Local labor organizer and 2024 state house runner-up Evan said they will again seek the 25th Middlesex District seat held by Marjorie Decker. Decker confirmed to Cambridge Day that she will be running for re-election, setting up a rematch of the 2024 Democratic primary that Decker won by 41 votes.
“We want our state legislature to act with the urgency and sense of purpose that is shared by our neighbors, whether that’s protecting immigrants and LGBTQ+ people, supporting people with elder care and childcare, or addressing the housing crisis,” said MacKay at a rally at the Porter Square T stop. “I’m excited to deepen democracy, create positive and powerful community, and build the future we all deserve.”
While MacKay’s campaign anticipated Decker would run again, (the subject of a recent press release referred to the upcoming race as a “rematch”) her candidacy was not confirmed until this afternoon. According to Decker, several people reached out to her following the announcement that Massachusetts State Senator Patricia Jehlen would retire at the end of her term, encouraging her to seek office again.
“It is an incredible honor and privilege to represent the community I grew up in and love,” Decker said in a text to Cambridge Day. “I am fully committed to serving our community as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. I am running for re-election this year.”
Porter Square Rally Draws MacKay Allies
Newly appointed Cambridge Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem and Councillor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler attended MacKay’s campaign kickoff event this morning; both made remarks. Azeem told Cambridge Day that “I have nothing against Marjorie [Decker]. I think she does good work and is good on the issues.” But, he said, “I’m close with Evan, and I know Evan can be a really decent person, and I think that really matters in politics.”
Azeem added that “I don’t agree with Evan on every issue, but I think that Evan really cares and is trying to do a good job showing up and listening to people, so that’s why I was out there supporting them.”
MacKay is a labor leader who previously served as president of the Harvard Graduate Students Union (disclosure: the writer was a member of the Graduate Students Union for one year, during part of MacKay’s term as president, but had no interaction with MacKay). The Union is under the umbrella of the United Auto Workers (UAW); MacKay served as co-chair for current UAW President Shawn Fain’s New England campaign, advocating for an anti-corruption platform.
A Close Call Last Term
In the 2024 contest, MacKay was ahead by 40 votes with 99 percent of the votes tallied, only to see the lead dissipate. The margin was not close enough to trigger a state recount, but MacKay requested recounts in individual precincts, which confirmed the result.
Decker is the current state house Chairperson for the legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Health. She was first elected in 2012 and is currently serving her seventh term. The Middlesex 25th district is the only district entirely within Cambridge’s borders, serving parts of West Cambridge, North Cambridge, Cambridgeport, and Mid-Cambridge.
A stronger
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Best of luck Evan!