An Amazing Race! We Flipped 14 Towns and Came Within 1,400 Out of Over 98,000 Votes!
First things first. I’ll be back, and I want every single one of you with me next time too. I started running on my own, only just over five months ago, and look how far and how close we came! We flipped 14 towns the incumbent won the last time: Acton, Arlington, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Harvard, Lexington, Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, Weston, and even the incumbent’s hometown of Watertown, where no one has beaten her in decades. We did it, all of us, and frankly that’s a really big deal.
We will start earlier next time, and I’ve already lined up a great endorser who will be a big boost in a city we didn’t flip. We have laid a spectacular foundation to come back and get just that tiny little bit more we need to declare victory.
Of course I’ll be back. I care about these issues too much to stop, and I know how hungry our district is for better representation on the Governor’s Council. Every campaign is a conversation, and this campaign was a conversation about our judicial branch, and whether it reflects the will of the people. That conversation will not stop just because I have conceded this election. I will never concede to injustice, and that is why I will be back.
To my campaign staff, you helped lift what started out as a modest plan to simply do what could be done and raise awareness of the Governor’s Council into a campaign we quickly realized could be very successful. Christina Knowles, Rosy Watson, Isaac Kaufer, Ela Gardiner, Max Baker, and Dinos Gonatos turned a great civic exercise into a campaign that got more attention than anyone ever thought a race for Governor’s Council could, and more votes than anyone thought possible.
To the local grassroots activists who supported me from the beginning and helped this campaign spread like wildfire, you deserve a standing ovation and all the credit in the world! You’ve shown the power that exists far beyond traditional and social media to shape our politics and our society. There are too many to mention here, but I’ll reach out in coming days so we can continue to work together on all the causes we champion. I’ve loved being and working with all of you, and that isn’t going to change.
My heartfelt thanks to all the incredible elected officials who endorsed me: Congressman Seth Moulton, State Auditor Suzanne Bump, State Senator Mike Barrett, State Senator Will Brownsberger, State Senator Cindy Friedman, State Rep. Jim Arciero, State Rep. Michelle Ciccolo, State Rep. Ken Gordon, State Rep. John Lawn, State Rep. Mike Moran, State Rep. Alice Peisch, State Rep. Dave Rogers, and State Rep. John Lawn. Municipal officials weighed in too, especially in Newton where I was honored to have the endorsements of Newton City Councilors Vice President Richard Lipof, Alicia Bowman, Deborah Crossley, Andreae Downs, Becky Grossman, Andrea Kelley, Alison Leary, and Holly Ryan. I have been so proud to have your support!
Enormous thanks to all the support from organized labor! The IBEW Local 103, International Longshoremen’s Association of Boston, Iron Workers Local 7, the State Police Association of Massachusetts, and the Merrimack Valley Central Labor Council were all there when it counted, especially on primary day.
To the Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts, the Young Democrats of Massachusetts, and Our Revolution Arlington, Cambridge, Concord, and Metro West: you get me and you understand how important the Governor’s Council is. You know what I stand for and that I am the agent for progressive change we need on the Governor’s Council. I am so proud to have your support!
Next time, no one will say the incumbent can’t be beaten. Next time, no one will tell us no one cares about the Governor’s Council. Next time, no will tell us that no one will pay attention. So you see, an incredible foundation has been laid. This race has been a joy and a labor of love. I'm not stopping. See you soon!
Take Care,
Mara
