Evan is the peace candidate in this race and a leader in the movement to reform an undemocratic State House.
Evan MacKay, a Mass. Peace Action Board member, is running for state representative in the 25th Middlesex District in Cambridge to fight for a transparent, accountable state government that works for the many, not the few. MAPA enthusiastically endorsed Evan last April.
Evan (they/them) is a union leader, pro-democracy organizer, and a Harvard teaching fellow. As a Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commissioner and the former president of the Harvard Graduate Students’ Union, they’ve been organizing in Cambridge around issues of social, racial, environmental, and economic justice for more than a decade. Evan has consistently stood up for peace issues at the heart of MAPA’s mission.
The MacKay campaign’s momentum has been increasing as the Sept. 1 primary date approaches. Evan recently won the endorsement of the Mass. Teachers Association (MTA), the largest and one of the most progressive unions in the state. And more than 100 people from many different constituencies came out to canvass for Evan last Saturday, a remarkable turnout that showed the campaign’s deep grassroots support.
What are some of the issues that have ignited this campaign?
Transparency
Massachusetts has the reputation of being one of the most progressive states in the country; however, beneath the surface, you’ll find corruption left unchecked and complacency in the face of the Trump administration permitted by conservative politicians. Despite a Democratic trifecta with a super majority in both chambers of the legislature, the Massachusetts State House ranks dead last in effectiveness, passing the fewest number of bills of any state in the country. At the root of this problem is a lack of transparency and accountability: a history of secret committee votes that are used to kill legislation before they can reach the State House floor; legislative leaders that exempted their chambers from public records law; and State House leadership that continues to stall the audit backed by 72% of voters in 2024.
Evan has been a leader in the ongoing campaign to make the State House more democratic. For years, they have organized to improve its transparency, accessibility, and responsiveness to constituents. Widespread voter and media outrage over the legislature’s secretive procedures was considered a significant factor in Evan’s near upset of sitting Rep. Majorie Decker in 2024, when she eked out a victory by only 41 votes. (In 2024 and 2025, Rep. Decker voted 100 percent in line with the Speaker of the House, according to Bob Katzen’s Beacon Hill Roll Call.) Evan has challenged corruption within their own union, the UAW, and won. In fighting for their constituents, they will be willing to challenge House leadership when necessary.
Peace / Palestine
One of MAPA’s major legislative priorities – a bill to divest our state from genocide in Gaza – never had a chance to be voted on the State House floor, despite receiving strong public support. Instead, it was killed in committee; advocates were never even given the courtesy of knowing how legislators on the committee voted. Evan will fight to divest our state from genocide; they were the first to speak in favor of a ceasefire resolution at the Cambridge City Council in the fall of 2023.
Economic and Racial Justice
Evan has organized for working people in the community and, in the legislature, will continue to fight for:
- a tax system where everyone pays their Fair Share;
- stronger protections for immigrant families and an end to collaboration with ICE;
- tenant protections and more housing, especially affordable housing, so that workers, families, students and elders can stay in our homes;
- care at every stage of life, including affordable child care, health care, and elder care, with fair wages for the workers who make care possible;
- clean air & water, safe & reliable public transit, and ambitious climate investments; ending tax loopholes for sale of private jets;
- improved worker protections, including treating gig workers as employees, collective bargaining for State House workers, and support for adjunct faculty;
- opposing prison expansion and advocating for the rights of incarcerated people.
Contact the campaign to read more about Evan’s background and positions, volunteer in these last crucial weeks, or make a donation at: evanforcambridge.com. Remember to vote for Evan on Sept. 1st primary day!
By Sam Levine and Jackie King, MAPA members