AG Maura Healey Backs Manny Cruz, Paul Tucker In Democratic Primary

SALEM, MA — Presumed Democratic gubernatorial nominee Maura Healey is weighing in on a pair of contested primaries on the North Shore.

Attorney General Maura Healey, who is the lone Democrat actively campaigning to replace Gov. Charlie Baker in the state's highest office, endorsed State Rep. Paul Tucker (D-Salem)'s bid for Essex County District Attorney and Salem School Committee Vice-Chair Manny Cruz's bid to succeed Tucker in the 7th Essex District on Monday.

"Manny Cruz will be a steadfast and strong state representative for Salem," Healey said in her endorsement. "Born and raised in the city, he'll work to ensure Salem continues to be an affordable place to raise a family by advocating for quality schools, housing, and the growing offshore wind and tourism industries."

Cruz said he was honored to have Healey's endorsement and that he looks forward to working with her if both are elected this fall.

"As our next governor, I know that AG Healey will provide the visionary and bold leadership we need to recover from this pandemic equitably, protect reproductive rights, lead the nation in our transition to a clean energy future, and ensure that our education system is strengthened to better serve all of our students," Cruz said. "As the next state representative of Salem, I am excited to partner with Maura to build the type of diverse and intersectional coalitions on Beacon Hill we will need to advance greater equity in our beloved Commonwealth."

Tucker also announced Healey's support on Monday.

"Paul Tucker has what it takes to be Essex County's next district attorney," Healey said in her DA's race endorsement. "He has a proven track record as an attorney, public safety leader and administrator. I'm proud to support him because I know he will work hard to support justice for his communities."

The statewide Democratic primary is Sept. 6 with vote-by-mail voting already ongoing and early, in-person voting set to begin in most communities on Saturday.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)