BOSTON — A 36-year-old Salem veterinarian is the latest Democrat to jump into the wide-open race for the Sixth Congressional District in next year’s midterm election.
Mariah Lancaster, a former federal worker and congressional aide, announced Monday that she is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to run for the North Shore region’s congressional seat in November’s elections.
Lancaster, a political newcomer, stressed her previous work for the U.S. State Department “combatting environmental crime and corruption around the globe” and later as a congressional staffer for Democratic lawmakers “gaining expertise in federal policy and advancing progressive priorities.”
She pledged, if elected, to focus on pocketbook issues, improving access to health care, affordable housing and education, and support policies aimed at improving economic conditions for low- and middle-class families.
“We’re all getting screwed as billionaire oligarchs divide and distract us from the fact that they’re profiting off the pain of working Americans,” Lancaster, who identifies as non-binary, said in a campaign video. “Meanwhile, Massachusetts families are going hungry and getting sick because they can’t afford groceries or a visit to the doctor.”
Lancaster joins a crowded field of candidates already in the race to replace Rep. Seth Moulton, a Salem Democrat, whose decision to challenge incumbent Sen. Ed Markey in next year’s Democratic primary has opened up a rare, down-ballot race to fill his congressional seat.
Former Biden administration official Dan Koh, of Andover, former state Rep. Jamie Belsito, of Topsfield, and Democratic state Rep. Tram Nguyen of Andover, formally declared their candidacies. Rick Jakious, Moulton’s former chief of staff, has jumped into the wide-open race for his ex-boss’ seat in Congress.
The race has also drawn political newcomers — Rev. Nathaniel Manderson, of Danvers, and Lynnfield businessman and lawyer John Beccia — who announced their candidacies recently.
So far, no Republicans have announced plans to run for the congressional seat.
The 6th Congressional District — which includes most of Essex County and eight towns in Middlesex County — has about 640,000 voters, according to Secretary of State William Galvin’s office, nearly 60% of whom are registered as independent. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district by a wide margin.
Democrats have held the congressional seat since 1996, when Democrat John Tierney narrowly beat incumbent Republican Peter Torkildsen.
Moulton, who was reelected in 2024 to a fifth term, has held the congressional seat since 2014 after he ousted Tierney in a surprise victory in the Democrat primary, becoming the first challenger to defeat a sitting congressman from the same party in 22 years.
Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.