MassDems joined state delegates on Sept. 4 at the MassMutual Center to preview the Democratic State Convention on Sept. 13.
Reminder Publishing photo by Ryan Feyre
SPRINGFIELD — For the first time since 2019, the Democratic State Convention will take place in Springfield ahead of municipal elections this fall.
Almost 4,000 certified delegates will arrive at the MassMutual Center on Sept. 13 for a day of trainings, discussions, debates and speeches from various Democratic leaders across the state about different aspects of the party’s platform.
The convention is a culmination of work that’s been going on since the beginning of the year, according to Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Steve Kerrigan, who said the Mass. Democratic Party has added 15 new Democratic town committees since January — 50% of which reside in Worcester County or Western Mass.
“Massachusetts Democrats have not stopped the work that they have been doing since November,” Kerrigan said. “We did not take the loss nationally well, but we took it as an inspiration to get to work, which is what’s led to this large turnout.”
That work is evidenced by the fact that this year’s convention will feature a 12% higher turnout than any other Massachusetts platform convention in MassDems’ history.
In front of a media preview event on Sept. 4, Kerrigan shared that thousands of phone calls have been made throughout the year to help secure two special elections in the state legislature, and the party has also offered support in other major state elections.
For example, MassDems are providing support in New Jersey to help get U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill elected to governor of the state, and they are also helping former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger become the governor of Virginia.
Kerrigan said this approach of supporting Democrats on all levels, not just the presidential level, is key to creating a more energized and organized party in the future.
“We cannot be a party that is entirely about electing president, because when we do that, we lose,” Kerrigan said. “And so, we have to be about all parts of the party. We have to be about supporting our town committees and our city committees and our work committees, giving them the resources that they need … and we have to be about supporting our legislative partners and our county officials and our statewide officials … our congressional leaders.”
Kerrigan said the convention will be a great opportunity to build strength at home in preparation for major elections in 2026 and beyond, including Supreme Court races in Pennsylvania. But it will also be an opportunity to possibly change the course of how the party offers its resources.
During the convention, delegates will vote on a proposed charter amendment that will shift the party from having annual conventions to having them every other year. If passed, MassDems could use those off years to run regionalized training across the state.
“In some years, the people in Western Mass., and folks where I live in central Mass. might need a different type of training than would need in a different part of the state,” Kerrigan said. “So, we’re going to really do regionalized, specialized training in those years that we just mentioned, if that charter amendment passes.”
The convention preview on Sept. 4 was riddled with Democratic leaders in the area, including state Sens. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield) and John Velis (D-Westfield); as well as state Reps. Carlos Gonzalez (D-Springfield), Angelo Puppolo (D-Springfield), Bud Williams (D-Springfield), Brian Ashe (D-Longmeadow), Orlando Ramos (D-Springfield) and Shirley Arriaga (D-Chicopee).
Some gave remarks, including Gomez, who talked about the benefits of organizing the convention in Springfield.
“When we fight, we win,” Gomez said. “We’re going back to where it all started … making sure that individuals’ voices are heard and bringing them back to the Massachusetts State House, and then partnering with our federal delegation.”
