Massachusetts

Welcome to the Massachusetts state page! Here, Massachusetts organizers can access and document ongoing projects, current leadership positions, upcoming races, and other important information. This list is non-exhaustive, and state teams are encouraged to expand and adapt these pages to their organizing needs.

Political Landscape of Massachusetts

Partisan Composition of Massachusetts

Overall, Massachusetts is considered a deep blue state, with a Cook PVIof D+15 as of 2022, regularly voting for Democrats by 60-70% in statewide races. Their entire federal delegation, 2 US Senators and 9 US House Representatives, as well as governorship, are all Democrats. Massachusetts also has Democratic supermajorities in their State house (134-1-24, 1 vacancy) and State senate (36-4), giving them a trifecta (as of 1/31/24).

Progressive Outlook for Massachusetts

The overall progressive strategy for Massachusetts is very optimistic. Progressives have scored minor victories here already with universal school lunches for children and no-cost calls for prisoners, and unlike many eastern states, citizen-led ballot initiatives are alive and well. Democrats have a supermajority trifecta, so it is very possible that MA will be the first state to implement single-payer healthcare. The most major issue for progressives here are fiscally-conservative Democrats such as governor Maura Healey and speaker Ronald Mariano, and there are very few progressive legislators in the state legislature. As such, participating in the Democratic primaries are absolutely vital here in 2024.

Get Involved

Register to Vote in Massachusetts

Massachusetts/Voting

Progressive Organizations in Massachusetts

Below is a non-exhaustive list of progressive organizations in Massachusetts, ranked by size and subjective quality. These organizations come with a practical, electoral focus and usually endorse candidates for local races and state representatives who are progressive. Organizations lower down the list are either smaller, with lower standards for who they endorse, or else see liberals or Democrats as their enemy and refuse to work with them altogether when they will necessarily make up the votes for any progressive candidate or legislation and thus shouldn't be supported, but nonetheless qualify as left-wing. Feel free to add to this list with any additions you can think of!

• Progressive Massachusetts Progressive Massachusetts is one of, if not the largest progressive organizations in Massachusetts. They have a voting tracker that measures how progressive each state representative and senator is, and this tool is extremely useful in gauging whether a primary challenge would be worth it. They have a newsletter which regularly gives updates on progressive priorities and legislation, such as the recent wins for permanent free school lunches and no-cost calls for prisoners.
• Incorruptible Massachusetts Incorruptible Mass is also a very reputable progressive organization who was directly responsible for electing Sam Montaño to the 15th Suffolk district state house in 2022 as well as putting forward a slate of around a dozen candidates for various state representative races who gave the incumbents a serious run for their money! They have an informative podcast talking about progressive issues and strategies as well.
• Sierra Club of MassachusettsMassachusetts chapter of the Sierra club. Great for climate activism and action!
• Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts Another progressive activism organization who made several endorsements for progressive candidates.
• Green-Rainbow Party of Massachusetts The Green-Rainbow party of Massachusetts is a branch of the federal Green party. They are worth checking out as they occasionally run local candidates who are wholeheartedly progressive, but I cannot recommend supporting their statewide candidates from an electoral perspective until Massachusetts passes ranked-choice voting and they become viable.

Notable Campaigns in 2024

For September, there are a number of races where progressives are attempting to win open seats or unseat unpopular neoliberal incumbents. I've done research on what these seats in the state legislature are and what towns they would represent. If you think there's any progressives not on this list for the Democratic primaries, please add them.

September 3rd Primary Election (Filing Deadline May 7th)

• Kathleen Camara for State Senate- This is an open seat! Kathleen is interested in going after the 1%, auditing the state legislature, and fundamentally fixing the broken system we find ourselves in. Of the three people running for this seat in the primary, she's by far the most progressive. This is our best chance to get a progressive in the state senate! If you're in or around Milton, Randolph, Braintree, Stoughton, Easton, Bridgewater, or West Bridgewater, she could absolutely use your help!
• Juwan Skeens for Boston -This is a more uphill race, but the incumbent Nick Collins is one of the most conservative state senate Democrats in Massachusetts and Skeens is unambiguously progressive. Worth helping him if you're in the Boston area!
• Heather May for Waltham - Heather May is a progressive state rep candidate who almost won in 2022 against an incumbent who neglects housing and treats his job like its guaranteed. May supports transparency in the state legislature, Medicare for all, affordable housing and climate justice. Helping her campaign is a good way to make a serious impact!
• Carlton Phelps for State Rep - Carlton is primarying an incumbent neoliberal. If you're around Framingham or Ashland, he could use your support!
• Arielle Faria for State Rep - This is an open race and Arielle is by far the more progressive candidate. If you're around Martha's Vineyard, she could use your support!
• Bill Humphrey for State Rep - Bill Humphrey is the chair of the Massachusetts Sierra Club, a well-known environmentalist group. He would be a very welcome addition to the legislature for climate action. He would represent Newton and Brookline.
• Joshua Tarsky for State Rep - Tarsky is a progressive veteran who has submitted a proposal to Progressive Massachusetts and seems very good on progressive issues. This is an open race! He would represent Needham, Dover and Medfield.
• Nichole Mossalam for State Rep - Nichole ran as part of Incorruptible Mass's slate of candidates in 2022 and almost won. She'd be higher on this list, but there's another primary competitor, so it's an uphill battle. She would represent Medford and Malden.
• Tara Hong for Lowell - Tara Hong was part of Incorruptible Mass and almost won against the very much disliked incumbent in 2022. Also a split primary. If you're around Lowell, he could use your help!

