Kennedy Jumps Into Worcester Senate Race — Officially

WORCESTER, MA — The first candidate officially entered the 2022 1st Worcester state Senate district race on Wednesday: YWCA of Central Massachusetts Chief Operating Officer Robyn Kennedy said she'll seek the seat state Sen. Harriette Chandler is leaving at the end of the year.

Kennedy was also the first person to file papers to run for the seat. On Feb. 7, she created a campaign committee for the run, but had not officially announced her run. In her campaign launch, Kennedy said she would prioritize issues like housing, childcare and race and health inequities.

“This seat has been long served by someone who stood up for the underrepresented and the under heard — the communities, individuals, and populations that too often get ignored by those in elected office,” she said.

Kennedy, 40, grew up in Worcester, and attended Assumption and Clark universities. She also has political experience, previously serving as a legislative aide to City Manager Ed Augustus Jr. when he was a state senator; and was a policy director for former lieutenant governor Tim Murray during Deval Patrick's time in office.

Chandler announced her impending retirement on Jan. 26, setting off speculation about who would take her place. The two top names at the time were Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty and state Rep. David LeBoeuf. Since then, Petty has filed papers to run — but not officially kicked off his campaign — and LeBoeuf has bowed out of the race to run for reelection to the state House.

Kennedy entered the race with some support from local officials. District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj attended Kennedy's campaign launch at Elm Park Wednesday, and Kennedy has received donations from Worcester School Committee members Sue Mailman and Worcester Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Karen Pelletier, according to state filings.