As the Democratic primary race for the next governor of Massachusetts began, there were the typical candidates you would find in most elections: two state senators and a state attorney general seemingly likely to win the position of governor. Still, there was someone else who stood out from an otherwise typical Massachusetts state primary: Harvard professor Danielle Allen. Allen, a professor of government, ran an unorthodox campaign, directly applying her study of democratic theory toward strengthening American democracy in its birthplace, Massachusetts. She ran a broad progressive campaign, advocating for the development of Massachusetts in all sectors, from the economy to climate to health, and was centered around a call for a more transparent and inclusive Massachusetts democracy.
Yet the institutions and the establishment-dominated politics she campaigned against would ultimately be her undoing. In February 2022, saying that “it’s just pure math,” Allen dropped out of the race after failing to reach the convention support requirements needed to qualify for the Democratic primary ballot. Allen’s campaign, from its inception to its suspension, teaches valuable lessons about the many problems within Massachusetts politics and potentially the blueprint for a more democratic future.
At the core of Allen’s campaign was an effort to empower voters and create an American democracy that uplifts them and increases representation. Within Massachusetts, this meant working towards reforming many of the state’s anti-democratic behaviors. Among these is the high barrier of entry to state politics and starting a campaign. A candidate for a high-profile race may need over $3 million just to get their name out there. This is even more pertinent when considering the stringent requirements to run for Massachusetts state office: 10,000 signatures and 15% of delegate support at the party convention. Allen also had relatively low name recognition and was the first Black woman to run for Governor as a part of a major party in Massachusetts. This ultimately creates a situation where there is an incumbent-dominated legislature, and lower representation for already underrepresented groups in state office, namely women and people of color.
As Allen directly mentions in an op-ed she wrote for the Wall Street Journal, an unrepresentative government, one where a party, rather than people, holds power, ultimately creates a situation where “the parties continue to own and steer our mechanisms of representation; they are the only vehicle currently available for putting forward a case for representation.” And when parties, not the people, hold the reins of representation, it may often fail to materialize simply because the parties don’t want it to.
One example of this was a recent attempt at voter reform in the Massachusetts state house, which ultimately failed to include a mention of same-day voter registration, something included in the senate version of the bill. This happened in a state with a Democratic super-majority in its legislature, the same party which on the national level supported a bill that included a clause that would require all states to have same-day voter registration for federal elections. That’s the odd situation of Massachusetts state politics: Despite being, in many ways, a beacon of progressive politics, one-party dominance and a lack of new voices keep it from achieving the change it should, often leaving candidates like Allen in the dust.
Allen even noted this broader issue as the cause for the problems in her run. In an interview with Politico, she said that the current requirements for getting on the ballot, as explained earlier, “push out qualified but nontraditional candidates and rob [voters] of a real choice on their ballot.”’ For candidates outside of the political status quo in Massachusetts, this can spell an almost impossible journey to victory. For voters, this means rare innovation in state politics.
Still, a string of big wins throughout the last two decades signals that candidates like Allen can win, and that her fight for a more democratic Massachusetts is not in vain. Figures like Deval Patrick, Elizabeth Warren, and Ayanna Pressley are examples of unorthodox campaigns and underrepresented people finding success in Massachusetts. This, combined with attempts to reform Massachusetts politics, such as the somewhat successful voting reform bill mentioned earlier, shows that change is possible in spite of barriers.
It’s also important to note what Danielle Allen’s campaign and subsequent withdrawal can teach us about state politics and democracy. Allen ran because she wanted to improve Massachusetts’ democracy and did so with no prior political experience, yet she was able to get recognized and raised $1.4 million despite the lack of big interests behind her. It’s easy to focus on her withdrawal and the seemingly impossible task of achieving change in Massachusetts politics. Still, if anything, the success that she did find shows that change is achievable and even happening now.
Candidates in the last couple of years, especially Allen, represent an increasing frustration with how stagnant and unrepresentative Massachusetts is. New and different voices, despite the obstacles, must become active participants in Massachusetts politics and work to change it. Allen’s campaign’s final words stress this even more, arguing that in Massachusetts, the birthplace of American democracy, candidates of all backgrounds should have the opportunity to run, and the people should have the opportunity to vote for them.
So what must change to give candidates like Allen a chance? Allen’s platform itself may hold the answers. A start would be rectifying the lack of same day voter registration in the voter reform bill, the inclusion of which Allen noted would be necessary for strengthening Massachusetts’ democracy. She calls for voter orientation programs to introduce younger voters to the voting process, passing an amendment that would work to allow the state government to regulate election spending, and emphasizing voting and service in schools.
Still, there needs to be a shift in how we view change. Labor, health, and economic reforms are needed, but as Allen notes, they are in many ways symptoms of the broader problems within Massachusetts’ democracy: its inaccessibility, unrepresentative nature, and lack of innovation. Allen gives us the insight that democratic reforms may be the most vital means of securing a future for the birthplace of American democracy.
Correction: Aug. 26, 2022
An earlier version of this article stated incorrectly that Allen did not reach the 10,000 signature requirement and that her campaign raised “half a million dollars.” Allen’s campaign did meet the signature requirement and raised $1.4 million.
The original artwork for this magazine was created by Harvard College student, Allaura Osborne, for the exclusive use of the HPR.
