In a statement released on Tuesday, Aug. 4 in her email newsletter, Massachusetts Senator Pat Jehlen announced that she will be endorsing State Rep. Christine Barber in the 2nd Middlesex District race for senate. The most contested of the races in Cambridge and Somerville, candidates also include Vice Mayor of Cambridge Burhan Azeem, state Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven and Somerville City Councilor Matt McLaughlin. (A fifth candidate, Tom Hopcroft, will be on the ballot but has withdrawn from the race.)
Jehlen said she had not planned on making an endorsement because she did not agree fully with any of the candidates. However, she recently decided the legislature needed a changemaker, and spelled out why Barber is her choice: “We need legislators who collaborate well with rank-and-file colleagues and with advocates to pass legislation and secure funding for local projects that make a difference in residents’ lives. I believe Christine Barber is in the best position to do that.”
Barber has served as state Rep. for the 34th Middlesex district since 2015, where some of her signature work has been on increasing access to healthcare. She has pulled in the second-most in campaign contributions behind Azeem. She has also been endorsed by Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, state Sen. John Lewis, and other state representatives.
Jehlen said she and Barber have worked on several different legislative projects together, including the pay transparency bill, Laura’s Law, which requires emergency departments in hospitals to have adequate lighting and signage, and efforts to create more affordable housing locally.
Jehlen has held this senate seat for 20 years, and emphasized that she does not typically make endorsements in legislative or local races. The 2nd Middlesex district serves Cambridge residents in Ward 7, precinct 1; Ward 8, precinct 1; Ward 10; Ward 11 and all of Somerville.
The primary election will take place on Sept. 1.
Brianna Earle is reporting this summer for Cambridge Day as part of a partnership with the Brandeis University journalism program.
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