Ben Downing宣佈退出麻州州長選戰 Allen、Chang-Diaz發稱許聲明

Ben Downing (左)。(圖片來自推特)

           (Boston Orange 綜合編譯)2022年的麻州州長大選，參選人正逐個減少，繼現任州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker) 、副州長白莉朵 (Karyn Polito) 於11月底宣佈不競選連任後，今日又再傳出Ben Downing退出選戰。

             現年40歲，民主黨籍的Ben Downing曾任麻州參議員，主張普及托兒服務，激進氣候行動，但募款一直不很順利，今(28)日抱著”沉重心情”宣佈停止參選。

             他說，跳進選戰的人，不會預期有這樣的結果，不過他寧願認為自己的參選，對推動理想有點作用。自己將找其他方式為民服務。

             Ben Downing 在2006年，僅25歲時，當選為麻州參議員，此後5度連任，代表Pittsfield民眾，也成為參議院內清潔電力方面的主要聲音，後來還出任再生能源公司Nexamp的副總裁。

             和太太Micaelah Morrill，以及2名子女住在東波士頓的Downing，去年2月宣佈參選，揚言要打造一個”更公平，更強壯的麻州”。

             儘管Ben Downing很早就宣佈參選，在麻州西部也有根基，但在民主黨籍的3名主要參選者中，他的募款成績最差。哈佛大學教授Danielle Allen，以及住在牙買加平原(Jamaica Plain)的麻州參議員陳翟蘇妮(Sonia Chang-Diaz)募款額都比他多。

             截至11月底，Downing的競選戶口只有不到3萬3千元，Allen有他10倍之多，達到38萬6270.63元，陳翟蘇妮則有大約20萬元。

             明年的麻州州長職位，到底有哪些人參選，民主黨和共和黨都還未完全定案。查理貝克和白莉朵的已經宣佈不參選，理論上會鼓動更多人的參選意願，不過坊間一直看好，認為最有實力來和查理貝克競爭，手中握有330萬元競選經費，因為控訴前美國總統川普(Donald Trump)，以及知名的鴉片生產商Purdue製藥公司等，已享有全美名聲的民主黨籍麻州總檢察長奚莉(Maura Healey) 是否參選，她迄今仍未鬆口。

             不過他的一名顧問證實，奚莉已聘請著名的民主黨策略家，在2012年為4Elizabeth Warren競選聯邦參議員操盤的Mindy Myers當顧問。

             共和黨部分，曾任麻州眾議員的Geoff Diehl已宣佈參選。

             Allen和Chang-Diaz都為Ben Downing的退選發表了聲明。Allen說她知道Downing會繼續像以前那樣，為麻州的家庭奮鬥，她期待著和Downing合作，一起打造出麻州應有的轉型。Chang-Diaz表示自己很榮幸，曾和Downing在參議會攜手為LGBTQ人士爭取權益，感恩能稱他為朋友。

Danielle Allen Thanks Ben Downing For Progressive Leadership, Commitment To Better Future For Massachusetts

Boston, MA -- Gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen issued the following statement on State Sen. Ben Downing’s departure from the gubernatorial race:

“Good politics starts from a good heart. Ben Downing has embodied that truth throughout his campaign and over the course of his career in Massachusetts politics. I thank Ben for his extraordinary leadership to build change in our Commonwealth — from carrying the message that the status quo is not an option, to fighting tirelessly to address the climate crisis, to working to ensure Western Mass residents have a strong voice in our state government. While Ben is leaving the governor’s race, I know he will keep fighting on behalf of Massachusetts families as he always has, and I look forward to working alongside him to create the transformation our state deserves.”

Sen. Chang-Díaz statement on Ben Downing ending his campaign for governor

 

BOSTON, MA - Massachusetts State Senator and candidate for Governor Sonia Chang-Díaz released the following statement in response to Ben Downing’s announcement that he is ending his gubernatorial campaign:

 

“Ben Downing has been a champion for people across Massachusetts throughout his whole career, and he's carried that into this race for Governor every day. It's been my privilege to work alongside Ben over the years, including fighting arm in arm for LGBTQ rights in the State Senate over a decade ago. I’m grateful for his continued bold work and leadership on solar energy and climate change, and most recently for raising up critical issues of justice and equity on the campaign trail. It's been an honor to be in this race with him, and I'm grateful to call him my friend.”

 

About Sonia Chang-Díaz:

Sonia is the daughter of a social worker and America’s first Latino astronaut, Franklin Chang-Díaz. She was elected the Commonwealth's first Latina State Senator in 2008 and quickly became a driving force behind many of the state’s biggest progressive reforms — including landmark $1.5 billion progressive education funding reforms, criminal justice reform, LGBT equal rights, and police reform and accountability. For more information about Sonia Chang-Díaz and her campaign for Governor, please visit www.soniachangdiaz.com.