In full transparency, the majority of this post is a press release submitted to SOURCE media from the campaign.
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BOSTON – State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz announced a dozen new endorsements from state and local officials in her campaign for Massachusetts Governor today, December 7.
The new endorsers join a growing group of elected leaders and progressive organizations who are throwing their weight behind Chang-Díaz’s candidacy, following Republican Governor Charlie Baker’s announcement that he would not run for re-election.
Chang-Díaz, who entered the Governor’s race in June, is known on Beacon Hill for her work passing major progressive reforms, including $1.5 billion progressive education funding, criminal justice reform, and LGBTQ equal rights legislation.
She was elected Massachusetts’ first Latina State Senator in 2008.
Massachusetts has never elected a woman Governor. The only woman Governor the Commonwealth h ad was never elected by voters.
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“Local leaders across the state know we should elect candidates who run because of conviction, not because it’s a good career move,” said Joshua Wolfsun, Chang-Díaz’s Acting Campaign Manager. “They’re choosing Sonia because they’ve seen her leadership first hand. Over and over again, she’s stood on the front lines for change when Beacon Hill insiders said it was impossible — and won anyway. Together, we’re building the movement to do it again.”
The latest slate brings her campaign to 37 endorsements from elected officials, including state lawmakers, city councilors, and school committee members hailing from every corner of the state. National progressive organizations began throwing their weight behind Chang-Díaz after Baker’s announcement last week, with People’s Action Network announcing their support.
“Sonia has a record of fighting successfully for working people, championing women’s rights, equity for BIPOC, and striving to enable every student to realize their full potential enjoying a quality public higher education without debt,” said State Rep. Carmine Gentile of Sudbury, who represents Sudbury, parts of Wayland & Marlborough, and Precinct 3 in Framingham. “She can take our Commonwealth, already a national leader, to an even better place. She has my vote and support to be our next Governor.”
Framingham State Rep, Maria Robinson attended the Chang-Diaz for Governor the kick-off event and endorsed her earlier this year.
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The new endorsers praised Chang-Díaz’s decade-plus experience crafting and delivering Massachusetts’ biggest progressive reforms.
“Sonia’s the experienced, time-tested leader our state needs today,” said State Senator Ed Kennedy of Lowell. “I’ve been proud to partner with her in the Senate to meet our state’s biggest challenges head-on and she’s never wavered in her commitment to the people of Massachusetts. I’m proud to support her candidacy and look forward to working with her administration to deliver the change working families need.”
“I’m proud to support Sonia’s campaign for Governor. Sonia has never waited around to take on hard challenges — and she knows what it takes to deliver for Massachusetts families,” said Felix D. Arroyo, Suffolk County Register of Probate. “From education to criminal justice reform to economic equality, Sonia has been one of our strongest and most effective leaders at the State House for years.”
“Sonia has a record of fighting successfully for working people, championing women’s rights, equity for BIPOC, and striving to enable every student to realize their full potential enjoying a quality public higher education without debt,” said State Representative Carmine Gentile of Sudbury. “She can take our Commonwealth, already a national leader, to an even better place. She has my vote and support to be our next Governor.”
“I believe Sonia can effect real change for working families across the Commonwealth,” said Northampton City Councilor Jamila Gore, the first Black woman elected to the council.
“The people of Springfield deserve a Governor that understands our experiences and that will make addressing the challenges cities like ours face the center of their agenda,” said Springfield City Councilor Jesse Lederman. “From my very first conversation with Sonia, it was clear: she has the experience and the record that the people of Springfield and the Commonwealth can count on to fight for our communities. I am proud to endorse her to become the next Governor of Massachusetts.”
“I’m thrilled to endorse Sonia’s campaign for Governor,” said Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo. “Sonia has a record of delivering real transformational change on Beacon Hill — and she’s the leader we need to tackle our biggest issues, from housing to education to climate justice. We need to elect a Governor who doesn’t just show up when it’s easy, but who’ll stand up for working families no matter how tough the challenges or the opponent. That’s Sonia Chang-Díaz.”
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The slate of new endorsers includes:
- Edward Kennedy, State Senator, First Middlesex
- Felix D. Arroyo, Register of Probate for Suffolk County
- Carmine Gentile, State Representative, 13th Middlesex
- Jesse Lederman, Springfield City Councilor
- Ricardo Arroyo, Boston City Councilor
- Zac Bears, Medford City Councilor
- Jamila Gore, Northampton City Councilor
- Samantha Perlman, Marlborough City Councilor
- Patrick Sheridan, Franklin Town Councilor
- Ben Bloomenthal, Acton Boxborough School Committee Member
- Tamika Olszewski, Newton School Committee Chair-Elect
- Andrew Lipsett, Woburn School Committee Member
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The full list of Sonia Chang-Díaz’s endorsements includes:
- People’s Action – national organization
- Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts – statewide organization
- Edward Kennedy, State Senator, First Middlesex
- Jamie Eldridge, State Senator, Middlesex and Worcester
- Felix D. Arroyo, Register of Probate for Suffolk County
- Adam Gomez, State Senator, Hampden
- Becca Rausch, State Senator, Bristol and Middlesex
- Carmine Gentile, State Representative, 13th Middlesex
- Lindsay Sabadosa, State Representative, 1st Hampshire
- Danillo Sena, State Representative, 37th Middlesex
- Liz Miranda, State Representative, 5th Suffolk
- Maria Robinson, State Representative, 6th Middlesex
- Nika Elugardo, State Representative, 15th Suffolk
- Mary Keefe, State Representative, 15th Worcester
- Natalie Higgins, State Representative, 4th Worcester
- Ricardo Arroyo, Boston City Councilor
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- Zac Bears, Medford City Councilor
- Raul Fernandez, Brookline Select Board Vice Chair
- Jamila Gore, Northampton City Councilor
- Homar Gomez, Easthampton City Councilor
- Jesse Lederman, Springfield City Councilor
- David Martin, Acton Select Board Chair
- Julia Mejia, Boston City Councilor
- Helen Moon, Pittsfield City Councilor
- Nicole Morell, Medford City Councilor
- Jonathan Paz, Waltham City Councilor
- Samantha Perlman, Marlborough City Councilor
- Rev. Dr. Sarai Rivera, Worcester City Councilor
- Patrick Sheridan, Franklin Town Councilor
- Quinton Zondervan, Cambridge City Councilor
- Isabelle Alera, Leominster School Committee Member
- Ben Bloomenthal, Acton Boxborough School Committee Member
- Jonathan Guzman, Lawrence School Committee Member
- Peter Haigis, Leominster School Committee Member
- Andrew Lipsett, Woburn School Committee Member
- Tracy Novick, Worcester School Committee Member
- Tamika Olszewski, Newton School Committee Chair-Elect
- Brandon Robbins, Leominster School Committee Member
- Paul Ruseau, Medford School Committee Member
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Chang-Diaz is the daughter of a social worker and America’s first Latino astronaut, Franklin Chang-Díaz. She was elected the Commonwealth’s first Latina State Senator in 2008 and quickly became a driving force behind many of the state’s biggest progressive reforms — including landmark $1.5 billion progressive education funding reforms, criminal justice reform, LGBT equal rights, and police reform and accountability.
For more information about Sonia Chang-Díaz and her campaign for Governor, please visit www.soniachangdiaz.com.
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