Marty to back incumbent rep
Picks Capuano over Pressley
Mayor Martin J. Walsh is hitting the streets today to help re-elect U.S. Rep. Michael E. Capuano, backing the 10-term congressman and former Somerville mayor over Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley — whose campaign countered it is focused on getting “face-to-face” with voters.
Walsh backing the incumbent Capuano in the 7th Congressional District race came as no surprise to many. Capuano and Walsh have known each other for decades and recently he’s been Walsh’s man to bring federal attention and resources into the city.
But one high-profile Pressley backer, Chelsea City Council President Damali Vidot, wrote off the endorsement as more “establishment politics” that have for so long kept new voices out of Washington, D.C.
“I’m not surprised at all,” said Vidot, who endorsed Pressley in February. “It’s establishment politics, and they all stick together. I tend to like to see change. I’d like to see new energy, fresh faces, new faces. This has never been about Capuano against Ayanna. Capuano is my congressman. He’s very respected. I feel that I’d like to see a little bit more from Congress.”
A senior aide to Pressley, Wilnelia Rivera, replied to Walsh’s endorsement saying the campaign is keeping its focus on voters.
“Our campaign continues to be focused on face-to-face engagement with voters across the district about the issues they care about,” she said, “and building a truly grass-roots organization that touches all of our communities.”
The timing of the endorsement — four months before the primary — spoke volumes to Vidot about what Capuano thinks his campaign needs to keep ahead of Pressley.
“To me, it seems a little early in the game,” she added. “Maybe we are seeing that Ayanna is gaining traction and people are loving her all over the district. Maybe there is something there.”
Walsh joins Capuano at 3 p.m. today to collect signatures for the congressman at Uphams Corner in Dorchester.
In a statement announcing his endorsement of Capuano, Walsh called him
“one of the strongest champions for working people and urban communities in all of America.”
“He’s the leader and fighter Boston needs in Washington,” Walsh said. “He’s worked his way up to a position of influence in Congress — by listening to what our communities need and fighting for them.”
Capuano on Twitter said he’s “grateful for the support” and “looking forward to making it official” today.
His incumbent advantage might have played a large role in Walsh’s determination of whom to back in the campaign ahead of the Sept. 4 primary. A veteran legislator who sits on the financial services committee and the transportation and infrastructure committee could become much more valuable to Walsh if Democrats take the House of Representatives in 2018, said attorney and former city councilor Larry DiCara.
“It sure looks like it is going to be a Democratic year,” DiCara said. “Mike Capuano in a position of clout on two committees, that’s good for Boston, and I expect that’s why Marty endorsed him.”