charlestown, North End, West End, Downtown, Beacon Hill, and parts of the South End and Allston/Brighton)
State Senators’ Districts within D6: Brendan Crighton, Joe Boncore, Sal DiDomenico, Pat Jehlen, Jason Lewis
Paul DePalo is an attorney, former special education teacher, and member of the Worcester Planning Board. He’s running to ensure that the Parole Board has more mental health professionals and that Massachusetts judges protect women’s rights, workers’ rights, and civil rights for everyone in our inclusive Commonwealth.
Cities of District 7: Fitchburg, Gardner, Leominster, and Worcester; Towns of District 7: Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Auburn, Barre, Bellingham, Berlin, Blackstone, Bolton, Boylston, Brimfield, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Holden, Holland, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Lunenburg, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Monson, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northborough (Pcts. 1, 2, 4), Northbridge, Palmer, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Templeton, Townsend, Upton, Uxbridge, Wales, Ware, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Westminster, Winchendon
Bill Phelan comes with the background of a former mentor for at-risk youth, former mayor, and current defense attorney. He is running to provide a continuum of services before, during, and after incarceration delivered with compassion and dignity in a safe environment and to foster a culture of racial equity and respect for all.
But beyond just being registered, we want you to be informed. Read questionnaires from candidates running for State Legislature across the state here.
There are a lot of questionnaires, so we decided to break up our endorsements into multiple batches as in years past.
Our Elections Committee reviewed questionnaires, spoke with allies, and made recommendations for our second round of endorsements, and then our members voted.
And we’re proud to endorse the following candidates, who will be progressive champions in the MA House and Senate.
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SENATE
NorfoBlk, Bristol & Middlesex: Becca Rausch
Becca Rausch is a first-term senator and a progressive champion. We endorsed Becca in 2018, and she’s been one of our strongest allies in the Senate, with a perfect score on our 2019 scorecard. She’s been a tireless fighter for health equity, civil rights, and strengthening our democracy, and we need more senators like her.
Where’s the District?: All or parts of Attleboro, Franklin, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, North Attelborough, Plainville, Sherborn, Wayland, Wellesley, and Wrentham
Norfolk, Bristol & Plymouth: Jarred Rose
Jarred Rose is a Town Meeting Member in Stoughton, a member of the Stoughton Cultural Council, and a former policy adviser in the MA Senate. He is running to fight for a Massachusetts Green New Deal, affordable housing for all income levels, and a more equitable and inclusive commonwealth.
Where’s the District?: All or parts of Avon, Braintree, Canton, East Bridgewater, Easton, Milton, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, and West Bridgewater
Plymouth & Norfolk: Meg Wheeler
Meg Wheeler is the founder of One for Women, an online community and marketplace devoted to connecting and empowering women. She is running to fight for universal child care, a more aggressive response to climate change, and an economy that works for all, not just those on the top.
Where’s the District?: Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield, Norwell, Scituate, and Weymouth
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HOUSE
1st Essex: Amber Hewett
Amber Hewett is an environmental advocate who has advanced offshore wind policy in a number of states at the National Wildlife Federation. She’s ready to continue the fight for bold policies to mitigate climate change and address the intersectionality of the climate crisis with inequality and systemic racism.
Where’s the District?: Amesbury, Newburport, and Salisbury
2nd Essex: Christina Eckert
Christina Eckert is a community advocate who has worked for Merrimack River Watershed Council, Masconomet Education Foundation, and the Community Giving Tree. She is running to fight for environmental protection and housing security and address the district’s status as public transit desert.
Where’s the District?: All or parts of Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Merrimac, Newbury, and West Newbury
8th Norfolk: Andrew Flowers
Andrew Flowers is an economist and the chair of Walpole’s affordable housing committee. He is running to fight for greater investments in public transit, make Massachusetts a more welcoming state for all, and strengthen democracy in the State House and the state as a whole.
Learn more at https://andrewflowers.com/.
