Four Weeks to the MA Primary

The Massachusetts state primary is just under four weeks away on Tuesday, September 1, and the general election is just three months way on Tuesday, November 3. That time will fly by.

Over the past few months, our Elections Committee has been hard at work developing our candidate questionnaires, researching candidates, and interviewing candidates.

See all of the questionnaires received and endorsements made so far here.

As a member-based organization, all of our endorsements are ultimately decided by member votes, and we’re proud to announce the next batch of endorsements.

About Our Endorsement Process

Our endorsement process contains a few steps.

(1) Questionnaire: Every cycle, Progressive Mass’s Elections and Endorsements Committee (EEC) puts together comprehensive policy questionnaires for federal and state candidates, which we publish on our website. Only candidates who fill out these questionnaires are eligible for endorsement.

(2) Interviews: For Congressional races, the EEC conducts public interviews of all candidates who submit questionnaires. For legislative races, the EEC conducts research about the various races on the ballot and interviews candidates who submit questionnaires and meet certain criteria (progressive values, viability, etc.).

(3) Recommendations: The EEC then deliberates on whom and whether to recommend for endorsement to the full membership.

(4) Member Vote: The ultimate decision lies with our members. Candidates must receive at least 60% of the vote in a member ballot to receive an endorsement.

MA Senate

Carey McDonald for Fifth Middlesex

The District: Malden, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Winchester (Pcts 1 – 3, 8)

Carey McDonald is a Malden City Councilor who led the process to create Malden’s climate action plan, passed policies to protect renters and invest in affordable housing, and championed policies to protect Malden’s immigrant communities. Carey also brings a background as a nonprofit leader who has built voter outreach programs and an education funding expert. They are running to fight for bold solutions to address our housing crisis and climate crisis, to invest more in our public schools, and to make state government more transparent and accountable. Learn more about Carey at https://www.careymcdonald.com/.

Carey has also been endorsed by our chapter Mystic Valley Progressives.

Daniel Lander for Suffolk and Middlesex

The District: Belmont; Fenway (Boston Ward 4 Pcts 10, 12; Ward 5 Pcts 2, 10, 12, 15); Allston-Brighton (Boston Ward 21, Ward 22); West Cambridge (Ward 8 Pct 2, Ward 9); Watertown

Daniel Lander has worked for progressive campaigns up and down the ballot and most recently worked at Boston City Hall on issues like using city-owned land for affordable housing, expanding access to Boston’s cultural sites, and helping small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. He understands that Massachusetts can and must do more to make Massachusetts an affordable place for people to live at any stage of life, increase access and reliability of public transit, and tackle the climate crisis and that we have resources to turn big and policy ideas into action. Learn more about Daniel at https://www.daniellander.com/.

Daniel has also been endorsed by our chapter Allston-Brighton Progressives.

~Progressive Mass also polled members on the Second Middlesex Senate race. Although Erika Uyterhoeven received the most votes, no candidate reached 60%. Find questionnaires from all candidates here.~

MA House

Alison Leary for 10th Middlesex

The District: Newton (Ward 1 Pcts 1, 2A, 4; Ward 3 Pcts 1A, 4), Waltham (Ward 1 Pct 2A; Ward 3 Pct 2A; Ward 4 Pcts 1A, 2; Ward 5 Pcts 1, 2A; Ward 6 Pct 2; Ward 8 Pct 2; Ward 9), Watertown (Pcts 9–12)

Alison Leary is a Newton City Councilor who has been a strong advocate for transit-oriented development, climate-ready infrastructure, and plastics reduction. She has been active as a member and leader of various environmental organizations and worked for a nonprofit providing transitional housing. She is running to continue the fight for action on climate and the housing crisis, to champion single payer health care, and to make the State House more transparent. Learn more about Alison at https://www.alisonleary.com/.

Harini Aiyer for 17th Middlesex

The District: Lowell (Ward 3; Ward 4 Pcts 1, 2, 3A; Ward 5 Pcts 1, 2, 3, 4; Ward 6, Pcts 3, 4A; Ward 7 Pct 3A; Ward 8 Pct 4A), Tewksbury Pct 1

Harini Aiyer is an immigrant scientist and community activist running to address the housing crisis and the climate crisis, to invest more in our public schools, and to fight for a more transparent and accountable state legislature. She is the only candidate in the race who supported the rent control ballot question and the only candidate in the race to support a moratorium on pipeline expansion and prison construction. Learn more about Harini at https://www.voteforharini.com/.

Harini has also been endorsed by our chapter Solidarity Lowell.

Evan MacKay for 25th Middlesex

The District: Cambridge (Central Square, Riverside, Central Square, Mid-Cambridge, Porter Square, Agassiz-Baldwin, Harvard Square, West Cambridge, North Cambridge: Ward 3 Pct 3A; Ward 4 Pcts 2, 2A, 3; Ward 6 Pcts 2, 3; Ward 7; Ward 8; Ward 10 Pcts 1A, 2)

Evan MacKay is a climate and democracy activist, union organizer, and former president of the Harvard Grad Student Union. Evan understands that the best state representatives are good organizers, people who are proactive and responsive and who build welcoming and effective coalitions. Evan is ready to do that work and to fight for tax justice, strong democracy, bold solutions to our housing crisis and the climate crisis, and the rights of everyone at a moment when they are under daily attack. Learn more about Evan at https://www.evanforcambridge.com/.

