Azeem Outraises Field in Senate Race Ahead of Primary, Powered by Cambridge Donors

Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem has made housing reform a centerpiece of his Cambridge political career, and Tuesday’s Democratic primary will test whether that platform can carry beyond the city.

Longtime incumbent State Senator Patricia D. Jehlen announced in December that she would not seek reelection after two decades in office. Her district includes all of Somerville and Medford and portions of northern Cambridge and Winchester — and Azeem was one of five candidates to enter the race.

Azeem, Somerville City Councilor Matt McLaughlin, and State Representatives Christine P. Barber and Erika Uyterhoeven will face off in one of the state’s most competitive Democratic primaries. Thomas E. Hopcroft, a Winchester School Committee member, will appear on Tuesday’s ballot but ended his campaign in late July, saying he lacked the fundraising and campaign organization to remain competitive.

With no Republican, third-party, or unenrolled candidate running, the results of Tuesday’s election will effectively decide the race.

Azeem has built much of his political support in Cambridge, accumulating endorsements from several current and former city leaders. Four former mayors — E. Denise Simmons, Marc C. McGovern, David P. Maher, and Anthony Galluccio — and two sitting School Committee members have all endorsed his campaign.

But his endorsements from elected officials outside Cambridge are more limited than those of his opponents. All three other active candidates have gained endorsements from leaders in Somerville and Medford, while Barber has notably secured the backing of some of the state’s most prominent elected officials — including Governor Maura T. Healey ’92, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and Jehlen.

Azeem has also seen significant financial support from Cambridge, with more than half of the roughly $188,000 he has raised coming from donors in the city. About 10 percent has come from Somerville, where all three of his active opponents are based.

In a field of progressive candidates, Azeem has sought to distinguish himself through the abundance movement, supporting efforts to build more housing and expand public transit to address the state’s affordability crisis.

He has been backed by a slew of pro-development advocacy groups, including Run for Something, YIMBY Action, and Abundant Housing Massachusetts, the nonprofit he cofounded and where he currently serves as treasurer. Azeem was also the beneficiary of a $93,000 advertising campaign from the Abundant Housing Massachusetts Independent Expenditure PAC — a separate but aligned organization. The PAC’s spending was underwritten largely by a single $100,000 donation from Anthropic researcher William Saunders.

Through his own campaign committee, Azeem has also outraised his active opponents, including with support from donors in the technology and artificial intelligence sectors. Donors affiliated with Anthropic and Google have contributed more than $12,000 to Azeem’s campaign — $8,000 and $4,450, respectively. Azeem, who worked as a software engineer before entering elected office, has also made artificial intelligence regulation part of his campaign platform.

But despite raising the most, Azeem had been more conservative with his funds than some of his opponents. His campaign has spent roughly $50,000 less than Barber’s, which has poured almost $169,000 into the race.

The Cambridge vice mayor has focused much of his attention on canvassing outside Cambridge and creating social media content to reach voters. He has uploaded three to four videos to his social platforms each week and spent more than $16,700 on Meta ads and $15,000 on video production. His campaign has spent an additional $13,600 on consulting and $4,400 on media and public relations.

—Staff writer Theresa F. Bartelme can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at theresabartelme.15. Follow her on X @theresabartelme.

—Staff writer Alexa M. Schmitt can be reached at [email protected] or Signal at alexaschmitt.15. Follow her on X ​​@alexa_m15_s.