Maria's List 2026 September Massachusetts Primaries Slate
Deep Democracy is a political giving strategy that identifies counties across the United States in search of the American Rising Electorate, college-educated voters, and movement organizations. For Maria’s List, this approach has centered on the power building of Black and women-of-color-led organizations and political candidates, based on the understanding that we are in a generational moment of societal and cultural transition.
With the Massachusetts September primaries approaching, we are highlighting nine movement leaders running for the Massachusetts legislature this fall. Your support now will make a critical difference in the month ahead for these campaigns.
Carey McDonald
MA State Senate — 5th Middlesex
Open Seat
Carey McDonald is a Malden City Councilor, nonprofit executive, and candidate for State Senate in the 5th Middlesex District. First elected to the Malden City Council in 2021, McDonald has served three terms and chairs the Council’s Finance Committee. Their professional background also includes nonprofit leadership and education-policy work. That combination of municipal and nonprofit experience has shaped a campaign focused on the financial pressures facing families and local governments. McDonald’s priorities include affordable housing, clean energy, childcare and healthcare costs, public schools, civil rights, and strengthening city and town finances. They are seeking the open Senate seat representing Malden, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, and part of Winchester.
Daniel Lander
MA State Senate — Suffolk & Middlesex
Challenging Incumbent
Daniel Lander is a policy leader and community advocate running for State Senate in the Suffolk & Middlesex District. He grew up in Cambridge, attended Harvard College, and earned a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. His career has included work on progressive campaigns and causes involving criminal justice reform, LGBTQ+ civil rights, and civic engagement. Lander previously worked with Senator Elizabeth Warren’s campaigns and most recently served for four years as a senior policy adviser to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. In City Hall, his work included affordable-housing initiatives, small-business programs, cultural access for families, and efforts to preserve community spaces. He is challenging incumbent Senator William Brownsberger with a campaign focused on affordability, housing, transportation, small businesses, and making state government more responsive.
Latoya Gayle
MA State Senate — 1st Suffolk
Challenging Incumbent
Latoya Gayle is a Dorchester-based community advocate, mother of four, and candidate for State Senate in the 1st Suffolk District. She has spent her career advocating for families, elevating community voices, and bringing residents’ experiences into policy conversations. Gayle describes her approach to leadership as community-centered and rooted in listening and service. Her campaign focuses heavily on the affordability challenges facing Boston families, including housing and childcare costs. She is also emphasizing public education, environmental justice, economic opportunity, and public safety. Gayle is challenging incumbent State Senator Nick Collins to represent the 1st Suffolk District.
Tara Hong
MA House — 18th Middlesex
Incumbent
Tara Hong is the State Representative for Massachusetts’ 18th Middlesex District and is running for reelection in 2026. Hong immigrated to Lowell from Cambodia with his mother and sister in 2013 and attended Lowell public schools before studying at Middlesex Community College and UMass Lowell. Before holding office, he became involved in Lowell through volunteer work, nonprofit service, and civic engagement. He later worked as a civic engagement coordinator with the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, helping residents access voting information and participate in their community. Hong was elected to the Massachusetts House in 2024 and has emphasized constituent services, education, affordable housing, public health, and responsiveness to residents during his first term. He is seeking another term to continue representing the communities of the 18th Middlesex District.
Johnnie McKnight
MA House — 11th Hampden
Challenging Incumbent
https://mcknightforstaterep.com
Johnnie McKnight is a Springfield public-school educator and candidate for State Representative in the 11th Hampden District. As a classroom teacher and member of the Springfield Education Association, his professional experience is closely connected to the families, students, and public institutions of the district. McKnight has been active in Springfield civic and political life for years, including a previous campaign for mayor. He previously ran for the 11th Hampden House seat and returned to compete for it again in 2026. His candidacy has emphasized working families, public education, labor, and stronger representation for Springfield residents. McKnight is competing in the Democratic primary against incumbent Representative Bud Williams and other candidates for the district seat.
Tram Nguyen
U.S. House — MA-06
Open Seat
Tram Nguyen is an attorney, Massachusetts State Representative, and candidate for Congress in Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District. She came to the United States as a five-year-old political refugee after her family fled Vietnam. Before entering elected office, Nguyen built her legal career advocating for people who needed representation and support. Since 2019, she has represented the 18th Essex District in the Massachusetts House, bringing legislative experience to her congressional campaign. She is running on priorities including affordability, protecting democracy and voting rights, reproductive freedom, and holding corporations and powerful interests accountable. Nguyen is seeking to bring her experience as an advocate and state legislator to Congress and represent communities across the 6th District.
Patrick Roath
U.S. House — MA-08
Challenging Incumbent
Patrick Roath is an attorney, democracy advocate, and Boston resident running for Congress in Massachusetts’ 8th Congressional District. He has roots on the South Shore and has lived in the Boston area since attending Tufts University. His career has included work in public service as an aide to Governor Deval Patrick and experience with the Obama administration, as well as service as a Fulbright fellow in Malaysia. Roath has worked extensively on voting rights and helped advance automatic voter registration and universal mail-in voting in Massachusetts. His campaign emphasizes protecting democracy, expanding economic opportunity, supporting working families, and bringing a new generation of leadership to Washington. He is challenging longtime incumbent Congressman Stephen Lynch in the 2026 Democratic primary.
Erika Uyterhoeven
MA State Senate — 2nd Middlesex
Open Seat
Erika Uyterhoeven is a Massachusetts State Representative, organizer, antitrust economist, and candidate for State Senate in the 2nd Middlesex District. The daughter of immigrants and raised in a union household, she has made economic fairness and government accountability central to her public service. Uyterhoeven was first elected to the Massachusetts House in 2020 and has served three terms representing the 27th Middlesex District. Before taking office, she co-founded Act on Mass, a grassroots organization focused on increasing transparency in the Massachusetts Legislature. Her legislative work has included efforts around free school meals, renters’ costs, reproductive rights, transportation, energy costs, and government transparency. She is now seeking the open State Senate seat representing communities including Somerville, Medford, Cambridge, and Winchester.
Jeromie Whalen
U.S. House — MA-01
Challenging Incumbent
https://whalenforcongressma.com
Jeromie Whalen is an educator and Western Massachusetts resident running for Congress in Massachusetts’ 1st Congressional District. A Belchertown native who now lives in South Hadley, Whalen has deep ties to the region he hopes to represent. He has spent more than a decade teaching technology, media, and communications at Northampton High School. His experience as a public-school teacher has shaped a campaign focused on the economic pressures facing working people and families. Whalen’s platform includes affordable housing, a living wage, stronger public transportation, environmental protection, and a tax system that asks more from the wealthy. He is challenging longtime incumbent Congressman Richard Neal in the Democratic primary.
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