Healey, Markey Among Top Democrats Backing Decker Ahead of Sept. 1 Primary

With less than two weeks left before the Democratic primary, longtime incumbent state Representative Marjorie C. Decker is touting support from some of the top Massachusetts Democrats as she fights to maintain her seat.

Decker’s campaign announced a slate of high-profile endorsements on Thursday, including backing from Massachusetts Governor Maura T. Healey ’92, U.S. Senator Ed J. Markey (D-Mass.), U.S. Representative Katherine M. Clark (D-Mass.), and multiple Cambridge city councilors.

The heavyweight support comes as Decker aims to defend her seat representing the 25th Middlesex district in one of the most closely watched Democratic primary races in Massachusetts. Her opponent, Evan C. MacKay ’19, has mounted another serious challenge after falling short by 41 votes in 2024.

The political figures pointed to Decker’s near 13-year record in the legislature — applauding her work as the Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health and involvement in legislation to protect gender-affirming care and access to maternal healthcare.

“At a time when our country is facing unprecedented attacks on immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, reproductive freedom, and healthcare, we need leaders who lead — and Marjorie is one of them,” Healey wrote in a press release.

Decker — who represents the only district entirely in Cambridge — also garnered support from three longtime city councilors: Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, E. Denise Simmons, and Marc C. McGovern. Simmons served alongside Decker on the City Council, where Decker held office from 1999 to 2013 before taking office in the State House.

Siddiqui wrote that she supports Decker because of her extensive legislative record, first rooted in Cambridge.

“Throughout her time in office, she has consistently fought for families, expanded opportunity, and delivered meaningful results for Cambridge residents. Her leadership is thoughtful, compassionate, and effective, and she has never lost sight of the people she serves,” Siddiqui wrote.

McGovern lauded Decker as someone “deeply rooted in the fights that she takes on” — pointing to the Cambridge Community Center as an example. Decker has helped to secure hundreds of thousands of dollars for the CCC across the last three budget cycles.

The backing from top Democrats in Massachusetts is nothing new for Decker — each of the officials whose endorsements were announced Thursday also supported her reelection effort last cycle.

MacKay has support from the council, too, with endorsements from Cambridge City Councilors Ayah A. Al-Zubi ’23 and Jivan G. Sobrinho-Wheeler, and Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem. MacKay has also built a substantial network of backers on the campaign trail, including State Auditor Diana DiZoglio and a slate of labor unions and progressive organizations, including the national arm of the Democratic Socialists of America and the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

And as the Sept. 1 primary nears, the two candidates are rapidly ramping up their campaign efforts and adjusting strategy.

Messaging from both campaigns has become sharper in recent weeks, shifting away from primarily policy stances and instead leaning further into personal attacks on each other’s backgrounds, voting records, and campaign backers.

Direct voter outreach efforts have also increased across the past month. MacKay has mobilized hundreds of organizers during recent canvasses, at times attracting volunteers and political figures from outside the state to rally for their campaign — a move Decker has publicly criticized.

Decker has also held a variety of campaign events and outreach over the past month, after formal legislative sessions ended on July 31, including events with large local labor unions and healthcare and environmental advocacy groups, as well as a canvass co-hosted with Healey’s reelection campaign and Siddiqui.

—Staff writer Shawn A. Boehmer can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at shawnb.18. Follow him on X @ShawnBoehmer.