Local State Lawmakers Back Chang-Díaz Gubernatorial Run

SUDBURY, MA — The 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election is still more than a year away, but local lawmakers are already signaling where they'll stand in the race.

On Wednesday, state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz launched her 2022 campaign in an event at English High School in Jamaica Plain. Standing behind her were state Sens Rebecca Rausch (D-Natick), Jamie Eldridge (D-Sudbury) and state Rep. Maria Robinson (D-Framingham).

"You want someone in the Governor's office who will fight selflessly for you and everyone in your community, every day, rain or shine? Then you want Sonia Chang-Díaz , aka the #NotoriousSCD," Robinson tweeted on Wednesday.

State Reps. Dan Sena (D-Acton) and Mary Keefe (D-Worcester) also came out to back Chang-Díaz on Wednesday.

Chang-Díaz launched her campaign with support from many progressive activists, including Calla Walsh and Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia. But the two other Democrats who have announced 2022 gubernatorial campaigns, state Sen. Ben Downing and Harvard professor Danielle Allen, are also hoping to grab the progressive vote. There's also speculation Democrat Attorney General Maura Healey will run for the seat in 2022.

On the other side, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has not announced 2022 plans yet. Lowell resident and "hip-hop Republican" Darius Mitchell, who ran in 2018 for a U.S. Senate seat, has filed to run for governor in 2022 — but so far no other Republicans have.