Congressional Candidates Mermell, Auchincloss Cast Votes Early

BROOKLINE, and NEWTON, MA —A week before primary voting in the commonwealth ends, the day was book ended with two of the Democratic frontrunners for the 4th Congressional District race casting ballots for themselves amid support from people in their neighborhood.

Tuesday morning Jesse Mermell stood outside Brookline Town Hall with several dozen supporters as they cheered her and her campaign. Mermell addressed her supporters as cars honked and as her supporters waved and chatted with passers by. She then went inside to vote.

Later that evening Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss stood outside of the Newton Public Library with supporters and family as they waved signs as drivers passed. One woman came up to him after casting her early ballot to tell him she changed her mind at the last minute and voted for him.

Both candidates have been campaigning hard the past few weeks of the election in an effort to fill the seat that Rep. Joe Kennedy leaves as he challenges Sen. Ed Markey for his seat in Congress.

The two are seen as front runners in a Democratic field that is packed with eight candidates. Whoever wins the Sept. 1 primary will go up against one of two Republican contenders in the November election, but the Republican race has garnered little attention and whomever wins the Democratic primary is expected to take the seat.

Both candidates said they felt good about their odds.

Mermell stressed the grass-roots "people powered" nature of her campaign as a major reason for her optimism. She said her supporter phone bank Saturday helped her make some 26,000 calls to get out the vote.

And as for how early voting was going, she said she'd heard great things from people who had already cast ballots, and from those who were glad to be able to vote on a weekend.

"My hope is that we're able to keep...much of this and expand on it in elections after COVID," she said. "It's just good for democracy."

In Newton, Auchincloss said he expected turnout for this primary to be among the highest in the state, from what he's heard from those who have already voted.

"I think it's great," he said. "The more people that vote the better."

Auchincloss said the response to his "unifying, positive message" of his campaign gave him optimism, despite the criticism that Mermell and several other of the candidates have lobbed his way. Mermell and others have kept a spotlight on his Republican background, his defending of a confederate flag being waved outside a high school and for not having the "right values."

"Criticism is part of politics," said Auchincloss. "But, I think voters are sick of negativity, they get enough of that in Donald Trump. We've run a relentlessly positive campaign."

He referenced the Boston Globe editorial board's endorsement of him as a candidate that could build a coalition, that he's come up with a carbon policy and is best prepared to lead in crisis.

Other frontrunners in the race include Newton City Councilor Becky Grossman, who in the process of suing the state to extend the deadline to count mail in ballots during the primary. Dr. Natalia Linos, an epidemiologist is also right in the front of the pack.

Read more:

• MA 4th Congressional District: Voter Guide
• 4th Congressional District Poll Puts These 4 In the Lead
• MA Voters Should Hand Deliver Mail-In Ballots, Galvin Says
• U.S. Attorney Weighs In On Newton Candidate's Primary Election Lawsuit

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