2nd Essex/Middlesex State Senate Race: DeFranco Endorsed by Baker

HAVERHILL, MA —Sal DeFranco, the Republican candidate for the State Senate seat in the Second Essex and Middlesex District, was endorsed Friday by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, the DeFranco campaign said.

"Sal's experience as a Navy SEAL and entrepreneur gives him a unique perspective on the Commonwealth's toughest challenges," Baker said, according to a press release touting the endorsement. "Sal is the commonsense candidate with a proven record of service. I cannot think of a better Senate candidate to represent the people and businesses within the Second Essex and Middlesex District."

DeFranco, who is running against incumbent Democrat Barry Finegold, is a military veteran and the founder of Battle Grounds Coffee Company, with locations in Haverhill and Newburyport.

"I'm honored to have the support of Governor Baker," DeFranco said. "As the governor prepares to leave office, it is more important than ever that we maintain the balance within our state government that he has fought so hard to achieve."

The DeFranco campaign also has touted other endorsements, many of them from within Second Essex and Middlesex District. Since redistricting in 2020, the district now includes Andover, Tewksbury, Wilmington, Merrimac, Amesbury and parts of Haverhill and North Andover.

According to the DeFranco campaign, the list of organizations and individuals endorsing DeFranco includes: State Police Association, Andover Police Union, Andover Selectman Alex Vispoli, North Andover Selectwoman Rosemary Smedile, North Andover Police Union, Tewksbury Police Union and Tewksbury Firefighter Union.

Finegold, an attorney and partner at Dalton and Finegold, held the State Senate seat from 2011 to 2015, and then was elected in 2018 and again in 2020.

Representatives from the Finegold campaign have highlighted several recent endorsements their candidate has received including: Reproductive Equity Now, SEIU 1199, Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts (PFFM), Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Lori Trahan, Rep. Seth Moulton, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett and Essex Sheriff Kevin Coppinger.

"(I am) glad that so many elected officials throughout the state and district are supporting our campaign," Finegold said.