Result
Democrat Will Mbah won the open 34th Middlesex seat in the Massachusetts House on Nov. 3 without opposition. Mbah will succeed state Rep. Christine Barber (D-MA), who did not seek reelection and instead ran for state Senate. His victory keeps the district, which includes parts of Somerville and Medford, in Democratic hands.
Candidates and platforms
Mbah's campaign website emphasizes creating and maintaining affordable housing. He cites his work on Somerville's Affordable Housing Overlay District and stronger tenant protections during condominium conversions, including giving tenants the right of first refusal when landlords put their homes on the market.
In an Aug. 27 Democratic primary preview, Cambridge Day reported that Mbah wants to make legislative information easier for constituents to access and to communicate regularly with residents. The report also identified investment in public transportation infrastructure and improvements to public education among his priorities.
Mbah previously served on the Somerville City Council, where he worked on housing affordability and community development. His municipal government experience was central to his campaign for the state Legislature.
District and chamber
The 34th Middlesex District includes portions of Somerville and Medford. Barber, a Democrat first elected in 2014, previously represented the district. Mbah's victory preserves Democratic control of the seat.
Money, polling and endorsements
Mbah entered the Democratic primary with a fundraising advantage over his opponents. As of May 31, his campaign had raised approximately $33,200, compared with $22,900 for Ruseau and $4,840 for Oates. Mbah received endorsements from the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, Somerville YIMBY, Abundant Housing Massachusetts, SEIU 32BJ, SEIU Local 509, UNITE HERE Local 26, and United Auto Workers Region 9A, among others.
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