Andover Sen. Barbara L’Italien Announces Run to Succeed Niki Tsongas

State Sen. Barbara L’Italien and U.S. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. (WHAV News photograph.)

It’s official: Andover Sen. Barbara L’Italien will run for Congress to succeed the 3rd District’s Niki Tsongas.

L’Italien formally announced her bid Monday in a short film posted online.

“I will be a Congresswoman who can both take on the big issues facing our country and those facing the families across this district. I have a lifetime of service that has made a difference for our public school students, seniors, and everyone in between,” L’Italien said in the video. “We need a fearless leader who can fight tough fights and win victories right now, more than ever, in Washington. That’s why I’m running for Congress.”

Serving as a member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011, L’Italien has been at the forefront of the fight for equal marriage, health care for all and support for seniors. The former vice chairwoman of the House Ways and Means Committee, she currently represents Andover, Dracut, Lawrence and Tewksbury.

With her announcement, L’Italien becomes the 11th Democrat in the race to succeed Tsongas. Haverhill’s Alexandra Chandler, a former Naval Intelligence officer, confirmed her candidacy last week. Two Republicans are also in the running.

L’Italien has long hinted at taking the next congressional step. Shortly after Tsongas announced she would not seek re-election, L’Italien talked up the idea of having another woman succeed her.

“As Niki said…women need to run! There is no better way to effect that motto than by ensuring that Niki is succeeded by another woman from the Merrimack Valley,” L’Italien said at a legislative networking event in August. “We need a woman who can continue to advocate for Niki’s longstanding priorities: accessible and affordable healthcare for all, protection of individuals with disabilities and the elderly and better educational opportunities for all of our children.”

3 thoughts on “Andover Sen. Barbara L’Italien Announces Run to Succeed Niki Tsongas

    • So Duncan, you’d be happier with more sexual predators like Donald “stars can grab what we want” Trump and Roy “14 years old is old enough for me” Moore in Washington?

      No wonder the Republican party is in such rapid decline across the county.

      • So Trump gets caught on camera saying something along the lines of: “Grabbed her in/by the pussy”

        Know what that is? Nothing, except maybe Trump, even at the age he said it, immature. Why? Because nearly every male has talked like that around other guys, abet usually when they’re teens/young adults. Nothing burger blown up by the media to score political points.

        As far as Roy? I have no idea what he did, or did not do, and neither do you except for the claims and what the media claims he did.

        Plenty of perverts and sexually violent predators to go around, including both Party’s/society. However, I don’t convict anyone based on anything the media reports. As an FYI, if Republicans were in such decline, why did they make 122-year old history in 2016 elections at every level of government? That’s after Republican splintering between Conservatives, Tea Party, and Libertarian wing of The GOP. Democrats have their own problems as The DNC elected a wealthy donor whore, and part of the reason Democrats lost so bad in 2016. Democrats abandoned the working and middle classes for the allure of money and hold on power, while being complete and total hypocrites. At least with most in The GOP, you KNOW you’re going to get screwed, but Democrats looked supporters in the eye and lied.