Oliveira wins primary, Lesser concedes Lt. Gov. race

Date: 9/7/2022

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS – State Sen. Eric Lesser ended his effort to be the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor with a concession to Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and saying he will give his “full support, 100 percent” to the nominee.

“I’m eager to work for the Driscoll/Healey ticket in November,” he told about 100 supporters at East Longmeadow’s Center Square Grill.

Lesser finished second place in the race. The senator was upbeat and smiling through most of his speech.

He warmly thanked his team – “I truly have an incredible team” – and thanked his family who stood with him at the podium.
“From the bottom of my heart, I want you to know how grateful I am,” he said.

Other than getting some rest, he declined to speak about his next career move, but told reporters that he will continue work as a senator for the rest of his term, concentrating on the creation of a rail commission as well as the economic development bill.

The principal proponent of the east-west rail proposal, Lesser asserted that project would be finished.

He did say that politics would remain in his future.

Lesser’s former aide, Chicopee City Councilor Joel McAuliffe, who was running to become the Democratic nominee to replace retiring state Rep. Joseph Wagner, also lost his race in Chicopee.

Longmeadow’s Sydney Levin-Epstein, who had served at one time as an intern in Lesser’s office, also lost her effort to become the Democratic nominee for Lesser’s state senate seat. The Longmeadow Democratic activist had received the backing of Sen. Edward Markey and Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, among others.

“Despite it wasn’t the outcome we wanted, I am so proud and grateful for our team,” she said.

She added she hopes her campaign will encourage other young people to consider running for public office.

Levin-Epstein described efforts as a “positive and policy-driven campaign.” She added, “It was a magical journey and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Oliveira wins

Just over an hour after polls closed in most parts of the state, Jacob Oliveira addressed his friends, family and supporters, thanking them for his win in the Democratic primary race for the Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester District in the State Senate.

“It was a resounding victory in this district,” the candidate said. With 91.9 percent of the vote counted Oliveira won the election with 11,915 votes. He said that he had spoken to his opponent, Sydney Levin-Epstein, who received 5,141 votes, and she had been “gracious.”

He later told Reminder Publishing that people voted for him, “Because of what I’ve given back to my community and because I was the only [person] in this race already doing the job.”

Oliveira said serving constituents in four communities as a state representative has been “the job of a lifetime.” He spoke about the eight additional communities he would serve in the State Senate. He noted that Warren does not have postal delivery service or access to Western Massachusetts services. He described the gateway cities of Holyoke and Chicopee as “vital” to the economic health of the state.

“We have a lot of needs in Western Massachusetts,” Oliveira said, including funding education, investing in regional transportation authorities and West-East Rail, and expanding broadband access.

He continued, “Any of you seen the news and what’s happening in Jackson, Mississippi? Our water and sewer systems in western Massachusetts are almost 100 years old and aging fast.” He said investments were needed now to void “double digit spikes” to bills if the systems were to be replaced in an emergency.

Oliveira said infrastructure investments have to be balanced with “a solid financial grounding” for the state. He said supporting higher education is a smart return on investment because the industry is a major employer in the region. When discussing student loan relief, he said. “Student loan debt stops people from buying a house, buying a car, having families.” He said college graduates are not the only ones who should benefit and spoke in favor of “relieving debt for people with plumbing licenses and electrical licenses.”

He also spoke in favor of mixed-use housing and “putting money in working families’ pockets.”

A couple of the few dozen supporters who showed up to support Oliveira, Jessica Collins and Larry Dixon brought their two children to the watch party. The family have been Oliveira supporters since they met the candidate.

“He just walked up our driveway in South Hadley and introduced himself. No one had ever done that before,” said Collins. She said he sat with the couple and answered their questions. “He’s so personable and he listens,” she said of why they support Oliveira.

Dixon later said, “We got good feelings about this [election].”

A handful of elected officials joined Oliveira’s supporters. State Sen. John Cronin of the Worcester and Middlesex District, state Rep. Michael Kushmerek of the 3rd Worcester District and state Rep. Patricia Duffy of the 5th Hampden District all attended the watch party.

“I’ve seen Jake’s work and the results he’s been able to deliver. I’ve been jealous of the money he’s brought back for his constituents,” Kushmerek said. He and Oliveira began serving in the legislature at the same time. “He really took a leadership role, and it will be a loss for the House,” if Oliveira leaves to serve in the state Senate.

Iris Gonzalez of the union SEIU Local 1199 said union members had been phone banking and knocking on doors until late in the day to make sure voters were going to the polls. Fellow union member Charlie Holmes said he was excited about Oliveira going to the State Senate. “He’s going to pick up right where Eric Lesser left off,” Holmes said.

Michael Kelliher, who served on the Ludlow School Committee with Oliveira said, “I don’t think he’ll ever forget about Ludlow.”
Oliveira thanked Levin-Epstein, for running and commented, “She has a bright future ahead of her.”

As the Democratic nominee for the State Senate seat, Oliveira will go on to face Republican William Johnson in the general election on Nov. 8. “I’m going to need your help again,” he told his supporters.