Former interim Boston Mayor Kim Janey and activist Melvin "Mel" King have endorsed Rep. Nika Elugardo in the four-way race for the newly configured 2nd Suffolk state Senate seat.
The contours of the district were redrawn last year following the release of latest U.S. Census data. The changes formed a predominately Black district that incorporates more voters from Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park.
In a statement first published by the Dorchester Reporter, Janey, who held the mayoralty after U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh departed for the Biden administration, said Elugardo's record "shows a consistent focus on anti-racism, equity and justice for those who need it most like our many incarcerated and justice-involved loved ones and children, as well as working with us to identify and articulate what is fair and equitable in our state legislation."
King, the first Black man to advance past a preliminary mayoral election and a mentor of Elugardo's, said, "In her work as State Rep, and long before in her work across this city and beyond, Nika has led with the power of love and not the love of power. She makes sure that youth leadership is central to the work of justice and understands that when our world is in their hands, our world is in good hands.”
In a social media post late Wednesday, Elugardo said she was "deeply moved" by the pair of endorsements from historic Black leaders.
The competition for the newly redrawn district is one of the more contested of the political season. Elugardo faces three opponents: fellow state Rep. Liz Miranda, longtime federal housing attorney and pastor Miniard Culpepper and former 2nd Suffolk state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson.
So far, all four candidates have signaled close political alignment on Beacon Hill’s percolating issues, meaning the choice voters face may prove to be one of style rather than issues.
Without polling, it is difficult to assess how the endorsements from Janey and King impact the race.
Janey was endorsed by King last year as she campaigned in the preliminary election for mayor. Although she placed fourth and failed to advance to the general election, the bulk of her support came from voters in precincts that overlap with the new state Senate district.
Janey eventually backed Mayor Michelle Wu in an attempt to line up supporters behind her former rival. Wu went on to win the election by a nearly two-to-one margin.
Janey’s is also the most prominent endorsement in the 2nd Suffolk race to date.
So far, Elugardo received an endorsement from Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara. Miranda also received an endorsement from a member of the Boston City Council, At-Large Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune.
Culpepper has the backing of former state Rep. Royal Bolling Jr., son of the late statesman champion and desegregation champion Royal L. Bolling and brother to the late Bruce C. Bolling, Boston’s first Black City Council President.
Wilkerson, who led an effort to unify Black voters behind Janey with an initiative known as WAKANDA II, has yet to boast endorsements.
In terms of funding, Culpepper leads in cash on hand with nearly $100,000 as of May, the last available reporting period from the state’s campaign finance agency. The Dorchester clergyman collected $26,000 last month.
Wilkerson lags with $175 in the bank. In her first month campaigning, she collected $200.
Miranda last month collected $37,000 — the highest amount of the four — and has a war chest of about $19,000.
Elugardo collected about $10,000 and has slightly more than $11,000 in the bank.
Elugardo, a former policy advisor to now-gubernatorial candidate Massachusetts Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, was part of a class of challengers who unseated incumbents in the 2018. She secured her current position in the 15th Suffolk District by defeating Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez in that year’s primary.
