Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts (PDM) is delighted to announce the endorsement of its sustaining members of candidates for election to the Massachusetts House and Senate.
PDM is a statewide network of progressive activists, dedicated to promoting economic, social, and environmental justice, truly democratic government, and progressive values in Massachusetts. Active since 2003, PDM pursues these goals through sustained grassroots work on issues at the state and local level, supporting progressive candidates, and enhancing the capacity and effectiveness of activists through trainings, network building, and collaboration with other progressive organizations.
In each election cycle, PDM focuses on a targeted set of races that can make a significant contribution to building a state legislature that will advance a progressive agenda and ensure an open and transparent legislative process that enhances citizen engagement in our democracy.
State Senate
PDM is pleased to endorse:
PAUL MARK to represent the Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, Hampshire district in the Massachusetts Senate. Paul has been a progressive stalwart during his tenure in the House and is ready to lead on legislation to support higher education, workers’ rights, the environment, and access to health care. Paul’s values are informed by his working-class upbringing, his personal struggle to attain an education, and his experience as a union member, all of which enable him to understand the needs of the people in his district and to represent their interests. Learn more about Paul, his background, and his vision HERE.
BECCA RAUSCH for a third term in the State Senate representing a newly configured Middlesex, Worcester, and Norfolk district. Becca’s is one of the most consistently progressive and effective voices in the Statehouse, successfully championing reproductive justice, climate policy, and election reform in the most recent session. Becca is facing a very challenging race because of redistricting and needs boots-on-the-ground support to get her message out to voters. Learn more about Becca and how you can help HERE.
ROBYN KENNEDY to represent the 1st Worcester District. Her focus will be on workforce care providers, early education, affordable housing, health inequities and legislative transparency. Robyn is an articulate advocate for the issues PDM supports and, as a five-time runner of the Boston Marathon, has the heart and discipline to go the distance to see them through. Learn more about Robyn and contribute to her campaign HERE.
House of Representatives
PDM is proud to endorse the following candidates for election to the House:
DAVID LEBOEUF for re-election to represent Worcester-17 in the Massachusetts House. David, who faces a conservative Republican challenger in the general election, has demonstrated his deep commitment to progressive policies such as affordable housing and public education, and to address the problems his constituents and residents of gateway citizens across the Commonwealth face: foreclosure, skyrocketing rent, utility shut-offs, and inadequate public transit and rail service. Learn more about David and contribute to his campaign HERE.
NATALIE HIGGINS for re-election to the Massachusetts House, representing the Worcester-4 district. In addition to her work helping her constituents find their way through the thicket of governmental bureaucracies during COVID, Natalie has been a forceful and outspoken advocate on progressive issues ranging from shelter access to free higher education to rape-kit testing to her successful pilot program on housing retrofitting. Learn more about Natalie and contribute to her campaign HERE.
MANNY CRUZ to represent Salem (Essex-7) in the Massachusetts House. A member of the Salem School Committee, Manny is deeply knowledgeable about education policy and understands the education funding needs of gateway cities like Salem. We were impressed by Manny’s policy chops across many issues, and his readiness to hit the ground running. Read more about him and get involved HERE.
JAMES ARENA-DEROSA in the open 8th Middlesex district seat (Holliston, Hopkinton, Sherborn, and Millis) where he is facing a difficult primary challenge. He has worked for non-profit and social service organizations including Oxfam America, the Peace Corps, and as regional director of the USDA’s Food & Nutrition program. He will be a full-time state representative if elected and supports free breakfast and lunch for all public-school students, the Fair Share Amendment, single-payer health insurance, enhanced government transparency, and affordable housing among other progressive issues. Read more about him and get involved HERE.
TRAM NGUYEN for re-election as representative for Essex-18, a purple district encompassing Andover, N. Andover, Boxford, and Tewksbury. Tram, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary, faces a very conservative Republican in the general election. Tram strongly and actively supports a broad range of progressive issues and lends her expertise to her colleagues, in part based on her prior work at Greater Boston Legal Services, on labor and workforce issues, housing, and helping victims of domestic violence. She is a strong practitioner of building and working in coalitions. Learn more and sign up to volunteer and contribute HERE.
TERESA ENGLISH to represent the 22nd Middlesex District (Billerica). Teresa is challenging Republican Marc Lombardo, whom she narrowly lost to in a write-in campaign in 2020. She is a tenacious and committed advocate for working families, focusing on jobs, good schools and housing. She has demonstrated that she can build power by forming coalitions. Learn more about Teresa and contribute to her campaign HERE.