To the Editor:
Here’s something I’d bet most people would agree with: the status quo in Washington is not working.
Since announcing my candidacy as a Democrat for Congress in the Eighth District three weeks ago, I’ve heard this sentiment expressed repeatedly. Much of the frustration is rightly focused on President Trump’s chaos. But it goes deeper than that.
People are looking to elected officials for real leadership, not just on the Trump issue of the day but on the serious challenges that are holding people back right now and also putting the prosperity of future generations in jeopardy. There’s a sense out there that some of the people representing us do not fully appreciate what is at stake and are not equipped to address today’s challenges head on.
I agree. And I’m running for Congress to change that. I think this is a moment for big ideas and new leadership. We need to step up and prioritize progress on things that help working families thrive – most importantly by dealing with the rising cost of living that is bearing down on people in Greater Boston and the South Shore. And making that kind of progress requires us to fundamentally fix our politics and the system that got us into this mess in the first place.
My background is wor ing on that last piece – fixing our politics.
I’m a longtime Boston resident and the son of parents who had the opportunity to lead the kind of American Dream that used to be commonplace and now seems increasingly rare. Their experience traveling up to middle class prosperity was what motivated me to first go into public service.
I got started working for former Gov. Deval Patrick at the State House, and have since combined a private legal career with experience at many levels of government, including the federal judiciary and the State Department overseas. Most of my advocacy in the past decade has been on voting rights issues, working to expand access to voting here in Massachusetts and to hold our institutions accountable.
From that work, I learned that the problem with our politics is not a lack of good ideas—it’s the system. Our corroded and slow-moving political system is designed to entrench longtime incumbents and protect powerful special interests. We have to fix this. My refusal to accept corporate PAC donations on this campaign is a small contribution to that larger project.
If elected, I would push Congress to prioritize passing a comprehensive and ambitious affordable housing plan, increasing investments in public education, and making quality healthcare and childcare more affordable. And I think we can do all that while upholding our core American values—including codifying the right to access reproductive healthcare, defending LGBTQ+ rights, and standing up for the constitutional due process rights of noncitizens facing deportation.
Proving we can get things done with government, fixing our politics, finding new leaders who are prepared to legislate with courage – to me, that is not just a blueprint for governance; it is also how we resist the radical MAGA movement and defend our democracy. We need to show people that there is an alternative, and that it is better.
I am keenly aware that I don’t have all the answers. No candidate or elected official does (and if they suggest to you otherwise, you should be skeptical!).
That is why a critical part of this campaign is listening. It sounds simple but it is so important. Marty Walsh, the former mayor of Boston and US Secretary of Labor, was recently asked about the state of politics on a podcast, and he said something that stuck with me. Speaking of the Democratic Party, he said: “I think we’re at a point in time where we need to listen to people.”
I could not agree more. We are desperately in need of leaders who are ready to listen to every part of the community and are prepared to govern with conviction. That is the leadership style I hope to emulate if I have the honor of being elected, and I look forward to continuing the conversation up through Election Day next year. I hope to earn your support.
– Patrick Roath
