Kyle Davis: State Senator Candidate Profile

DANVERS, MA — Kyle Alexander Davis is seeking the Democratic nomination to represent the 2nd Essex District in the state senate.

He is looking to unseat incumbent Joan Lovely.

The 27-year-old Lexington High School alumnus is running for his first elected office.

A self-described "activist and advocate," Davis told Patch he is looking to bring urgency to the battles for universal healthcare, climate action as well as women's rights, minority rights and LGBT+ rights issues.

Campaign website

www.kyledavisforma.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

As a longtime activist and advocate, fighting against racial and economic equality and for bold climate action, I feel that our current state legislature is not meeting the moment. I've organized public pressure campaigns to push local leaders to do more on these issues and have been successful in growing the number of votes and co-sponsorships for transformative legislation.

However, I've felt frustrated with the complacency of our leaders and their lack of urgency. I'm running for office to be a more effective changemaker on these crucial issues and to continue the work of creating a more equal and just Commonwealth.

The single most pressing issue facing our district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Access to health care. Over 200,000 people across the state are uninsured and between 1 in 10 and 1 in 5 are under-insured, meaning they have health insurance but between the rising costs of premiums, copays and deductibles, they still struggle to access affordable healthcare. I will fight for a state-wide system that covers everyone and eliminates these out-of-pocket expenses, particularly for our most vulnerable communities. I will also fight for a number of policies to lower prescription drug costs and invest in long-term care for our seniors.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The incumbent, Joan Lovely, has a surprisingly conservative record for a Democrat and has joined Republicans and other conservative Democrats to block many of the great pieces of legislation that I've fought for as an activist.

Her votes to maintain mandatory minimums for non-violent drug offenders, allow for "surprise medical billing" from providers, her vote against the commission to combat sexual harassment in the workplace ... put her out of line with the liberal and progressive people of this district.

I am also proud to be the only candidate in this race to refuse funding from lobbyists and special interest groups, fueling my race with small, grassroots donations.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

In addition to her conservative voting record, Joan has failed to fight for important legislation that would help working class people and families behind the scenes. When given the opportunity to co-sponsor bills like $15 Minimum Wage, Debt-Free Higher Ed, Sanctuary State, Carbon Pricing, and Affrodable Housing And Climate Resilience, she refused. When there isn't enough support for bills, leadership often doesn't bother bringing them up for votes and so they die without being given a fair chance and input from constituents.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

This campaign is committed to the rights of women, people of color, the LGBT+ community, immigrants, and workers. I will fight to make Massachusetts a leader on combating the climate crisis, fixing our broken criminal justice system, and modernizing our infrastructure and public transit system.

I am proud of my signature proposal, the "Safe Haven Act," which would provide funding, transportation and care to women to support reproductive rights, particularly for low-income women, including those living in nearby states with restricted rights.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

One of my proudest moments was being the lead organizer on a march in Boston last year for universal healthcare. Hundreds of people marched from Roxbury to the Boston Common, including Democratic candidates for city council and state senators, including Sonia Chang Diaz, who gave impassioned speeches for the right to health care.

The story was picked up by local media including TV stations and we used the media attention as a tool to urge more members of the state legislature to sign on to health care legislation and we were successful in adding additional co-sponsors.

This is exactly what I'll continue to do on Beacon Hill — speak in favor of great bills, build coalitions and broad support for them, use activism and the bully pulpit to pressure my potential colleagues to join me and most importantly pass those bills and materially improve people's lives.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Listen." I have a strong foundation of what I believe and what I'd like to accomplish. However, the best advice I received from a close friend at the beginning of this race was to listen more than talk. Every conversation I have with folks from doorsteps to phone calls to public events is centered around "their" struggle, "their" concerns and "their" priorities.

A leader is nothing without community and nothing great is accomplished top to bottom. I pledge to not just fight for the people, but with them.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My values that I have today were instilled in me growing up with an incredible blended family, with two moms, multiple religions and a fascinating blend of ancestry.

I was taught to love everyone, to see the good in them and to fight for them by my family that remains to be an amazing support system to this today.