Leila Migliorelli for 32nd Middlesex

The District: Malden (Ward 5 Pcts 2 & 3A), Melrose, Wakefield (Pcts 4 – 6)

Leila Migliorelli is a Melrose City Councilor who has led on such issues creating the first-ever Melrose Affordable Housing Trust, advocating for critical infrastructure projects, and supporting public schools. She is running to advocate for strengthening public schools’ funding, protecting immigrant rights, expanding access to reproductive health care, and and building more sustainable communities. Learn more about Leila at https://leilaforrep.com/.

Leila has also been endorsed by our chapter Mystic Valley Progressives.

Lee Meyer for 19th Suffolk

The District: Revere (Ward 1 Pcts 1, 2; Ward 2 Pcts 1, 2, 3A; Ward 5), Winthrop

Lee Meyer is a paramedic who sees the impacts of inequality, the housing crisis, and the gaps in our health care system every day. He is running to reduce health care costs, expand access to reproductive health care, invest in affordable housing, and take on utility profiteering. He is running against the second-most conservative Democrat in the MA House, who has voted repeatedly against expanding abortion access and against common-sense guns safety measures and has a record of hard-line NIMBYism. Learn more about Lee at https://www.lee4themasses.com/.

Governor’s Council

The Governor’s Council is the most important office that you may have never heard of. The Massachusetts Governor’s Council consists of eight individuals elected from districts each consisting of five state senate districts. The Council is responsible for confirming judges and members of the Parole Board, among other nominees, and of approving pardons and commutations. If you care about the present and future of courts in Massachusetts, then you should care about the Governor’s Council.

We are proud to endorse four incumbents facing contested elections.

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Tamisha Civil for District 2

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  • Learn about Tamisha at https://tamishacivil.com/.
  • Communities in District 2: Ashland, Attleboro, Avon, Bellingham, Braintree (Pcts 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 4A, 5A, 5B, 6B), Bridgewater, Brockton, Canton, Dover, East Bridgewater, Easton, Foxborough, Framingham, Franklin, Halifax, Hanson, Holliston, Hopkinton, Mansfield, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Milton, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Norton, Plainville, Randolph, Sharon, Sherborn, Stoughton, West Bridgewater, Whitman, Wrentham
  • State Senators’ Districts within D2: Mike Brady, Bill Driscoll, Paul Feeney, Karen Spilka, Becca Rausch

Mara Dolan for District 3

  • Learn more about Mara at https://maradolan.com/.
  • Boston neighborhoods in District 3: Boston — Fenway (W4P10, 12; W5P2, 10, 12, 15; W21P1); Boston – Allston/Brighton (W21P2-16, W22)
  • Other cities and towns in District 3: Acton, Arlington, Ayer, Bedford, Belmont, Billerica, Boxborough, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge – West Cambridge (W8P2; W9); Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Harvard, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Newton, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston, Woburn
  • State Senators’ Districts within D3: Mike Barrett, Will Brownsberger, Cindy Creem, Jamie Eldridge, Cindy Friedman

Paul DePalo for District 7

  • Learn more about Paul at https://www.pauldepalo.com/.
  • Communities in District 7:
    • Hampden County: Brimfield, Holland, Monson, and Wales
    • Hampshire County: Ware
    • Middlesex County: Ashby, Groton, Shirley, Townsend, and Westford
    • Worcester County (excluding Ashburnham, Athol, Harvard, Milford, Petersham, Royalston, Southborough, Warren, and Winchendon)
  • State Senators’ Districts within D4: John Cronin, Peter Durant, Ryan Fattman, Robyn Kennedy, Michael Moore

Tara Jacobs for District 8

  • Learn more about Tara at https://tarajacobs.com/.
  • Communities in District 8:
    • Berkshire County (all)
    • Franklin County (all)
    • Hampden County (all but Brimfield, Holland, Monson, and Wales)
    • Hampshire County (all except Ware)
    • Worcester County (Ashburnham, Athol, Petersham, Royalston, Waren, and Winchendon)
  • State Senators’ Districts within D8: Jo Comerford, Adam Gomez, Paul Mark, Jake Oliveira, John Velis

Your Progressive Guide to the 2026 Statewide Ballot Questions

✅VOTE YES ON 1 to expand the public records law to cover the Governor and the Legislature. We’re the only state in the country that doesn’t do that already. Let the sunlight in. 

✅VOTE YES ON 2 to enable public defenders to collectively bargain. Every worker deserves to have a union, and public defenders, who are often overworked and underpaid, should be no exception. 

❌VOTE NO ON 3 to prevent private equity billionaires from rigging our election system in their favor. Top-two primaries empower corporate PACs and self-funders, disadvantage grassroots candidates, and turn MAGA voters into election kingmakers. 

✅VOTE YES ON 4 to enable voters to register to vote or update their registration on Election Day. No eligible voter should be turned away due to a clerical error, and this reform is one of the most proven ways to increase voter turnout. 

❌VOTE NO ON 5 to protect our state’s ability to invest in health care, transportation, and public education. Billionaires would get to enrich themselves, while the rest of us suffer from underfunded public services. 

✅VOTE YES on 7 to enable more starter homes across the Commonwealth. We have a housing crisis, and large lot size requirements mean fewer homes are able to be built. 

❌VOTE NO on 8 to protect our state’s cannabis laws. We said NO to the war on drugs back in 2016, and we shouldn’t turn back time and destroy local economies. 

✅VOTE YES ON 9 to protect our state’s landmark gun safety law, which cracked down on ghost guns, banned machine gun conversion devices, and strengthened gun violence data collection.

Progressive Mass has not yet taken a position on Question 6, which would dedicate the portion of the sales tax revenue collected from sporting goods, RVs, and golf courses to a nature and water conservation fund.