Candidate drops out of race to replace Seth Moulton days before primary

Just days before the Democratic primary, Mariah Lancaster, a veterinarian and former congressional aide, dropped out of the race to represent Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District and endorsed a fellow progressive candidate. 

Lancaster announced their decision on social media Saturday, urging their supporters to join them in electing Rep. Tram Nguyen as the district’s next member of Congress. 

“In the final days of this race, the most important thing I can do is help ensure the Sixth District is represented by someone who will fight for our progressive values,” Lancaster said in a Facebook post. “That is what I’m choosing to do today.” 

The open primary is the first for the district in decades after U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton decided to challenge Sen. Ed Markey, leaving his North Shore-based House seat open. 

Four other Democrats remain in the race alongside Nguyen: Bethany Andres-Beck of Middleton, a software engineer and the first candidate to get into the race; John Beccia of Lynnfield, a business leader who co-founded a strategic consulting firm; Jamie Belsito of Topsfield, a former state representative and current town moderator who challenged Moulton in 2020; and Dan Koh of Andover, a former chief of staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and a former official in the White House.

Nguyen expressed her gratitude for Lancaster’s support in a statement, adding that they share a similar commitment to creating better futures for working families.

“This campaign has always been about bringing people together around a vision for progress, opportunity, and meaningful change,” Nguyen said. “We are proud to have Mariah join us in this effort, and welcome everyone who believes it is time for a new type of leader in Congress — someone who will stand up, speak out and deliver results.”

Nguyen, of Andover, is the only current officeholder in the race. She represents the 18th Essex District in the Massachusetts House.

Her campaign has received endorsements from Reps. Lori Trahan and Ayanna Pressley, as well as many other elected officials and advocacy organizations. 

Nguyen is running on a platform centered on equality and affordability. Her campaign lists affordable housing, economic justice, universal health care, education equality, immigration reform, transit equity, and LGBTQ+ rights and protections among its priorities. 

Lancaster joined Trahan, Pressley, and Attorney General Andrea Campbell at a rally for Nguyen in Salem on Sunday.

“For Congress to represent working people, we have to send working people to Congress. If it can’t be me, I want it to be Tram,” Lancaster said in a statement to Boston.com. “She has spent her entire adult life serving this community, first as a legal aid attorney and, for the past eight years, as a State Representative.” 

Lancaster said they had been impressed by Nguyen’s “worth ethic, backbone, and integrity” as the two got to know each other during the campaign. 

They also highlighted Nguyen’s union membership, saying the congresswoman “understands that labor rights are the backbone of our democracy and the key to the future of the Democratic Party.”

“The most important thing for this district, and for the country, is for us to elect a working class progressive champion to Congress. That’s what the voters, the district, and my supporters deserve,” Lancaster said.

The Democratic primary is Tuesday, Sept. 1, and Lancaster’s name will still be printed on the ballot. The winner will face Republican Micah Jones in the general election.

This story has been updated to include a statement from Lancaster.

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