PDM Makes Preliminary Endorsement of Jamie Eldridge for Congress

Openings for seats in Congress do not come up all that often. That's why the open seat in MA's 5th Congressional District is so important. In the hot Democratic primary race, Rep. Jamie Eldridge received an important endorsement today from Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts (pending a final round of member input; but the endorsement is all but certain.)

This is very good news for the Eldridge campaign in his tight Democratic primary. But why, you may ask, is this, among his many impressive endorsements so signficant? It's because PDM makes few endorsements; and it generally doesn't make endorsements unless it intends to make a serious effort to help a campaign. Thus PDM has developed a reputation for not just lending its name to candiates -- but to getting things done and making a difference.

PDM was an early endorser of now governor Deval Patrick. At the time of PDM's endorsement, Patrick had little name recognition and was far behind in every poll. PDM members played key volunteer roles in the Patrick campain from early on -- many serving as town and Senate District coordinators. That had been the idea of PDM all along. That when a reform candidate comes along, he or she would necessarily be the underdog; the least well financed; opposed and resented by the party establishment and treated with great skepticism by the media. PDM has a statewide network of experienced (and sometimes brand new) electoral activists ready to put resources into strategic races and when that kind of help is needed most.

Here is part of what PDM statewide chair Peter Dolan wrote in his endorsement announcement this evening:

After careful consideration, the Statewide Coordinating Committee (SCC) voted, at its last meeting on July 15th, to recommend that PDM endorse Jamie Eldridge in the Special Democratic Primary on September 4 in the Fifth Congressional District of Massachusetts...

All chapters except Lexington were represented at the meeting, and the vote was unanimous. In addition, the chapter representatives present all pledged, should Jamie become the officially endorsed candidate, to personally organize meaningful support in their chapter such as volunteer time for canvassing, phonebanking, or fund-raising. Also present, but not voting, were representatives of our chapters-in-formation in Chelmsford and Lower Worcester County.

In a nutshell, the race shapes up as follows. There are five candidates, four of whom might appeal to progressives. One, Jamie Eldridge, was seen by the SCC as an excellent match for our endorsement criteria. Jamie is solidly progressive on all the important issues in this race, and has also demonstrated a grassroots philosophy in the way he has organized and run his campaign. Jamie strongly favors a single-payer health care system, and takes the most progressive position of all the candidates on other key issues as well. Jamie has demonstrated his support for these principles by his work as a Legal Aid attorney, and in the legislature through his active and vocal support for such things as equal marriage, closing corporate tax loopholes, and making health care a constitutional right.

While their positions on issues are generally not as progressive as Jamie's, Eileen Donaghue, Niki Tsongas, and Barry Finegold also have support among progressive Democrats. We found it noteworthy, however, that Jamie was the only candidate who fully supports single payer health care. Jim Miceli, the fifth candidate, has positions on several issues that seem inconsistent with our progressive philosophy.

No doubt, PDM will have more to say about Eldridge, but for today, I'd like to point to his clear-cut opposition to the war in Iraq:

This war was wrong from the beginning, and I have opposed it before it ever began. Ending the war is my top priority, and is the main reason that I'm running for U.S. Congress. Like you, I am frustrated with politicians in Washington spending their time debating non-binding resolutions and taking symbolic stands. It is time to retake leadership and bring about an end now – not at some to-be-determined date far in the future.

For a progressive Democratic future: universal health care and a decisive end to the war in Iraq, please donate here.