'We Need to Lead Here in Massachusetts': AG Maura Healey Responds to Election Results

CHARLESTOWN, MA — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey released a letter Wednesday, outlining at least one approach for liberal Massachusetts in the face of a president, Congress and possible U.S. Supreme Court soon to be aligned on the other side of the aisle.

It's a preview of how the state may respond in the face of national policy and law changes. Patch has included Healey's letter in full below. It can also be found on Healey's site.

In August 2015, I endorsed Hillary Clinton because she was the most qualified and capable candidate of our lifetime. I’m proud to have stood with her, for all she accomplished as the first woman nominee of any major party.

Last night’s loss was stunning and painful. I know many of you are having difficult conversations with your kids and loved ones, feeling a sense of hopelessness, and concerned for your rights and safety. You are not alone.

What does last night mean for us moving forward? It means we need to lead here in Massachusetts, as we have always done. We have a long history of fighting for what’s right. We are the very birthplace of America, as well as the abolitionist and suffragette movements that expanded liberty. We led the way in bringing health care to all our residents and equal marriage to our LGBT community. Now, with the world watching, our job is to continue that work – and to push back hard if the federal government tries to set us back.

We will do everything in our power to protect affordable health care. We will work to make sure women have control over their own bodies. We will hold corporations accountable and fight for every one of our residents to be treated equally. We will fight for an economy that provides opportunity for everyone, not just those at the top. We will fight for a sustainable future and the environment. We will work to end gun violence. And, make no mistake, we will work to reject in the most direct ways, the racism, sexism and xenophobia we witnessed during the campaign.

As Hillary said today, we should “never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.”

As Americans, we want our President and Congress to succeed. In my role as your Attorney General and as a Democratic leader in Massachusetts, I will continue to work with the President and Congress whenever I can.
And while I respect those who backed President-elect Trump, let me be clear: I will forcefully oppose any effort by him or Congress or anyone else to roll back the progress we’ve made under President Obama, and I will never stop fighting for what’s right.

I am deeply saddened by the events of the last 24 hours, but my passion for our shared values remains stronger than ever. We will not be defined by the outcome of this election. Let us, instead, be defined by how we move forward – stronger together.

Thanks for all you do,
Maura

Photo via Wikimedia Commons