4th Congressional District Poll Puts Auchincloss, Mermell In Lead

BROOKLINE, MA — With two weeks to go until voting day, voters are eyeing the crowded primary contest for the 4th Congressional District and most are still making up their minds on who to choose to replace Rep. Joe Kennedy who is leaving his seat as he makes his bid for a seat in the Senate.

But, according to a new poll, Democrat voters in the district that stretches from Brookline and Newton and Wellesley to Attleboro, are leaning toward Jake Auchincloss and Jesse Mermell.

The poll was conducted by the progressive think tank "Data for Progress" and first reported on by Politico.

The poll surveyed 515 likely Democratic primary voters between Aug. 10 and Aug. 14. Of those who responded, 45 percent said they had not yet made up their minds. That may be understandable, as there are eight Democrats vying to represent the 4th Congressional District.

For those who had made up their minds, 12 percent said they'd be voting for Auchincloss, a Newton city councilor, and 12 percent said they'd be choosing Mermell, a former Brookline Select Board member and former aide to Gov. Deval Patrick.

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Newton City Councilor Becky Grossman and Dr. Natalia Linos, who specializes in epidemiology, each had 8 percent of support, within the poll’s 4.9 percent margin of error.

Combining those who knew who they planned to vote for, and voters who indicated they were leaning toward a candidate, Auchincloss, Mermell and Grossman statistically tied for first place.

Last week, candidate Dave Cavell, a former speechwriter for President Barak Obama, dropped out of the race to endorse Mermell, emphasizing it was more important to defeat Auchincloss, a former Marine and former registered Republican. Auchincloss won a coveted Boston Globe endorsement, despite criticism from fellow candidates about his previous views and stances as a Newton City Councilor. Mermell also recently received endorsements from Attorney General Maura Healey and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and some 21 labor unions.

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