Among the contested seats in this November’s election is Massachusetts’s 1st Congressional District, which includes Berkshire and Hampden counties, a few municipalities in Franklin County, several towns on the southern and western edges of Hampshire County and southern Worcester County east to Charlton. Voters will have the chance to choose between two very different candidates — longtime Democratic incumbent Richard Neal and unenrolled activist and political newcomer Nadia Milleron.
Neal has served as a U.S. representative for Massachusetts since 1988. Prior to that, he served on the Springfield City Council and as the city’s mayor. Neal has served on the House Ways and Means Committee since 1993. He is now the ranking Democrat on the committee and served as the chair between 2019 and 2023.
Milleron, a lawyer and farmer, launched her bid for Congress early this summer. She became politically active in 2019, after her daughter died in the crash of a faulty Boeing 737 Max 8 airplane. The personal tragedy became a public call for airplane safety accountability that included speaking before Congress.
In an interview with Reminder Publishing in July, Milleron laid out some of her legislative priorities, including renewing farming and manufacturing jobs, offering incentives to encourage medical professionals to relocate to the state and combating price gouging.
Milleron has said that not belonging to either party gives her leverage in a tightly split House.
“In a tightly split House, which is the likely outcome as of now, independents like me have more power to sway key votes and broker compromise between the two major parties,” she said. “If the balance tips heavily in favor of one party, the dynamics change — but that doesn’t mean my ability to affect legislation disappears. I would focus on building relationships within that majority to advocate for policies that reflect the needs of our district. While I wouldn’t have the same strategic leverage to influence close votes, I would be able to push for common-sense legislation that benefits both sides and work on issues that aren’t as partisan, like preventing opioid abuse, infrastructure, increased access to healthcare or veterans’ services.”
She added, “If I see legislation that benefits our district, I will support it, no matter which side of the aisle it comes from. It’s all about finding opportunities, even in a changing political landscape.”
As a leader in the influential House Ways and Means Committee, Neal has a voice in taxes, the Social Security system, Medicare and other social services programs.
Milleron, who would be a first term representative, said, “Getting a committee assignment as an independent may seem challenging, but it’s far from impossible. It’s important to remember that committee assignments are not purely based on party membership. They are also about the value you bring to the table and the relationships you build with your colleagues. I’ve been working on Capitol Hill for five years on aviation safety and have developed many relationships. As a representative, those relationships and my knowledge of how Congress functions provide a base for me to be effective on the issues which are most important to us here.”
In a statement, Neal said his next term in office would be spent “making sure our economy remains strong into the future, protecting the Social Security and Medicare programs people depend on and standing up for American democracy.”
He continued, “Over the last two years, I’ve been honored to work side-by-side with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to ensure that the investments from these historic laws — the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act and the Chips and Science Act — are felt by all the people of Western and Central Massachusetts. That’s why I’m running for reelection — to continue this important work and keep delivering for our communities.”
While the two candidates for president have different views on what is best for the country, Milleron said she sees a path forward to work with whomever is in the White House.
“If Kamala Harris were president, there would be opportunities to collaborate on issues like health care reform, corporate accountability and social justice, areas where her values may align more closely with mine,” she said. “If Donald Trump were president again, I would focus on finding areas of common ground, like infrastructure development and support for manufacturing. While there are differences in our views on issues like corporate influence and regulation, especially on aviation safety, I am committed to advocating for what’s best for my constituents. Ultimately, I’m focused on results, not party lines. Whether it’s Harris, Trump, or someone else, my job is to push for the changes our district needs — more jobs, better healthcare and stronger communities.”
To learn more about Neal’s campaign, visit nealforcongress.com. More about Milleron can be found at nadiaforcongress.com.