Where’s the District?: All or parts of Mansfield, Sharon, Stoughton, and Walpole
16th Suffolk: Joe Gravellese
Joe Gravellese is former legislative director and mayoral aide and has the hands-on experience of crafting policy. He’s running for office in order to fight for greater investment in public transit, solutions to our affordable housing crisis, and an accelerated transition to 100% renewable energy.
But beyond just being registered, we want you to be informed. Read questionnaires from candidates running for State Legislature across the state here.
There are a lot of questionnaires, and we will break up our endorsements into multiple batches as in years past.
Our Elections Committee reviewed questionnaires, spoke with allies, and made recommendations for a first batch, and then our members voted.
And we’re proud to endorse the following candidates, who will be progressive champions in the MA House.
17th Essex: Marianela Rivera
About the District: Precincts 2, 3 and 4, of Andover, precincts 1, 2 and 3, of ward C, ward D, and precinct 1 of ward E, of Lawrence, and precinct 2 in Methuen
Marianela Rivera is a special education professional, Coordinator of the Greater Lawrence Education Justice Alliance, and the Vice Chair of the Lawrence School Committee, where she has fought for greater equity and community empowerment. She is running to fight for equity and justice in education, health care, and our response to climate change.
Learn more at https://www.riveraforstaterep.com/.
17th Middlesex: Lisa Arnold
About the District: Precinct 4, of Chelmsford, ward 1, precinct 3 of ward 2, precincts 2 and 3 of ward 4, and wards 10 and 11, of Lowell
Lisa Arnold is a quality systems manager, founding member of Solidarity Lowell, and member of the Lowell Bike Coalition. She is running to fight for increased access to care for mental health, bold and immediate climate action, improved public transportation, and solutions to the affordable housing crisis.
About the District: Precincts 2 and 3 of ward 2, and wards 3, 5 and 6, of Somerville
Erika Uyterhoeven is an antitrust economist, organizer, and the founder of Act on Mass, where she has worked to activate grassroots organizers and voters to hold the Massachusetts State House accountable on progressive issues. She is running to fight for progressive revenue, a Massachusetts Green New Deal, and increasing investments in public schools and public housing.
About the District: Ward 9, precinct 3 of ward 10, and precinct 2 of ward 11, of Cambridge, and precincts 1–9, of Watertown
Steve Owens is a community activist, member of the Watertown Transportation Task Force, and transportation consultant, helping public sector clients use data-driven analysis to develop freight transportation plans. He is running to fight for bold action to reduce the impact of climate change, greater investment in public transit, and expanded access to sustainable and affordable housing.
About the District: Ward 2 (Charlestown), of Boston, and Wards 1 and 2, precincts 1 and 3 of ward 3, and precincts 1 and 4 of ward 4, of Chelsea
Damali Vidot is a community activist, youth mentor, and Chelsea City Councilor. She has fought for affordable housing, environmental justice, community empowerment, transit equity, and a more equitable economy in her role on the City Council and is running to continue that fight in the Massachusetts State House.
About the District: Precincts 9–20, 22 and 23 of ward 18, precincts 3, 8 and 9 of ward 20, of Boston
Gretchen Van Ness is a civil rights lawyer who has litigated and advocated against all forms of discrimination and recently served as General Counsel and Legislative Director for progressive State Senator Becca Rausch. She is running to fight for an accelerated transition to an equitable green economy, fully funding our public schools, and health care as a human right.
Learn more at https://www.gretchenvanness.org/.
17th Suffolk: Jordan Meehan
About the District: Precincts 3, 5–12 and 15 of ward 21, and precincts 2, 3, 6, 9 and 10 in ward 22, of Boston (Allston/Brighton)
Jordan Meehan is a lawyer, environmental activist, and the Policy Coordinator for the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth, where he advocates for policies to help homeless youth, reform our juvenile justice system, and build safe and supportive school environments. He is running to fight for housing justice, transit equity, and a Green New Deal for Massachusetts.
