Will Setti Warren Officially Announce His Run For Governor Saturday?

NEWTON, MA — Is Newton Mayor Setti Warren going to officially announce his intention is to run for governor this weekend? Although most say he's pretty much already thrown his hat into the ring, by stepping down as mayor, and by openly saying he's considering a run. Now he and his family are throwing a block party this Saturday and alluding to a big announcement.

"At the block party, he'll be announcing the first step he'll take to move the Commonwealth forward," reads the invitation posted on Facebook, online and various block party websites.

His wife, Tassy Warren, sent an email out to invite friends and neighbors, in it she talks about the commitment to a life of public service.

“Before I married Setti, he wanted me to be sure I knew what I was getting into. He let me know that public service was an important part of his life and something he cared deeply about,” Tassy Warren wrote. “It’s a commitment we both share, which is why I’m excited to invite you to our block party this Saturday. Setti will be talking about the need for a new generation of leadership to tackle economic inequality and move the Commonwealth forward.”

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This block party and announcement comes ahead of a Democratic convention for gubernatorial candidates who have announced their candidacies to address party activists. So far Democrats Jay Gonzalez and Robert Massie are scheduled to speak. Democrats are still waiting to get official word from Warren and former Sen. Dan Wolf, according to Statehouse News.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has not announced plans yet. Baker has enjoyed strong approval ratings and fundraising and appears well positioned to seek a second term, according to StateHouse.

A graduate of Boston College and Suffolk University Law School, Warren worked in the Clinton White House and in John Kerry’s U.S. Senate office. In 2003, Setti he worked on Kerry’s presidential campaign, and he served in the U.S Navy Reserves for nine years after 9/11. In 2010 Warren became Newton's Mayor.

He was a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2012 before dropping out of a race won by Sen. Elizabeth Warren. And a number of Newton residents said they suspected he has always had higher ambitions than to be Newton Mayor forever.

Warren has openly mentioned he's been considering a run for governor for a while.

In January, Patch wrote an article about Democrats' support for Warren's expected run for governor, and the mayor posted that to his personal website's news section.

In March, Warren set up a finance committee, telling press it was “While I have not yet made a final decision, the formation of a volunteer finance committee is one of the many important steps we are taking to prepare for a possible campaign,” Warren said at the time. He included some local big names on his committee.

The New York Times ran an article earlier this week about young black leaders seeking elected offices across the country. The writer specifically described Warren as gearing up for a race in reference to the 2018 gubernatorial election.

His block party will be held on Beaumont Avenue in Newton on May 20 at 2 p.m. And the mayor is slated to speak right around 3 p.m., according to his campaign communications officer Kevin Franck, who wouldn't give many details about the content of the speech.

"The mayor has lived his life committed to public service and as he's been trying to figure out what he’s going to do after he leaves office... if folks are interested in what that looks like, they should just come on out," he told Patch.

He added that there would be face painting, balloons, and pot luck style food.

"And there will be ice cream," he said. "I can not confirm there will be sprinkles, but generally speaking the mayor approves of ice cream toppings."

Franck, who has been on Warren's campaign since November, told Patch they were hoping for a large crowd, and expected a lot of media to attend. The planning for the block party has been in the works for a couple of weeks, he said. (Read more about Newton Block Parties here).

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Photo courtesy of Setti Warren's campaign, which stated they do not use bylines.