Despite their importance, most of us ignore municipal elections. Salem's turnout for city councillor elections in November 2023 was only 20%, for example. Yet that percentage skyrocketed to 66% the following year for the presidential election.
Granted, presidential elections are extremely important, as the last year has painfully demonstrated. But our local leaders impact our day-to-day lives more than DC politicians (or even those on Beacon Hill). They also can shield us from (some of) the damage inflicted by a cruel and corrupt President.
Our local leaders set and fund policies relating to housing, education, public transportation, policing, and public health. Because Trump has slashed funding for essential services and has decimated our public health infrastructure, our local leaders will face unprecedented challenges in the coming years.
In addition, the Trump Administration's policies are accelerating our climate crisis. We need leaders focused on making our communities resilient to extreme weather, forest fires, and coastal flooding.
Trump has also weaponized the federal government to attack our neighbors who are immigrants, Black, Indigenous and people of color, and are members of the LGBTQ+ community. He also clearly intends to criminalize dissent through unconstitutional policies backed by military force.
Our local leaders have already played a vital role in protecting those under attack by the Trump Administration. In April, for example, the Salem City Council unanimously passed a resolution that declared Salem a sanctuary city for transgender, non-binary and gender expansive individuals. Our need for local leaders with moral clarity and courage will only intensify in the coming months and years.
Needless to say, we all have to start paying closer attention to what is happening in local politics. And that starts with learning about this fall's municipal elections and supporting local progressive candidates.
Endorsements
Because we are still in our infancy as a publication, North Shore Progressives will not endorse any local candidates for the 2025 Election.
However, we encourage you to learn about your town's municipal races and support local progressive candidates. To assist with your research, we have organized helpful links for candidates running in the following towns:
Your support can make a big difference in the final weeks of a local campaign. Candidates will need donations as well as volunteers for canvassing, phone banking and other clerical jobs. Even a small donation or a few hours of volunteer work can make a difference.
Make a Voting Plan
Check your voter registration today and make a plan to vote in your upcoming municipal election.
League of Women Voters Guides
Key Upcoming Deadlines
- Before October 25: Check your voter registration. If you’re not registered, do so.
- Before 5 PM on October 28: If you intend on voting by mail, submit your application for a mail-in ballot before this deadline.
Notes
- Danvers, Marblehead, and Swampscott are not holding elections on November 4th.
- Due to time limitations, we did not include election resources for Gloucester, Newburyport, Revere or Saugus. As our team grows, we hope to expand our coverage. If you live in these towns, check with your local League of Women Voters group and your town's Community Access Television stations for their election coverage. Progressive Massachusetts has also compiled candidate questionnaire responses provided by North Shore candidates.
- Massachusetts residents not living on the North Shore: check here to see if your town is holding a local election. Check here for Progressive Massachusetts candidate questionnaire responses for Boston and regions throughout the state. (Scroll to the bottom of the page.)
