Former Cambridge City Counselor Drops Out Of Congressional Race

CAMBRIDGE, MA – Former Cambridge City Councilor Nadeem Mazen has dropped out of the race for outgoing US Rep. Niki Tsongas' Third District seat. Mazen cited fundraising concerns and a pulmonary embolism that shifted his focus late last year as the reasoning behind his early departure, according to the Boston Globe.

Tsongas announced last year she would retire at the end of her term. More than a dozen candidates from both sides of the aisle have tossed their hat in the ring to succeed her.

Mazen was elected to the Cambridge City Council in 2013, winning by six votes. Two years later, he won re-election with the most votes among all 23 candidates running. Previously, Mazen graduated with an engineering degree from MIT before starting two businesses in Central Square, creative agency Nimblebot and maker space danger!awesome.

Mazen had been exploring a potential run against against Rep Mike Capuano early last year but instead opted to run for Tsongas' vacant seat.

Originally from Andover, he was the highest ranking Muslim elected official in Massachusetts.

Courtesy Photo / Nadeem Mazen (used previously by Patch)