Boston's Ayanna Pressley Endorsed By Former President Obama

BEACON HILL, MA — Boston City Councilor and Congressional candidate Ayanna Pressley has the support of former President Barack Obama. Pressley marched into the history books with a double digit win over popular incumbent Michael Capuano in Massachusetts' 7th Congressional District last month. And now, barring a significant write-in campaign, she is poised to become the first African American woman to be elected to Congress from the Commonwealth.

Pressley is one of a number of candidates of color and women who have won races this year, highlighting a discussion about the need for women of color to be represented in the corridors of power.

Monday she said she was honored to be among the handful of state Democrats to secure the former president's endorsements.

Although Pressley has no challenger in the upcoming election, Obama's office said the was focusing on close races in which the former president's "support would make a meaningful difference; state legislative and/or statewide races that are redistricting priorities; Obama campaign and administration alumni who have been inspired to run for office; and building a pipeline of diverse talent and elevating the next generation of leaders within the Democratic Party."

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Photo of Pressley at a news conference in Boston, Oct. 1, 2018 by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff