BOSTON — Democratic Rep. Lori Trahan could be facing her first primary challenge since she was elected nearly eight years ago, as several first-time candidates jump into the race for the Merrimack Valley’s vast congressional district.
Three challengers have filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to challenge the four-term incumbent for the 3rd Congressional District seat, which includes Haverhill, Andover, Lawrence and Methuen in Essex County, along with 22 communities in Middlesex County.
Among them is Gaige Clark, of Hudson, a political newcomer who is vowing to “bring back common sense” to the Democratic Party and the states leadership if elected.
“It is Gaige’s belief that our country has lost its way. She believes America needs to anchor herself, stabilize, and begin to meet the needs of every day working Americans instead of the billionaire class,” Clark posted on her campaign website.”Massachusetts residents deserve honest leadership, transparency, and a homegrown brave fighter who is not afraid to head to Washington to win their battles.”
To get on the Sept. 1 primary ballot, the congressional hopeful would need to turn in at least 2,000 certified signatures from registered voters to Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s office by June 2 deadline.
If Clark qualifies to get on the Democratic primary ballot, it would bethe first time Trahan has faced a challenger from her own party since she was first elected in 2018.
Another political newcomer, Kevin Ades of Northampton, filed with the FEC this week to run for the congressional district as an independent candidate.
In a series of social media posts, Ades criticizes congressional Democrats for not doing enough to stand up to President Donald Trump’s policies, rails against capitalism and calls for the federal government to sign onto the United Nations’ charter of human rights.
“I believe in free housing of food, water, shelter, clothing — the necessities of life that we can’t provide to people and we should,” he said on one video post. “We spend more money to heal less people. We spend more money to feed less people. It’s just dumb. We need more progressive voices in our government.”
To be sure, there is no legal requirement to live within the boundaries of a congressional district. The U.S. Constitution mandates only that members of the Congress live in the states they represent. Under federal law, one need only do that by Election Day.
The race has also drawn Republican candidate Gary Grossi of Action, who filed his statement of candidacy with the FEC Thursday. In 2024, Grossi won the Republican nomination to run for a seat in the state House of Representatives, but lost the general election as a write-in candidate.
In a statement, Trahan’s campaign cited her background in college athletics in saying she “welcomes the competition” and “believes it makes us better and is the bedrock of our democratic process.”
“Lori is laser-focused on lowering grocery, housing, and utility costs for families who are stretched thin, standing up against Kristi Noem’s rogue ICE agents terrorizing our communities, and holding Donald Trump accountable for his shameless corruption and self-dealing,” Trahan spokesman Francis Grubar said.
“She will continue to engage directly with the hardworking folks she has had the honor to represent to make the case for why she should be rehired as their congresswoman,” he said.
Trahan was first elected to Congress in 2018 to replace outgoing Rep. Niki Tsongas, after squeaking out a narrow primary win against nine other Democrats and beating Republican Rick Green and Independent Mike Moran in the general election.
She cruised to another term in 2020 after not fielding challengers, and fended off a challenge from Republican Dean Tran in November 2022 to win another term. She won another two-year term in the Nov. 5 elections after facing no opposition.
Trahan serves co-chair of the House’s Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, which oversees the minority caucus’ strategic communications, among other responsibilities.
Any potential challengers Trahan have a long way to catch up to the incumbent congressman in the money race. As of Dec. 31, Trahan had more than $1.7 million in her campaign account, according to her FEC filings.
Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.