On Tuesday night, 44-year-old Boston city councilor Ayanna Pressley won the Democratic primary for the seventh congressional district in Massachusetts against 10-term incumbent Representative Michael Capuano. Since there is no Republican running on the ballot for that district in November, she is expected to take that House seat and become the first black woman to represent Massachusetts in Congress.
Boston public radio station WBUR reported that, according to their polling, Capuano maintained a sizable lead over Pressley in the weeks leading up the primary.
The Guardian reports that Pressley has been open about her experience as a survivor of sexual assault at Boston University, as well as a strong supporter of victims of sexual violence well before the #MeToo movement. In her campaign, Pressley highlighted progressive issues including defunding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). New York Magazine reports that Capuano also has a progressive record that includes consistent backing of Medicare for all and voting against the Iraq War (he said in his concession speech that “Ayanna Pressley is going to be a good congresswoman”).
This is how Pressley reacted when she fuckin won.
And here are fellow members of what the Washington Post calls the “liberal insurgency” (which seems to be the label affixed to Democrats who advocate for universal healthcare and doing away with ICE, and aren’t white men, or predicted to win), congratulating Pressley.
Pressley’s victory is already earning comparisons to Andrew Gillum (who won his primary for Governor of Florida last week), and, of course, Alexandrria Ocasio-Cortez herself. Pressley addressed cheering supporters in Boston on Tuesday night, saying, “You saw what I saw: That these times demanded more from our leaders and our party. It’s not just good enough to see the Democrats back in power. It matters who those Democrats are.”
Read Jezebel’s interview with Pressley here.