South Shore Democrats have been sleeping… why are Democrats ignoring incumbent, strong, loud Republicans in the State Senate?
There is a campaign that hasn’t received much attention yet, but is also quite important to Democrats: the Plymouth-Norfolk State Senate Race. For nearly 15 years, there has been a Republican in this spot. Despite the fact that there are more Democrats than Republicans in this area, and the House Reps in this region are Democrats, this position has always gone to a Republican. As you look through the voting record scorecards and legislative reviews (especially for important Democratic issues like equality in marriage, low income housing, immigration, alternative energy, healthcare, etc, etc), you always find the name of this Republican Senator, holding back Democratic policy. I am not clear why Democrats in the South Shore (and throughout Massachusetts – since this is a State position) have allowed this to happen for so long. One progressive Democratic candidate has stepped up to the plate recently, named Matt Mulvey (a building inspector / housing advocate / firefighter / Coast Guard Auxiliary / Democratic activist), to take up the challenge (http://www.mattmulvey.com) – however, he is not wealthy and self-funded like many of the candidates out there. I applaud him for standing up and taking on the task. Why is it the Republicans can always find a thousand donors (at $150 or more average donation) – but Democrats can not (maybe a few hundred, hovering around $100 donation – often waiting until the campaign is almost over)?
So it will be another uphill battle once again for the Dems – we need a grassroots campaign like Deval has, and I for one, would like to ask every Blue Mass Group reader to open their eyes and pay attention to what is going on in this part of the State. Keep in mind this is the district where the big LNG terminal could be… and where some of the parts for Cape Wind will be shipped from – out of these coastal ports. Why don’t we see any activism for legislators (there aren’t that many State Senators you know) like we do for other positions in the state?
Look at the list of well-funded, well-polished, and all-around good Democratic challengers he’s fended off over the years, and you’ll realize that Hedlund is unbeatable. I’ll give you a few reasons why.
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p>1. Hingham, Cohasset, Norwell,and Duxbury. Here there be Swamp Yankees- and Swamp Yuppies! Not exactly two demographics that are reliable Democrats- especially in state legislative politics. You might see a victory in these towns for Joe DeNucci, Bill Delahunt, or Garrett Bradley, but give these folks a race with a real Republican to vote for, and its lights out for the Democrat.
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p>2. Hull and Weymouth. Blue collar towns. Hedlund is a working-class hero type of guy. Pro-gun. Gets high marks from organized labor.
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p>3. Marshfield and Scituate. Perfect storm mix of the last two groups of towns. You have a combination of the old Irish Riviera, post-1974 emigres from Southie and Dorchester, new money Swamp Yuppies, and old time Swamp Yankees.
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p> End result: Senator-for-life Bob Hedlund. (Unless Garret Bradley decided he wanted to be Senator….)