About the District: Berlin, Boylston, Clinton, Lancaster, precincts 2 and 4 of Northborough, and precinct 2 of Sterling
Ceylan Rowe is a small business owner, community activist, and Commissioner on the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women, where she has fought for legislation to support women and girls. She is running to fight for bold solutions on climate, local economic development, gender equity, and educational opportunity for all.
The pandemic has revealed time and time again the systemic inequalities across Massachusetts (and the country) as well as the need for elected officials who are willing to be bold, progressive leaders and not wait for others to take action.
We need elected officials who will fight for Medicare for All because, as this pandemic shows, our health is connected, and no one should have to go broke to access the care that they need.
We need elected officials who will fight for the rights of immigrants and all marginalized communities.
We need elected officials who understand that the 2020s will be the decade in which we decide whether or not we can have a livable planet — and that we need a response to climate change that meets that urgency.
And we need elected officials who are willing to think creatively and to help chart what a progressive vision looks like for the country (and how we get out of the mess of the past four years).
Our members voted and overwhelmingly said that Alex Morse and Robbie Goldstein are the type of elected official we need, with each securing more than 95% of the vote.
(Stay tuned for more Congressional and down-ballot legislative endorsements in weeks to come.)
Alex Morse for CD-01
At age 21, Alex Morse became the youngest and first openly gay mayor of Holyoke. In his role as mayor, he has helped make Holyoke a more just and prosperous city. He closed the state’s last coal power plant and replaced it with the state’s largest solar field, doubled the school system’s graduation rate, and implemented a needle exchange program to fight the opioid epidemic. Under Alex’s leadership, Holyoke became one of the first sanctuary cities in the country in 2014, and welcomed hundreds of Puerto Rican families displaced by Hurricane Maria in 2018.
Alex has the experience and vision to continue this fight in Congress on issues such as universal health care, reforming our broken immigrant and criminal justice systems, and greening our infrastructure. Learn more at www.alexmorseforcongress.com/.
Robbie Goldstein for CD-08
Dr. Robbie Goldstein is a physician and graduate of Tufts University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, MD, and a PhD in cancer genetics. After he completed his PhD, he joined Massachusetts General Hospital for medical training and eventually joined the faculty. He now works as a primary care doctor and an infectious disease specialist, and created the hospital’s first Transgender Health Program. Robbie has spent his career in medicine focused on caring for those left out of the system.
He seeks to address our nation’s public health issues by enacting healthcare for all, substance use support services, common-sense gun violence prevention measures, and a Green New Deal. Learn more at www.robbieforchange.com.
Election Day is just four weeks away. That’s right: 28 days.
Ballot Question Endorsements: YES-YES-YES
Massachusetts voters will see three questions on the ballot when they go to vote in four weeks. Progressive Massachusetts is recommending that you vote YES-YES-YES.
Progressive Massachusetts has been a part of the Freedom for All Massachusetts coalition since the legislative push the session before last, but before taking a position on Questions 1 and 2, we polled our members–the ultimate decision-makers in our organization. Our members overwhelmingly voted to say Yes on 1 and Yes on 2 as well.
Here’s why:
Why Yes on 1: In Massachusetts, there is no law and no limit governing the number of patients that can be assigned to a nurse at one time (aside from the Intensive Care Unit). Overworked nurses and understaffed hospitals lead to more complications, readmissions, and errors. Nurses aren’t able to thrive at their work, and patients aren’t able to get the care they deserve. Everyone deserves high-quality working conditions, and everyone deserves the best health care our state can offer.
Why Yes on 2: On the local, state, and federal level, we see time and time again how the outsize role of money in politics distorts democracy. A Yes on Question 2 would send a powerful statement to elected officials and to other states that Massachusetts voters want to see real action on campaign finance reform.
