Rep. Tram Nguyen Targeted By Race-Baiting Robocall

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — State Rep. Tram Nguyen, an incumbent Democrat, was targeted by a race-baiting robocall in the 18th Essex District state house race, Nguyen confirmed Friday.

The robocall was first reported by the Boston Globe, Thursday.

The caller claims to support the Vietnamese-American state representative, but mispronounces her name, claims she supports policies she does not support, and calls for "less white people in positions of power."

The district includes parts of Andover, Boxford, North Andover and Tewksbury. Nguyen, of Andover, unseated four-term Republican Rep. James Lyons in 2018. Lyons now chairs the state Republican Party, while Nguyen faces a challenge from Tewksbury Republican Jeff Dufour.

According to the Globe report, "The caller says white people will soon be the minority, and 'less white people mean less racism.'"

"In the Commonwealth of MA, the cradle of democracy, there is no place for such deceitful and divisive tactics," Nguyen said. "I have been working hard to bring the community together, especially during this pandemic, and I completely reject these abhorrent practices that are antithetical to our shared values."

The Massachusetts Democratic Party forwarded the call to the FBI and other federal agencies for investigation.

"This reprehensible act does not reflect the views of the hardworking and compassionate people of the district, and I hope that my opponent would take this opportunity to denounce it," Nguyen said.

Dufour and Lyons both disavowed any involvement with the robocall, the Globe reported, and DuFour said the call would likely hurt his campaign and supported an investigation.

>>Read more from the Boston Globe.

"In today's political environment, words matter & there is heightened sensitivity, rightly so, on conversations around race," Nguyen tweeted after the Globe published its story. "The people of #18thEssex D are tired of divisiveness & I will continue to work to bring our communities together."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.