FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2020
Mermell, Auchincloss in Dead Heat in First Independent Poll
Data For Progress Survey Shows Mermell Strongest Progressive in MA-04
BROOKLINE – The first independent poll in the race for Massachusetts Fourth Congressional District shows Jesse Mermell as the strongest progressive candidate in the crowded field, locked in a dead heat with former Republican political operative Jake Auchincloss.
The poll, conducted by the independent Data for Progress and published by Politico today, comes the morning after the first of two debates this week.
“This poll shows clearly that Jesse’s grassroots campaign is peaking at just the right moment, ” said Mermell Campaign Manager Katie Prisco-Buxbaum. “When voters learn about Jesse’s experience, vision and coalition, they know that she’s the best candidate to take on Donald Trump and lead on our progressive values. Jesse will move the Fourth District forward at a time when no one in this district or state can afford to go backward. From last night’s debate on, we’re going to keep building on our grassroots momentum toward a resounding win on September 1st.”
Mermell’s top position in the Data for Progress poll is particularly notable because while her opponents are backed by more $2 million in advertising, Mermell launched her first ad buy this week, after the poll had already returned from the field.
“This poll confirms what we’ve known all along: grassroots muscle beats special interest money and this seat can’t be bought,” said Prisco-Buxbaum. “While other candidates have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars of personal wealth into advertising, Jesse has been focused on building her unmatched grassroots coalition and laying the groundwork to drive home her message for bold, progressive change in the final weeks of the campaign.”
The poll comes in the midst of a significant surge for Mermell in recent weeks.
Last week, Mermell earned the first endorsement from a statewide elected official from Auditor Suzanne Bump. Shortly after, former MA-04 candidate Dave Cavell dropped out of the race to endorse Mermell, emphasizing that she is the strongest progressive candidate to defeat Auchincloss. Mermell has also recently received endorsements from Attorney General Maura Healey, one of the most popular elected officials in Massachusetts, Planned Parenthood and a wave of Democratic leaders from across Massachusetts.
They join Mermell’s already strong coalition of supporters, including Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, 21 labor unions representing 269,000 Massachusetts workers, more than 100 current and former elected officials and leading progressive advocacy organizations like NARAL, the National Women’s Political Caucus and the Coalition for Social Justice.