Why Yes on 3: Because everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Because every young person deserves a chance to succeed in school and prepare for their future — including young people who are transgender. Because we are better than fear, bigotry, and transphobia. To name a few.
Some More Endorsements: Senator Elizabeth Warren & AG Maura Healey
Our members overwhelmingly voted to endorse Elizabeth Warren and Maura Healey for re-election.
Why Elizabeth Warren? Let’s turn it over to our members?
“Elizabeth Warren has been a champion in Washington for all in a very dark and scary time in U.S politics. Her voice, her actions and her persistence are needed now more than ever.”
“MA voters should know that Senator Warren has our back.”
“Senator Warren is a leader for government of the people, by the people and for the people. She stands up to wealthy corporations (who are not people) and the oligarchs who are continuing to strangle democracy in the United States.”
And why Maura Healey?
“Absolutely the people’s attorney… She is a great watchdog for the people and a great bull dog against President Trump and his policies.”
“Maura Healey has been in the forefront of the resistance to the Trump administrating since the first day.”
“Among the leaders in holding pharmaceutical manufacturers accountable for the opioid crisis.”
We agree!
One more DA Endorsement: John Bradley, Plymouth County
As countless stories from right here in Massachusetts and around the country have shown, a District Attorney has a lot of power. Too often, DAs have used that power in favor of mass incarceration and the attendant racial and economic disparities. From overcharging to lobbying against criminal justice reform, DAs have proven themselves to be an obstacle.
We’ve been working with the Justice for Massachusetts coalition to elect progressive DAs–and then hold them accountable. JFM endorsed John Bradley for Plymouth County DA, and our members voted to do so as well.
John is committed to:
Abolishing cash bail
Taking illegally possessed firearms off the streets
Shifting strategy for dealing with drug addiction to medical-based solutions rather than criminalization
Meeting regularly with community leaders and instituting accountability checks
Increasing data transparency from the DA’s office to the community
John’s experience as a career prosecutor for over 30 years in Plymouth and Worcester Counties, as well as in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, equips him to implement progressive change to restore ethics, compassion, and common sense to the important public safety work of the DA’s Office.
What a Yes Would Do: Question 1 would limit the number of patients that can be assigned to each registered nurse in Massachusetts hospitals and certain other health care facilities. The maximum number of patients would vary by type of unit and level of care (see the breakdown here). The enforcement of the measure would be suspended during a public health emergency as declared by the state or nationally.
Have Other States Done This?: California is currently the only state to have implemented fixed nurse-to-patient ratios. Doomsday scenarios have not come to pass, job satisfaction among nurses has gone up, and readmissions have gone down. You can read more here:
Michelle Tellez, “Work Satisfaction among California Nurses: A Longitudinal Analysis,” Nursing Economics 30, no. 2 (March – April 2012): 73-81, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22558724.
Matthew McHugh, et al, “Hospitals With Higher Nurse Staffing Had Lower Odds Of Readmissions Penalties Than Hospitals With Lower Staffing,” Health Affairs 32, no. 10 (October 2013): 1740-1747, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4315496/.
Why You Should Vote Yes: In Massachusetts, there is no law and no limit governing the number of patients that can be assigned to a nurse at one time (aside from the Intensive Care Unit). Overworked nurses and understaffed hospitals lead to more complications, readmissions, and errors. Nurses aren’t able to thrive at their work, and patients aren’t able to get the care they deserve. More time with your nurse means better care for you.
Who is Supporting Q1: A wide coalition of labor groups, community groups, and progressive elected officials — See the full list here. The No on Question 1 campaign is being funded by mega-rich hospital executives (read more here). Which side are you on?
Question 2: Advisory Commission for Amendments to the U.S. Constitution Regarding Corporate Personhood and Political Spending Initiative
Recommendation: Vote YES.
