A dozen more Massachusetts officials back Sonia Chang-Díaz for Governor following Baker drop-out

BOSTON, MA - State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz announced 12 new endorsements from state and local officials in her campaign for Massachusetts Governor today. The new endorsers join a growing group of elected leaders and progressive organizations who are throwing their weight behind Chang-Díaz’s candidacy, following Republican Governor Charlie Baker’s announcement he would not run for re-election.

Chang-Díaz, who entered the Governor’s race in June, is known on Beacon Hill for her work passing major progressive reforms, including $1.5 billion progressive education funding, criminal justice reform, and LGBTQ equal rights legislation. She was elected Massachusetts’ first Latina State Senator in 2008.

“Local leaders across the state know we should elect candidates who run because of conviction, not because it’s a good career move,” said Joshua Wolfsun, Chang-Díaz’s Acting Campaign Manager. “They’re choosing Sonia because they’ve seen her leadership first hand. Over and over again, she’s stood on the front lines for change when Beacon Hill insiders said it was impossible — and won anyway. Together, we’re building the movement to do it again.”

The latest slate brings her campaign to 37 endorsements from elected officials, including state lawmakers, city councilors, and school committee members hailing from every corner of the state. National progressive organizations began throwing their weight behind Chang-Díaz after Baker’s announcement last week, with People’s Action Network announcing their support.

The new endorsers praised Chang-Díaz’s decade-plus experience crafting and delivering Massachusetts’ biggest progressive reforms.

“Sonia's the experienced, time-tested leader our state needs today,” said State Senator Ed Kennedy of Lowell. “I've been proud to partner with her in the Senate to meet our state's biggest challenges head-on and she's never wavered in her commitment to the people of Massachusetts. I'm proud to support her candidacy and look forward to working with her administration to deliver the change working families need.”

“I'm proud to support Sonia's campaign for Governor. Sonia has never waited around to take on hard challenges — and she knows what it takes to deliver for Massachusetts families,” said Felix D. Arroyo, Suffolk County Register of Probate. “From education to criminal justice reform to economic equality, Sonia has been one of our strongest and most effective leaders at the State House for years.”

“Sonia has a record of fighting successfully for working people, championing  women’s rights, equity for BIPOC, and striving to enable every student to realize their full potential enjoying  a quality public higher education without debt,” said State Representative Carmine Gentile of Sudbury. “She can take our Commonwealth, already a national leader, to an even better place. She has my vote and support to be our next Governor.”

“I believe Sonia can effect real change for working families across the Commonwealth,” said Northampton City Councilor Jamila Gore, the first Black woman elected to the council.

“The people of Springfield deserve a Governor that understands our experiences and that will make addressing the challenges cities like ours face the center of their agenda,” said Springfield City Councilor Jesse Lederman. “From my very first conversation with Sonia it was clear: she has the experience and the record that the people of Springfield and the Commonwealth can count on to fight for our communities. I am proud to endorse her to become the next Governor of Massachusetts.”

“I'm thrilled to endorse Sonia's campaign for Governor,” said Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo. “Sonia has a record of delivering real transformational change on Beacon Hill — and she's the leader we need to tackle our biggest issues, from housing to education to climate justice. We need to elect a Governor who doesn't just show up when it's easy, but who'll stand up for working families no matter how tough the challenges or the opponent. That's Sonia Chang-Díaz.”

The slate of new endorsers includes:

• Edward Kennedy, State Senator, First Middlesex

• Felix D. Arroyo, Register of Probate for Suffolk County

• Carmine Gentile, State Representative, 13th Middlesex

• Jesse Lederman, Springfield City Councilor

• Ricardo Arroyo, Boston City Councilor

• Zac Bears, Medford City Councilor

• Jamila Gore, Northampton City Councilor

• Samantha Perlman, Marlborough City Councilor

• Patrick Sheridan, Franklin Town Councilor

• Ben Bloomenthal, Acton Boxborough School Committee Member

• Tamika Olszewski, Newton School Committee Chair-Elect

• Andrew Lipsett, Woburn School Committee Member