U.S. Rep. Richard Neal greets voters outside the Longmeadow Community House on Election Day.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
The morning after the Nov. 5 election, while control of the U.S. House of Representatives was still in the air, the outcome in Massachusetts’ First Congressional District was clear. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield) won a 19th term, his sixth representing the westernmost district in the state.
Neal faced a challenge from independent aviation safety activist Nadia Milleron, but with 37.4% of the vote to his 62.6%, she was unable to unseat the longtime legislator. Throughout Neal’s tenure in the House, he has been primaried six times and faced opponents in eight general elections.
In a statement Neal released Nov. 6 in reaction to his win, he said, “It is the honor of a lifetime to represent western and central Massachusetts in Congress, and I’m grateful to the people of the First Congressional District for such an overwhelming margin in my reelection. This is my 25th election, and I could not be prouder of our record of delivering for the people of western and central Massachusetts — and all Americans. For the next two years, I will keep fighting to lower costs, protect Social Security and deliver resources to our communities.”
Rather than campaign against his opponent, Neal largely did not acknowledge that anyone was running against him. Instead, he spoke at press conferences about the “billions” of dollars he has brought to the district over the years and his work on substantial legislation, such as the American Rescue Plan Act and the CHIPS and Science Act.
Milleron, a Berkshire County resident for 25 years, has a background in law and operates her family farm. She became politically active after the 2019 death of her daughter on a Boeing 747 Max 8 plane and the aviation industry “corruption” she said she that saw in its aftermath.
During the campaign, Milleron touted her status as unaffiliated with either party, something that she felt would give her an edge when negotiating with other lawmakers in the House. She criticized Neal for receiving large donations from health insurance companies and other special interests. In the latter months of the election season, she questioned the ethics, though not the legality of a consulting firm owned by Neal’s son being paid for work on his campaign and being hired by companies with business before the House’s Ways and Means Committee, on which Neal is an influential member and one-time chair.
In an email to Reminder Publishing, Milleron said, “I am so grateful for the over 130,000 people who cast their votes for me, expressing hope and energy for a better future for our district. I am also deeply thankful for the campaign’s staff and volunteers, who poured so much of themselves into this campaign. 37.4% is a good showing for a previously unknown candidate against an entrenched, corporate-funded incumbent with an over $4 million war chest. It is difficult to run against someone whose pockets are lined with corporate cash, and who has 34 years of name recognition under their belt. If anything, this election has highlighted the desperate need for term limits to breathe life into a broken, failing system.” She went on to say that her message resonated with voters who “want change.”
Milleron said she is not giving up. “In Illinois and [Washington, DC], I couldn’t pass legislation in one session; it took two. So, I will run again in two years, starting now.” She urged voters to “keep Richard Neal accountable” for how he votes on current legislation: the Import Security and Fairness Act, the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act and the Social Security Fairness Act. She said, “Together, we must pressure our congressman to represent us and our interests.”
