When Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) announced he would vote against health care reform, several unions suggested they would find someone else to endorse come November.
That someone may be Mac D’Alessandro, the regional political director for an SEIU local in Massachusetts. D’Alessandro announced this weekend that he will challenge Lynch for the Democratic nomination. He must get 2,000 signatures by May 4 in order to get on the primary ballot.
D’Alessandro has worked for the SEIU since 2001, according to the Boston Globe, but he has never held public office.
In March, the heads of several unions signed a letter urging Lynch to vote for health care reform.
“Congressman, we will not be able to explain to the working women and men of our union
why you voted against their interests,” the letter read.
D’Alessandro denied, however, that he had been recruited by the SEIU.
“This is a personal decision for me, as a constituent, as someone who has progressive values,” he told the Globe. “This isn’t part of me being recruited, no, this is my wanting a stronger voice for the district, for my family and the other families.”
But he did get into the race because of Lynch’s big “no” vote.
“The health care vote was the final straw,” D’Alessandro told the Boston Herald.
Neither the national SEIU or the AFL-CIO, which also warned Lynch to vote yes, responded immediately to a request for comment.
Late update: A spokesman for the Massachusetts chapter of the AFL-CIO, which would endorse a candidate, tells TPMDC they won’t even have a meeting on endorsements until June.
Later update: D’Alessandro released a statement this afternoon:
“My name is Mac D’Alessandro and I am a Progressive Democrat running for United States Congress from the Ninth Congressional district.
“There’s a critically important threshold we have to meet by May 4th in order to qualify for the ballot. There’s been a great initial response from people in the district to help achieve this initial goal. We are working to build on that momentum and welcome anyone that would like to help ensure that voters in the Ninth Congressional district have a choice this fall.
“Since I have to focus all of my energies right now on meeting the May 4th deadline, I’m going to hold off on making a formal announcement until I qualify for the ballot and will provide additional information then.”
