Young, Progressive Antagonist Has Rep. Gregoire In His Sights

MARLBOROUGH, MA — State Rep. Danielle Gregoire has attracted the attention of a local progressive army.

For several years, Marlborough resident Tristan Niedzielski, who just turned old enough to vote, has been trying to push Gregoire leftward on issues ranging from police reform to the environment. Recently, he's been drawing attention to the longtime Marlborough Democrat's campaign finance affairs — but he doesn't plan to stop there.

Niedzielski is part of a larger group of young, progressive people in Massachusetts who are getting involved in political organizing. They trace their political roots to the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida — Niedzielski organized a March For Our Lives chapter — and Bernie Sanders' presidential campaigns. But the group truly coalesced in 2020 when the centrist Joe Kennedy III tried to unseat U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, sponsor of the Green New Deal.

The New York Times profiled the group recently (and quoted Niedzielski), calling them an "army of 16-year-olds." Ostensibly led by 16-year-old Cambridge resident Calla Walsh, the group is making an impact across Massachusetts, mainly by challenging centrist Democrats online and in the streets.

First impressions

Niedzielski, a recent graduate of Saint John's High School in Shrewsbury, first met Gregoire in 2019 following the Parkland shooting. He scheduled a meeting with her to talk about gun violence prevention, but recalled it took longer than he thought to get the meeting.

Last summer, in the wake of George Floyd's murder, he questioned Gregoire about a donation from the political action committee (PAC) linked to the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association. Police unions, he said, are a barrier to police reform.

In July, the House passed a police reform bill that, among other items, banned chokeholds and curtailed no-knock warrants. But, unlike the state Senate version of the police reform bill, the House did bill did not limit qualified immunity — a legal principle that makes it difficult for police officers to be held personally liable for injuries and deaths. The House also didn't move to ban the use of tear gas and rubber bullets.

After attending police protests in Boston, Niedzielski, and many other young activists, wanted to see tear gas banned. Police in other states were barred from using the weapons-grade capsicum spray and other crowd control armaments.

"I would think that would be better than the alternative," Gregoire said this week, referring to the possibility police would use real bullets if stripped of less lethal methods.

Niedzielski also works with the nonprofit Act on Mass, whose mission is to illuminate how lawmakers vote on Beacon Hill, and why some bills die without explanation. Gregoire said the group is more focused on recruiting progressive candidates than transparency.

Gregoire, 42, has represented the 4th Middlesex District since 2008, except for 2010 to 2012 when Republican Steven Levy was in office. In September, she faced a primary challenge from Northborough Democrat Jeanne Cahill who, like Markey, took a strong stance on environmental issues.

No surprise, Niedzielski helped with Cahill's campaign. Gregoire won after picking up almost 2,000 more votes in Marlborough, but Cahill won both Northborough and Westborough.

"[Tristan is] super, super progressive, and I respect that and understand it, but it's my job to represent the overall voice of my district," Gregoire said.

Campaign finance errors

State Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) auditors have sent Gregoire's campaign multiple warnings in 2021 about missing deposits, non-disclosure of PAC contributions and personal expenditures.

Many state lawmakers get OCPF letters, but what stands out to Niedzielski is how long it takes Gregoire to respond. Nearby lawmakers that received OCPF inquiry letters in 2021 (including state Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne, state Sen. Rebecca Rausch, Senate President Karen Spilka, state Sen. Jamie Eldridge and state Rep. Kate Hogan) typically respond in a few weeks.

Gregoire is the only lawmaker in the area who received more than one letter per alleged violation. In late May, the OCPF in a followup letter warned Gregoire she could face legal action if she didn't resolve questions by June 8.

"That's not a mistake, that's blatant abuse of the system that's not holding you accountable," Niedzielski said.

Gregoire said the recent incidents are due to clerical errors because, rather than rely on her campaign treasurer, she files campaign finance reports herself. She has responded to the OCPF to fix the errors, and is paying back about $24 for personal Amazon purchases mistakenly made with campaign funds, she said. She also said she's switched to a new bank deposit system to help clarify donations.

"This won't be happening again," she said of the errors.

Gregoire is well aware that Niedzielski has her in his sights. When told by a reporter that a Marlborough resident had raised questions about the OCPF letters, she responded, "Was it Tristan?" Although their political styles are different. Niedzielski is coming from the extremely online "Markeyverse," but Gregoire says she doesn't really like Twitter.

"He's keeping me on my toes, I'll give him that," she said.

In the fall, Niedzielski will be heading to Minnesota for college, but is going to keep active in Massachusetts politics.

"That does not mean Gregoire is going to get a break," he said.