Massachusetts state Senate race puts President Obama at odds with Gov. Charlie Baker
Massachusetts state Sen. Eric Lesser got a pretty big endorsement Monday: a stamp of approval from President Barack Obama.
“I’ve known Eric for many years, and have seen his incredible work ethic, intellect, and commitment to public service up close,” Obama said in a statement provided by Lesser’s campaign.
“From new job training, to new laws combating substance abuse, to new efforts to invest in high speed rail, Eric is serving Western Massachusetts with distinction,” Obama said. “As his former boss, I’m proud of the work Eric has done, which is why I’m honored to endorse him for a second term.”
The announcement comes amid Obama’s “unprecedented” move to endorse 150 down-ballot candidates across the country.
Lesser, who previously worked as a 2008 Obama campaign aide and White House economic advisor, said in a statement he was “grateful for the continued encouragement and confidence of [his] former boss.”
The Longmeadow Democrat is running for his second term as the senator for First Hampden and Hampshire district against Republican James “Chip” Harrington, who previously ran for the seat as a Democrat in 2014 before switching to the GOP.
In his re-election campaign, Lesser has highlighted his support for high-speed rail service from Boston to Springfield, as well as his efforts to increase access to the anti-overdose drug Narcan.
(The Boston Globe has a fun 2015 story on how Lesser, then a young 2008 campaign aide, helped inspire Obama’s tradition of holding an annual Passover Seder at the White House.)
Harrington, who is a part-time Ludlow police officer and convenience store owner, has his own respective high-profile backer.
A day before Lesser’s Obama endorsement, Gov. Charlie Baker campaigned with Harrington in Springfield.
As MassLive reported Sunday, the two Republicans visited a local bar to greet supporters and watch the second half of the New England Patriots’ win against the Buffalo Bills.
Despite their differences on the state charter school ballot question (Baker supports raising the cap; Harrington does not), the governor told MassLive he wants “smart, talented people” who understand local government serving on Beacon Hill.
“Chip’s one of those guys,” said Baker, who endorsed Harrington back in May.
As MassLive noted, both Baker and Harrington supported the governor’s veto of Lesser’s bill to study a Boston-Springfield high-speed rail project, which has since become a central issue in their state Senate race.
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