The Democratic candidate for the Massachusetts 3rd Congressional District must be able to navigate the corridors of Capitol Hill and advocate on behalf of citizens and businesses alike.
Lori Trahan has worked hard her whole life. Whether it was delivering the Lowell Sun as a kid, waiting tables at the Owl Diner, serving on Capitol Hill or opening her own consulting firm, she is an indefatigable working mother.
Trahan got a job with Congressman Marty Meehan right out of college. She helped him deliver for his constituents and move legislation, including the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, commonly known as “McCain–Feingold.” Before long, Trahan became chief of staff for the congressman, and oversaw operations in Washington and Massachusetts.
After a decade in Washington, D.C., she returned to Massachusetts and began a career in the high-tech field. Trahan was the chief revenue officer at ChoiceStream, a software company in Cambridge that uses data analytics for marketing purposes. Trahan then built a consulting firm with two other women called Concire Leadership Institute.
Trahan was born and raised in Lowell — one of four sisters. She attended public schools and worked a number of jobs while attending high school. She excelled at sports and was inducted into the Lowell High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Her personal experience, where money was hard to come by, gives her a unique understanding of the plight of so many in the 3rd District. “We were a family that grew up living paycheck to paycheck.” Trahan told Boston Herald Radio, “I understand full well that your head’s down thinking about that, all the time, making the trade-offs that you need to make to make ends meet.”
Trahan knows that strong representation of her constituents will require a steadfast devotion to them. “At the end of the day, people want to know that you’re there to represent them,” she said. “They want a member of Congress, they want a representative who’s coming to come back to the district after that last vote is cast in Washington and they’re going listen to them and they’re going to work on their behalf.”
Lori Trahan is an unabashed admirer of Marty Meehan and Nikki and (the late) Paul Tsongas and has made it clear that her approach to politics is similar to theirs.
She is a progressive by ideology but does not conform to every radical trend. Though she does believe there is a need for comprehensive immigration reform, she also recognizes the necessity for “border security and shoring up our borders just like every other country in the world has done.”
Trahan is also very even-keeled on the ongoing investigations into President Trump and, unlike so many, is not hyperventilating and calling for his impeachment. “I don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. I’m a firm believer in Congress’ role in oversight of anybody who’s in the White House,” she said. The 37 cities and towns in the district are diverse in interests and having a laser-focus on those challenges will be a requirement for the job.
Trahan is a 3rd District success story and she wants others to follow her path without the obstacles that she faced along the way. “There’s real economic anxiety playing out across the district,” Trahan said. “People need to be able to afford their medical bills, they need to have faith that they’re going to have a good-paying job … and that they can afford their kids’ education. These are basic needs.”
Lori Trahan is a product of the 3rd District. She grew up there and still lives there with her husband and their five kids. Her personal experience as well as her time in business and on Capitol Hill will be extremely advantageous for her constituents.
We endorse Lori Trahan as the Democratic nominee for Congress.
