Cambridge Officials Split Endorsements in Lander-Brownsberger State Senate Race

Cambridge elected officials are splitting their support in the race for state Sen. William N. Brownsberger ’78’s seat, backing both the longtime incumbent and challenger Daniel A. Lander ’14.

Both campaigns for the Suffolk and Middlesex district seat announced endorsements from members of the Cambridge City Council and School Committee — signaling support from leaders in a city that partly falls within the district both candidates seek to represent.

Lander, a first-time candidate and former senior aide to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’07, released a slate of Cambridge endorsements last week, picking up support from Councilors Marc C. McGovern, Jivan G. Sobrinho-Wheeler, and Ayah A. Al-Zubi ’23, as well as School Committee Vice Chair Caitlin E. Dube ’05 and member Luisa de Paula Santos.

Three days later, Brownsberger announced a similar set of endorsements from Councilors Catherine “Cathie” Zusy, Timothy R. Flaherty, and Patricia M. “Patty” Nolan ’80, as well as former Councilor Paul F. Toner and School Committee Chair David J. Weinstein.

A large portion of West Cambridge falls within the district, and each Cambridge official who resides in the district — Flaherty, Nolan, Weinstein, Dube, and de Paula Santos — has endorsed a candidate.

Brownsberger said the endorsements reflected his “legacy of service” and his relationship with local officials across the district.

“All of my endorsements are from people who work with me, who know what it’s like to work with me, have worked with me over a period of time, and appreciate my responsiveness, my work ethic, and my commitment to service,” Brownsberger said.

For Lander, the endorsement slate shows that local leaders are looking for a strong partner in the State House.

“Local leaders are hungry for much stronger partnership with Beacon Hill,” Lander said. “They want a state senator who is going to give cities like Cambridge new tools to build more affordable housing, to fix our transportation system, and to make sure families can build their lives here.”

McGovern said he endorsed Lander because of the “energy he brings” to key issues in the state, including housing affordability.

“He is really progressive on housing, much more in line with where I am on housing,” McGovern said. “It really wants to get things moving and get things done, and that is really important to me.”

McGovern said his choice not to endorse the incumbent was “not anything personal,” but that he sees Lander as the stronger candidate on his policy priorities.

“I don’t think he’s been as strong on the housing front,” McGovern said. “I have no hard feelings towards Will or anything.”

Flaherty struck a different tone, saying he did not believe endorsements from city officials hold much weight for voters, but that he backed Brownsberger because of his record in office.

“I don’t place a whole lot of weight in it. I’m not sure any voter really decides who they’re going to vote for based upon what another elected official says,” Flaherty said. “But I will say I think it’s important that Cambridge is represented by an effective, experienced, hardworking state senator.”

Flaherty said Brownsberger has been “a very effective legislator,” pointing to his work on criminal justice reform in Massachusetts.

The Cambridge endorsements are among the most prominent local endorsements Lander has picked up on the campaign trail. He has also been endorsed by the National Association of Government Employees and AFSCME Council 93 Boston Presidents’ Committee, local progressive groups, and members of the Watertown School Committee.

Brownsberger, the president pro tempore of the Senate, has drawn broader support from elected officials, with endorsements from Massachusetts Governor Maura T. Healey ’92, Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell, State House Majority Leader Michael J. Moran, and several other state representatives.

—Staff writer Shawn A. Boehmer can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at shawnb.18. Follow him on X @ShawnBoehmer.