Stoneham Selectwoman Challenging U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark

MELROSE, MA — U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark will have a Republican challenger for her seat in the state's 5th Congressional District.

Stoneham Selectwoman Caroline Colarusso last week announced her campaign to unseat Clark, one of the highest-ranking Democrats in Congress who Colarusso said "has lost her way."

"The voters of the 5th Congressional District will have a real choice on November 3rd," said Colarusso in a post on Patch. "Voters want America to remain a nation of free individuals, equal under the law, with an impartial government, and an economy excluding no one. Americans built America – not government. Katherine Clark has lost her way – focused on her own advancement, and on building an oversized government that frustrates the dreams of individual citizens."

Colarusso said she has never voted for a tax increase during her time on the Select Board. She said she also pushes for oversight and accountability in government.

Colarusso is running for what she said is educational equality and political, economic and religious freedom.

"Far left progressives like Katherine Clark arrogantly claim they can produce specific social results through federal direction of the most complicated economy in history," Colarusso said. "They claim they can weigh the talents, interests, and drive of individuals – and then decide who should win and lose. They 'know' what's fair and best for you and your family. This conceit is wrong. Every failed socialist state proves it. America's success with freedom over the last twelve generations should be celebrated – not regulated by government.

"You know what's best for you, not Katherine Clark."

Read Colarusso's full announcement on Patch.

Clark has been in the House since winning a 2013 special election to succeed Sen. Ed Markey. She is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, is the Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and the sixth-highest ranking House Democrat behind Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Clark does not have a primary challenger.

The 5th Congressional District consists of Arlington, Ashland, Belmont, Cambridge's Ward 3 Precinct 2A, Ward 4 Precincts 2 and 3, Wards 6, 7, 8, and 9, Ward 10 Precincts 1 and 2, Framingham, Holliston, Lexington, Lincoln, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Natick, Revere, Sherborn, Stoneham, Southboro, Sudbury's Precincts 1A, 2, 3, 4 and 5, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Weston, Winchester, Winthrop and Woburn.