What a Yes Would Do: Question 2 would create a 15-member citizens commission tasked with proposing amendments to the US Constitution, specifically regarding overturning Citizens United and defining inalienable constitutional rights as belonging to individual living human beings, not artificial entities or collections of human beings. The commission would create reports onpolitical and election spending in Massachusetts; the legal ability of the state government to regulate corporations; and proposals for federal constitutional amendments and actions recommended for advancing the proposed amendments. Read the full text here.
Who Would Sit on the Commission?: Any citizen residing in Massachusetts would be eligible to serve, and the commissioners would be unpaid. The commissioners would be appointed by the Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Speaker of the House, and Senate President (each of whom would appoint 3 members).
When Would It Take Effect?: The measure would take effect on January 1, 2019, and the commission’s first report would be due on December 31, 2019.
Why You Should Vote Yes: On the local, state, and federal level, we see time and time again how the outsize role of money in politics distorts democracy. A Yes on Question 2 would send a powerful statement to elected officials and to other states that Massachusetts voters want to see real action on campaign finance reform.
Who is Suporting Q2: See a list of endorsing individuals and organizations here.
What a Yes Would Do: A “yes” vote on Question 3 supports upholding the landmark 2016 bill that that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in public places. The law requires access to areas segregated based on gender—such as bathrooms and locker rooms—to be allowed according to an individual’s self-identified gender identity. In short, the law is about the right of trans people to exist in public space.
Why Is This Even on the Ballot?: Reactionaries in this state collected enough signatures to do so because they want to take our state backwards. This is the first time in decades that Massachusetts has had a citizens veto referendum on the ballot. What that means is that when you enter the ballot box, you–the voter–should act as though you are the governor being presented with this bill. A yes is a vote to sign it. A no is a vote to veto it.
Why You Should Vote Yes: Because everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Because every young person deserves a chance to succeed in school and prepare for their future — including young people who are transgender. Because we are better than fear, bigotry, and transphobia. To name a few.
How You Can Help: Find volunteer opportunities on the Freedom for All Massachusetts website here.
About Our Process
Progressive Massachusetts has been a part of the Freedom for All Massachusetts coalition since the legislative push the session before last, but before taking a position on Questions 1 and 2, we polled our members–the ultimate decision-makers in our organization. Our members overwhelmingly voted to say Yes on 1 and Yes on 2 as well.
Election Day — Tuesday, November 6th — is less than seven weeks away. We had some great wins on primary night two weeks ago, but the work continues.
Over the past couple of months, we’ve been inviting candidates to fill out our comprehensive policy questionnaire — a vital tool for informing voters and for holding politicians accountable. Our Election and Endorsement Committee reviews them and then chooses whether to make a recommendation to our members, the ultimate deciders. We set a high bar for endorsements; candidates must earn at least 60% of our members’ votes.
Congrats to our latest round of endorsees!
State Senate
Cape & Islands: Julian Cyr
Julian Cyr serves in the Massachusetts Senate representing Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. Born and raised in Truro, Julian got his start in with a career in public policy, health advocacy, organizing, and social justice. Julian was elected to the State Senate in 2016 as the youngest senator in the 40-member body. As State Senator, Julian is dedicated to identifying solutions for the opioid epidemic, public education, and protecting the Cape’s vulnerable environment. As a proudly gay legislator, Julian has advocated on behalf of the Commonwealth’s LGBTQ residents as State Senator and as former chair of the Massachusetts Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ) Youth.
Middlesex & Worcester: Jamie Eldridge
Jamie Eldridge has served as State Senator for the Middlesex and Worcester district since January 2009. Senator Eldridge serves as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Financial Services, and is known for his leadership on progressive issues. Previously, Senator Eldridge served as State Representative for the 37th Middlesex district, after being elected the only Clean Elections candidate to public office in Massachusetts history in November 2002. For the 2017-18 session, Senator Eldridge, filed bills aimed at reducing the wealth gap, making health care a right, protecting the environment, combating climate change, increasing education funding, reforming the criminal justice system, and safeguarding the civil rights of immigrants and Muslims in Massachusetts.
