City native Alexandra Chandler rallied supporters during the opening of her Haverhill headquarters at 306 Main St. (Courtesy photograph)
Wrapping up her first-ever congressional bid, Haverhill’s Alexandra Chandler says she has “no specific plans” to seek future office—but that doesn’t mean she’s ready to fade into the background when it comes to community activism.
In a letter to supporters following Tuesday’s Democratic primary, former Naval intelligence officer Chandler said she was inspired by the voters she met on the campaign trail.
“As I transition away from candidate to engaged citizen, I will still seek to serve without the job title of Congresswoman—which was never the point,” Chandler said.
Among the causes the married mom of two young sons pledged to support include the Voter Choice Massachusetts movement, which efforts to enact Ranked Choice Voting, and local immigration activist group the Merrimack Valley Project.
The state’s first openly transgender candidate for Congress, Chandler also intends to make voters aware of the work of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. “I will also work hard to get a ‘Yes on 3,’ to ensure Massachusetts upholds anti-discrimination protections for transgender people in November,” said Chandler, referring to the upcoming ballot question.
Her commitment to service, says Chandler, “does not come with an expiration date.”
“We will write many future chapters together in that longer story of renewal, I know it. Because answering that call to serve does not come with an expiration date, and this critical moment for our country, with peril and so much promise, demands it of us,” she said.
Following last week’s primary, Democrats Lori Trahan and Dan Koh each filed the necessary signatures to file for a recount, their respective campaigns confirmed. Ballots have been sealed since Tuesday’s Election Day per the office of Secretary of State William Galvin.