DFA endorses Ayanna Pressley in primary challenge in Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District

Today, Democracy for America (DFA) endorsed Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley in her Massachusetts' 7th Congressional District primary challenge of Democratic Congressman Mike Capuano.

Democracy for America has 5,818 members in Massachusetts' 7th, the state's most diverse and unequal congressional district, and more than 40,000 across the Bay State.

DFA Chair Jim Dean on the grassroots progressive organization's decision to back Pressley in her race for the MA-7:

"Today, Democracy for America is endorsing Ayanna Pressley because we know she'll be a fearless leader in the fight for a bold, inclusive populist agenda in Congress, and we believe the wholly unrepresented voice she'll bring to Massachusetts' and New England's congressional delegations is essential to the political conversations on racial and economic justice our country needs to have.

"The unyielding fight that Ayanna Pressley has waged for the Boston's Black, Brown, and white working families as City Councilor speaks to the experience she'll bring to Congress and the battles for bold, inclusive populist ideas like Medicare for All and criminal justice reform she'll help lead once she gets there.

"We're also endorsing Ayanna Pressley because it's positively critical that Democrats seize every opportunity we have to elevate and empower the next generation of progressive women of color. Progressive Black women are the rock-solid base of the Democratic Party and, especially given the fights we need to wage, having their leadership in the halls of power has never been more important to our party's future.

"Congressman Mike Capuano has been a fine, progressive member of Congress, but having an experienced progressive like Ayanna Pressley on the ballot is an unmissable opportunity for Massachusetts to both ensure a leading woman of color represents its only majority-minority district and add the voice of just one person of color to New England's currently all-white congressional delegation.

"In 2018, with Donald Trump in the White House and people's lives under attack from his administration, it's crystal clear that change in Congress can't wait. Ayanna Pressley will bring precisely the kind of bold progressive change our country desperately needs to Washington, and that's why we couldn't be more excited to support her in her race for the Democratic nomination in Massachusetts' 7th Congressional District." -- Jim Dean, Chair, Democracy for America

Ayanna Pressley on receiving DFA's grassroots endorsement:

"Democracy for America is one of the leading organizations empowering people to take an active role in government, and their legacy of electing progressive candidates is unmatched.

"DFA knows that our party, our country, and the 7th District are at a crossroads, and that we need bold, activist leaders to fight for those that have been left behind by their government for too long. I am humbled to have earned the support of Democracy for America" -- Ayanna Pressley

As a part of its work in the 2018 election cycle, DFA intends to raise and spend more than $12 million in support of progressive candidates, make more than 2 million voter contacts, and support more than 250 candidates nationwide -- like Pressley -- in running inclusive populist campaigns committed to turning out the New American Majority of people of color and progressive white voters in November.

Born and raised by a single mother in Chicago, Ayanna Pressley first came to Boston to attend Boston University, before going to work for former U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II (D, MA-8) and former U.S. Senator John Kerry. In 2009, Pressley ran for an at-large seat on Boston City Council, subsequently became the first woman of color elected to the Council in its 100-year history, and then went on to be re-elected four times. As Representative of Massachusetts' 7th District, one of the most diverse and unequal congressional districts in the state, Pressley is committed to working in Congress to deliver on an Equity Agenda that her grassroots campaign has developed with stakeholders in the community and fighting for other bold, inclusive populist reforms like Medicare for All.

Democracy for America is a member-driven, people-powered progressive PAC with more than one million members nationwide committed to taking on income inequality, money in politics, and structural racism. Since its 2004 founding, DFA members have raised and contributed more than $54 million and made more than 21.9 million volunteer calls to help successfully elect 917 progressive candidates nationwide.