November 5th General Election

There are currently no competitive statewide contests for the general election, senate or US House, but there are several races in the state legislature you can contribute to in order to expand the Democratic majority and make the median rep more progressive! Here is a list of state senate and state rep races which are being contested by Republicans and which have voted 55% Democratic or less, listed first by senate, then by house, and in order of Dem vote % ascending (45%-55%).

• Anthony Allard for State Senate- Anthony Allard is the only Democrat running for state senate this election cycle who is trying to unseat an incumbent Republican, Ryan Fattman. If you want to make Fattman a one term state senator and you live around Blackstone, Brimfield, Charlton, Douglas, Dudley, Holland, Hopedale, Mendon, Millville, Monson, Northbridge, Oxford, Southbridge, Sturbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Wales or Webster, now is your chance to make a difference!
• 3rd Bristol and Plymouth State Senate District: There are currently two Democrats competing for the second vulnerable state senate seat here. Whichever one wins will need your support against the Republican challenger. This is an open seat, so keeping it blue is a high priority. If you're in or around Taunton, Berkley, Dighton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Carver, Marion, Middleborough and Wareham, this race needs your attention.
• Dennis Gallagher for State Representative:This state representative district, consisting of the towns of Bridgewater and Raynham, has an open race for the first time in a decade. The incumbent Republican chose not to run for re-election, so right now is a vital chance to flip the district blue! This is the least blue seat with a Democrat contesting it, so it's well within the realm of possibility to flip with your help. (45.6% Dem)

• Jonathan Zlotnik for State Representative: 6 term incumbent Democrat running in a district that votes 46.4% Democrat. If you're around Gardner, Winchendon or Ashburnham, he's a campaign worth looking into!
• Owen Fletcher for State Representative: Our chance to unseat a two term Republican state rep in a district that votes 46.6% Democrat. If you're in or around Sandwich, Barnstable and Bourne, he could use your help!
• Kathleen LaNatra for State Representative: 3 term incumbent Democrat running in a district that votes 47.3% Democrat. If you're in Kingston, Plympton, Plymouth, Middleboro, Halifax, or Pembroke, she could use your support!
• Rebecca Colletta for State Representative: Another slightly red open seat we can flip! 47.4% Democrat. If you're in or around Pembroke, she could use your support!
• Margaret Scarsdale for State Representative: Scarsdale is running for a second term in a swing district consisting of Ashby, Dunstable, Groton, Lunenburg, Pepperell, and Townsend, she needs our support!
• 1st Plymouth District (Plymouth): Another chance to flip a Republican-held swing district (48.2% Democrat). Whichever Democrat wins here will need your support!
• Patricia Haddad for State Representative: 12 term incumbent neoliberal Democrat in a swing district. Unlikely to need help, but here's her campaign regardless.
• Mark Sylvia for State Representative: Open seat (49.6% Dem), keep this one blue! If you're around Acushnet, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford or Rochester, he could use your help bringing more clean energy to MA!
• Kevin Kalkut for State Representative: Kevin is aiming to make the incumbent Republican a one-term representative in a swing district (49.6% Dem). If you're in or around Norfolk, Wrentham, Plainville, Millis, Medfield, and Walpole, he'll need your support!
• Jeanne Costello for State Representative: Jeanne is running for an open blue seat, 50.3% Dem. If you're around Southbridge, Charlton or Spencer, she could use your help!
• Adam Scanlon for North Attleborough: Two term incumbent Democrat in a 50.8% Dem district. If you're around North Attleborough, he could use your support!
• Natalie Higgins for Leominster: Higgins is a 4 term incumbent Democrat running in a 51.3% Dem district.
• Kip Diggs for State Representative: Two term incumbent Democrat in a district that votes 51.4% Dem. If you're around Barnstable or Hyannis, he could use your help!
• Kathleen Alfano for State Representative: 51.5% Dem, but challenging a deeply entrenched Republican incumbent who's held this seat for over a decade. Worth a shot if you're in or around Mashpee or Bourne!
• 1st Bristol District: 51.6% Dem. Whichever Democrat wins the primary will need your support to flip this open seat last held by a Republican! Consists of Foxborough and Norton Mass.
• Jeffrey Roy for State Representative: 6 term incumbent Democrat in a district that votes 52.9% Dem. He represents Franklin and Medway.
• Kristin Kassner for State Representative: Kassner is running for a second term in a district that votes 53.3% Dem. If you're around Ipswich, Hamilton, Rowley, Newbury, Georgetown, or Topsfield, she'll need your support!
• Bridget Plouffe for State Representative: Plouffe is running for an open blue seat in a district that votes 53.8% Dem. If you're in or around Brockton, Easton, West Bridgewater, or East Bridgewater, she could use your support!

Run for Local Office

Many towns in Massachusetts run on a "Town Meeting" structure, where Town Meeting Members can propose local legislation or ordinances and vote on them while a Select Board acts as the executive body. This may seem intimidating to do, but change begins on the local level and being a Town Meeting member usually means an uncompetitive election with little to no campaigning and a fair bit of say in your community! Additionally, there are usually only a few town meetings per year and they are after work hours. You can learn more about the Town Meeting structure with the following links, and feel free to ask around on the Massachusetts Discord if you want advice on what it entails and whether you should run.

https://www.mma.org/local-government-101/

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-town-meetings