Plymouth & Norfolk: Katie McBrine
Dr. Katie McBrine is a lifelong Democrat, a pediatrician and a mom, not the classic politician. She decided to run for office because she is disappointed by our state’s failure to make progress toward the goals in our party platform. As a doctor, she is witnessing firsthand the attacks on health care. She cannot sit by any longer while people suffer because our legislators do not know enough about how our health care system works to propose effective solutions. Dr. McBrine has long been active in the community as a health and science educator. She is a progressive who sees many issues through the lens of impact on public health. She wants to see our state lead the nation in affordable health care, in environmental protection, in civil rights, in education, in public transportation, and in gun safety. She will take her experience, her concerns, and her values to Beacon Hill and knowledgeably advocate for change.
State House
5th Barnstable: Jack Stanton
Jack Stanton is a lifelong Sandwich resident with deep ties to his community. He is a product of the public schools, graduating as president of his high school class in 2010 and receiving his BA from the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs in 2014. Since then Jack has been working primarily in the development sector with experience at the World Bank, and at Forcier Consulting in Mozambique. Deeply troubled by the political climate, concerned about the numerous challenges affecting Cape Cod, and seeing a need for more activist leadership at the state level, Jack decided to move home and run for office in his hometown. Since returning, Jack has been working as an offshore lobsterman while campaigning to bring attention to the many issues affecting Cape Cod – a region wrongly perceived as a wealthy enclave. Jack is running to challenge this notion and better serve his neighbors.
2nd Essex: Christina Eckert
Christina Eckert has been advocating for the children of Essex County for 11 years. After serving as President of Boxford PTO, she then co-founded Masconomet Education Foundation, raising nearly half a million dollars for two STEM labs and other educational initiatives. She is Development Director for grassroots children’s charity Community Giving Tree, helping the organization grow from serving hundreds of children per year, to helping 10,000 annually. She also serves on Boxford’s Recreation Committee, overseeing the summer Park Program since 2008. Christina sees her run for State Rep in the 2nd Essex District as a way to have a larger impact on the greater community. She wants to prioritize public schools and their safety; move toward a clean energy future; and make health care truly universal and comprehensive.
18th Essex: Tram Nguyen
Tram Nguyen is running for state representative to be a tireless advocate for the 18th Essex District. As a legal aid attorney, Tram has represented workers, domestic violence survivors, seniors, children, and veterans in the courtroom and has worked on legislation that improves the quality of life for ALL people in the Commonwealth. As state representative, Tram will advocate for the people of this district on issues like reproductive rights, common sense gun reforms and the opioid epidemic. Tram’s family immigrated to America as political refugees when she was 5 years old —not knowing a word of English. Tram is proud of the public education system that allowed her to be the first in her family to attend college. She graduated from Tufts University and later went on to earn her juris doctor from the Northeastern University School of Law. Tram looks forward to bringing her passion, dedication, and determination to Beacon Hill.
1st Hampden: Tanya Neslusan
As the daughter, sister and wife of veterans, Tanya Neslusan believes strongly in the concept of service to country and community. She is an activist who currently serves as the President of the Sturbridge Regional Huddle, Secretary of the Sturbridge Democratic Town Committee, and a member of the Planning Committee for the Worcester Chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice. Giving back to her community has always been important to her, whether she was coaching youth soccer or participating in Habitat for Humanity. Running for office is just another extension of that commitment which will enable her to help others on a larger scale. She currently resides in Sturbridge with her wife, Rebecca, her teenage son, Nick.
