State Representative Christine Barber

Retiring senator, who rarely endorses in legislative races, backs Barber to succeed her in the 2nd Middlesex

State Senator Pat Jehlen has endorsed State Representative Christine Barber in the Democratic primary for the 2nd Middlesex Senate seat, which Jehlen has held for more than twenty years and is leaving at the end of this term.

Jehlen announced the endorsement in a video released by the Barber campaign.

“I don’t usually endorse in legislative races, but in this case I think the person who is best prepared and has proven that she is best prepared to carry the fight for affordable housing, affordable health care, and affordable living in general is Christine Barber,” Jehlen said.

Barber, a six-term State Representative for the 34th Middlesex District and Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, responded to the endorsement:

“Pat Jehlen has spent more than twenty years showing this district what effective progressive leadership looks like. She rarely endorses in legislative races. She is endorsing this one.

“Pat knows what I know. A value has never stopped a single deportation. A statement does not get a woman the care her doctor recommends. A social media post does not build affordable housing. Only law does that.

“I have spent six terms writing laws and passing them. Driver’s licenses for immigrants, regardless of status. An end to copays for insulin and inhalers. ConnectorCare expanded so families up to 500 percent of the poverty line can afford coverage. Higher pay for home care workers. Accessory dwelling units, so people can stay in the communities they built. My Dignity Not Deportations bill, now law, barring ICE from deputizing our local police.

“I am honored to have Pat’s support, and I am ready on day one to keep delivering for Medford, Somerville, Winchester, and Cambridge.”

The 2nd Middlesex District includes Somerville, Medford, Winchester, and Wards 7, 8, 10, and 11 in Cambridge. The Democratic primary is September 1. Early voting runs August 22 through August 28, and applications for mail ballots are due August 25. Mail ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on September 1.

Christine Barber has represented the 34th Middlesex District since 2015 and is the first woman to hold the seat. Before her election she spent eight years as a health policy expert at Community Catalyst and worked on the team that drafted the 2006 Massachusetts health reform law that became the blueprint for the Affordable Care Act. She lives in Somerville.

Learn more at christinebarber.org.

– Christine Barber for State Senate Campaign.