FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2020
Ritchie Torres, Democratic Nominee for NY’s 15th Congressional District Endorses Jesse Mermell
Mermell also endorsed by Teamsters Local 122, Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee and eight local leaders
BROOKLINE – With just one week to go until the September 1st primary, Jesse Mermell picked up a major national endorsement from Democratic Nominee for New York’s 15th Congressional District Ritchie Torres. Torres won a crowded Democratic primary in June and, if elected, would become the first openly gay Black Congressman in the country along with Mondaire Jones.
In his endorsement, Torres highlighted the similarities between the races for MA-04 and NY-15. Torres ran in a crowded Democratic primary and his top opponent, Rubén Díaz Sr, was a conservative, anti-LGBTQ Democrat. Mermell meanwhile is neck and neck with former Republican political operative Jake Auchincloss.
“Jesse has the grit and passion to fight for the progressive values that will improve the lives of the residents of MA04,” said Ritchie Torres. “She has spent her life championing issues to uplift and empower families, and will take that passion for service to Congress. We need her to fight for Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, and protect access to reproductive healthcare. I proudly endorse her for MA04.”
“Ritchie Torres’ historic candidacy has set the tone for progressives across the nation who will no longer tolerate blue districts falling into the hands of candidates who will not lead on our values,” said Mermell. “This is true of the Massachusetts Fourth District – it’s not enough to simply elect candidates who will vote the right way or say the right things. We need progressive champions who will fight for working families and move our district forward.”
In addition to Torres, Mermell also expanded her progressive coalition with endorsements from Teamsters Local 122, the Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee and eight local leaders from across the district. Mermell has now been endorsed by 22 unions representing 270,000 Massachusetts workers and more than 100 endorsements from current and former electeds. The Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee is the first town or city committee to endorse in the Fourth District race.
Teamsters Local 122 represents nearly 1,000 workers in the Boston metropolitan area, including Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk Counties.
“Jesse Mermell’s devotion to issues that impact women is unmatched by the other candidates in this race,” said John F. Murphy, Vice President at Large and Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 122. “Her career in public service is impressive and her zeal in supporting the interests of working families is testament to this commitment. In these troubled times, when the fundamentals of constitutional rights are being attacked in Washington, Jesse’s determination and resolve are what is needed to protect the principles of social justice. The residents of the Fourth District will be well-served with Jesse as their Representative.”
“The HDTC has been impressed with Jesse’s commitment to represent all the communities in the MA CD4 district,” said the Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee (HDTC). “We appreciate her continued presence in Hopkinton getting to know what is important to constituents, whether in person or virtually, Jesse shows up and ready to be our Congresswoman in the Fourth District.”
The local leaders endorsing Mermell today include: labor attorney and former Senate candidate Shannon Liss-Riordan, Vice Chair of the Brookline School Committee David A. Pearlman, Brookline School Committee Member Barbara Scotto, Brookline Town Meeting Members Shira Fischer, MD, PhD, Jennifer Goldsmith, John Bassett and Shannon Giora-Gorfjan, and Roger Fisk, former Massachusetts State Director for Obama for America and Senior Aide to Senator John Kerry.
“I care a lot about who represents me in Congress, and that’s why I will be voting for Jesse Mermell in this election,” said labor attorney and former Senate candidate Shannon Liss-Riordan. “As a workers’ rights attorney and activist, I am thankful for Jesse’s leadership in the fight to raise the minimum wage here in Massachusetts. When she’s elected, I know she will continue to advocate for workers with the very same passion and dogged determination that she brought to the Fight for $15.”
“Jesse has made a career of fiercely fighting for progressive educational values,” said Vice Chair of the Brookline School Committee David A. Pearlman. “From working to end the misuse of high-stakes standardized testing that narrows our curricula, to dismantling systemic inequality with a focus on expanding access and opportunity, to advocating for whole-child solutions that bring joy to learning, Jesse champions the causes that our district holds dear.”
“As schools are facing unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19, it’s essential that we have a Congresswoman who will ensure our public education system is well funded and equitable,” said Brookline School Committee Member Barbara Scotto. “I’m endorsing Jesse Mermell because I know that she will be a voice for our students and educators in Congress.”
“I would be thrilled to be represented by Jesse Mermell, a strong progressive who is an advocate for women, the environment, and universal health care,” said Brookline Town Meeting Member Shira Fischer, MD, PhD. “We have a lot of great candidates in this race, but Jesse stands out with her experience and the support she’s garnered. Let’s send her to Washington!”
“Jesse is a patriot in the truest sense: she has dedicated her career to leading our community as we strive to live up to our highest ideals,” said Brookline Town Meeting Member Jennifer Goldsmith. “She is experienced and effective. She is principled and pragmatic. She connects and collaborates. She is the leader our district and our nation need.”
“I’ve known Jesse Mermell for a long time. She has a good head and a good heart,” said Brookline Town Meeting Member John Bassett. “Jesse Mermell will be a good Representative!”
“As a proud son of Massachusetts, I am honored to add my name to the robust endorsements coalescing behind Jesse Mermell’s run for Congress,” said former Massachusetts State Director for Obama for America and Senior Aide to Senator John Kerry, Roger Fisk. “I have worked for two people in politics; more than 15 years with John Kerry and more than 13 years with Barack Obama. One constant in all that work was knowing Jesse and seeing her passion for public service. I know what Massachusetts needs in a leader and Jesse checks every box; experience, knowledge, compassion, and a tireless drive to improve life for women, for her neighbors in Brookline, and for people across the state. She would be an incredible addition to the Massachusetts delegation and I ask everyone to send her to DC to fight for families across the Fourth District.”
Also endorsing today is Brookline Town Meeting Member Shannon Giora-Gorfjan.
Mermell’s campaign has seen a wave of major endorsements in the final weeks of the campaign as the choice voters have in this election becomes more clear. In just the past week, she earned the endorsements of every Democratic state legislator representing Attleboro – State Senators Becca Rausch and Paul Feeney and State Representative Jim Hawkins. She’s also been endorsed by Attorney General Maura Healey, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, former MA-04 candidate Dave Cavell, Planned Parenthood, NARAL, the Coalition for Social Justice, SEIU, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the Massachusetts Nurses Association and more.
Election Day is September 1st but voters can vote-by-mail or vote early in person now. Voters choosing to vote-by-mail should return their ballots using their town’s drop box, per instructions from the Secretary of State.