By Henry De Groot
On Wednesday morning, the Boston DSA Electoral Working Group (EWG) announced the results of its candidate review. The EWG screens candidates and recommends them to the chapter to finalize an endorsement.
A candidate forum will be held on Thursday, March 17 at 6:00 p.m., and the endorsement vote will take place at the March 20th Boston DSA General Meeting.
A threshold of 60 percent was required to advance, the same threshold used for chapter endorsements. Of four candidates, only incumbent state Representative Erika Uyterhoeven was advanced, with 93 percent support. So far, Uyterhoeven is not facing an opponent.
Additional candidates may apply for endorsement, but those who were not advanced may not reapply. Even if candidates do not receive an endorsement, the chapter may recommend that Boston DSA members vote for them in the chapter voter guide.
Overall, debates highlighted EWG comrades’ continued push to evolve the chapter’s endorsement process. The working group’s intention is to make endorsements meaningful by committing to mobilize volunteers and to publicly canvass as DSA members.
Nichole Mossalam, who is running for state representative in the 35th Middlesex district, which covers Malden and Medford, narrowly missed the threshold to advance as working group members were divided on her candidacy. In discussion, some expressed concern for endorsing Mossalam based on the chapter’s capacity, given the chapter-wide electoral priority of defeating the statewide app worker ballot question and the chapter’s endorsement of the Fair Share Amendment.
Roberto Jimenez-Rivera also did not advance. He is seeking the newly created 11th Suffolk state representative seat which includes parts of Chelsea and Everett. He is not a DSA member.
Brandon Griffin is running for state representative in the 7th Plymouth district. He is a DSA member and also active in the Workers Party of Massachusetts. He also did not advance.
Henry De Groot is an editor of Working Mass and a Boston DSA member.
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