14th Middlesex: Tami Gouveia
Tami Gouveia is a strategic thinker and collaborator with a strong passion for social and environmental justice. For over 15 years, she has worked as a leader in public health and social work, serving as Director of Programs for the Greater Lawrence Health Center, Founder and Chair of the Lowell Roundtable on Substance Abuse Prevention, and Executive Director of Tobacco Free Mass. In 2016, Tami founded and co-organized the MA Chapter of the Women’s March, an experience that ultimately precipitated her run for office. On Beacon Hill, Tami hopes to continue the work she’s achieved in enhancing community health, addressing the roots causes of addiction, advocating for justice, and holding corporations accountable. A native Lowellian, Tami now lives in Acton with her two sons.
2nd Plymouth: Sarah Hewins
Sarah Hewins is in her fourth term as Carver Selectman, was elected twice for 10 years to the Planning Board, and served as the town’s Conservation Agent for 15 years. Thirty years ago, Sarah formed a coalition to preserve hundreds of acres of wetlands in the Mississippi delta. Over the past 20 years in southeastern Massachusetts, she has preserved 600 acres of land, established inclusive zoning for affordable housing, was a leader in getting a new elementary school, spearheaded passing the Community Preservation Act, was a co-founder and volunteer Executive Director of a non-profit to help at-risk youth, and attempted to unionize town hall management employees. She has served on many town and regional committees and boards and has run the toddler story hour at the library for 22 years. She earned a PhD in Sociology of Community from Princeton University.
17th Worcester: David LeBoeuf
David LeBoeuf is a lifelong Worcester resident and proud graduate of the Worcester Public Schools. David began his career as an interim staff assistant in the Worcester City Manager’s Office. In 2011, he was appointed as the Director of the Initiative for Engaged Citizenship (IEC), a coalition of community-based organizations focused on increasing civic participation in local elections and advocating for election modernization. Since 2015, he has been an Urban Business Initiatives Associate at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, focused on increasing opportunities for small businesses in underserved communities. He currently serves on the boards of the African Community Education program (ACE), the Latin American Health Alliance of Central MA (Hector Reyes House), and the NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center of Central MA/Oak Hill Community Development Corporation, where he is board president.
Primary Night 2018 was a big night for Progressive Massachusetts and our endorsed candidates.
Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley defeated incumbent Congressman Mike Capuano by 17%, becoming the first woman of color to represent Massachusetts in Washington.
Rachael Rollins won by 16% and will become the first woman of color to be the District Attorney of Suffolk County. She ran on a strong progressive platform of implementing the recently passed criminal justice reform bill and taking bold steps beyond it to curb mass incarceration and make sure we aren’t criminalizing poverty, illness, and addiction.
And in a strong message to House Leadership, challengers Jon Santiago and Nika Elugardo defeated Assistant Majority Leader Byron Rushing and Ways & Means Chair Jeff Sanchez, respectively.
They will be joined in the House by other Progressive Mass endorsees Lindsay Sabadosa (Northampton), Maria Robinson (Framingham), and Tommy Vitolo (Brookline), all of whom had big wins last night and face no challenge in the general election. Additionally, Berkshire County will now have a progressive reformer District Attorney in Andrea Harrington.
Becca Rausch won big and will go on to face incumbent Senator Richard Ross this November, and Steve Leibowitz will go on to face incumbent Representative Tim Whelan. Christina Minicucci will face a Republican challenger this fall as well. They will all need your help.
As do our endorsees Jay Gonzalez and Quentin Palfrey, who are fighting to bring progressive policy back to the Corner Office.
Not all of our endorsed candidates won, but we admire the hard work they put in and commitment to moving Massachusetts in a more progressive direction.
Running for office isn’t easy, especially if you are challenging an incumbent. But primaries are essential in a single-party Legislature that too often quells any actual debate.
Reflecting on her victory, Nika Elugardo said, “We need a new kind of politician. And some of those are already in the State House and waiting for their own personal transformation and they will come to be that type of politician. And some are going to have to be replaced because that’s not what they want or are capable of.”
That has been our mission since Progressive Mass started. We hold elected officials accountable, combining issue advocacy and electoral organizing, in a uniquely powerful combination. And our ability to succeed at that work depends on supporters like you.
