Vivian Birchall, a first-generation immigrant from Uganda and a mom, is running to fill the open seat formerly held by Tami Gouveia, the 14th Middlesex. She is a leader in revitalizing grassroots democracy. Vivian has a wealth of experience in public engagement, hosting listening sessions in the community, and she’s been convening and facilitating these conversations throughout her district and Massachusetts for years. Her prior work has included empowering women in Africa and ensuring that governments are accountable to the people.

Raul Fernandez, a Select Board Member in Brookline. Raul grew up in public housing in a union family, and he’s a father himself. He’s actively working toward a more inclusive government where policy properly reflects under-represented communities, and he’s already put together his own advisory table that includes marginalized people in his district. Raul’s running against an incumbent in the 15th Norfolk district. We know that Raul will be a fierce advocate for progressive policy, committed to fighting for racial and economic justice.

Teresa English is a mom, Air Force veteran, and teacher who ran for state rep in 2020. When COVID hit, Teresa and her team of progressive activists were appalled at the actions of their Republican state rep. She knew that someone had to run against him, so she did it herself. Teresa ran a late-start write-in campaign in the general election and won 45% of the vote! She is deeply committed to passing progressive policy, supporting working class people, and fighting for transparency and democracy in government.

Heather May, an educator, a mom, and an active organizer in her union is running against an incumbent in the 9th Middlesex. She’s dedicated to climate action, women’s reproductive rights, and supporting workers and unions. She understands that the culture of the State House has to change if we’re going to pass transformative policy, and she knows that integrity is crucial in changing that culture.

Timmy Sullivan heads up PHENOM, a nonprofit dedicated to debt-free public education, from pre-K to higher ed. He is running against an incumbent in the 21st Middlesex district. Timmy’s a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and he’s dedicated to inclusion and representation for the under-represented communities in Burlington. He’s a lifelong fighter for faster climate action, debt-free education, and social justice.

Jynai McDonald is the small business owner of the Urban Impact Project MA. She is the former Family Child Care Coordinator for SEIU Local 509 where she Ied the department in providing representation and services for 2,400 child care providers throughout Massachusetts. She is currently the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees at Springfield Technical Community College where she fights for high-quality accessible and affordable education from birth through adulthood.

Sam Montaño is a queer, non-binary latine running for State Rep in the 15th Suffolk. Sam has been deeply engaged in their district for the last 8 years. As former Chair of the JP Neighborhood Council, Sam facilitated community conversations about issues directly impacting the community. Sam has organized across the district and has actively contributed to the neighborhood with art, housing, and youth centers.

Nathaniel Mulcahy: activist, environmentalist, humanitarian, and inventor turned to politics. Nathaniel is an engineer, scientist and former K-6 teacher. Nathaniel has fought for better school funding, and took on developers to get Pavilion Beach deeded to the city of Gloucester as a permanent public beach. In his run for the State House, Nathaniel is fighting for transparency, urgent environmental intervention, better education funding, housing for all, and more.

Paula Kingsbury-Evans is a graduate of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. There, she helped at food banks, created youth programs, and played a large role in organizing volunteer days of service across the community, from weatherizing homes to picking up trash. Paula’s always been community focused, serving on the executive board for multiple organizations on campus, and off campus helping run an after school poetry program during the summer.

Jack Stanton is a 30 year old fisherman, service worker, and progressive, committed to fighting for working people and advocating for greater transparency and accountability at all levels of government. Jack has volunteered with Act on Mass in their People’s House Campaign for greater legislative transparency. He grew up on Cape Cod and now lives in Provincetown where he is running for State Representative in the 4th Barnstable District.

Nichole Mossalam was raised by a single mother Teamster. She has felt first-hand the difficulties of getting by on a tight budget, of facing a mountain of medical debt, of trying to learn in an underfunded and overcrowded school system, and living through child homelessness. This has motivated her through her activism and non-profit work: she founded the Islamic Cultural Center of Medford, chaired one of the most productive Disability Commissions in the state, and chaired ORMA to fight for civic rights in the community.

Terri has spent her entire life advocating, creating opportunity and building coalitions to better serve her community. Fellow union members, community leaders, and residents alike know she is the one who gets things done and gets them done now.Terri will bring the same commitment to the State House. She listens and creates solution oriented results-always has and always will.

Tara Hong is running for State Representative for the 18th Middlesex District to bring the voice of the community to Beacon Hill. Tara understands that real change starts when people can have an open dialogue with their representative, and work together in ways that best serve their community. “My number one priority is to improve constituent services in our district. A representative is paid by the peoples’ tax dollars, the representative must be accessible and accountable to the people they serve.” Once elected, Tara will open an office within the Middlesex 18th District and get to work advocating for further transparency in state government, better public education funding, and addressing affordable housing in the City of Lowell and all of the Commonwealth.