Meeting the Moment for Massachusetts.
Meeting the Moment
for Massachusetts.
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Patrick Roath
Lawyer, democracy advocate, and Boston resident running for U.S. Congress to bring new leadership and real solutions to Massachusetts' Eighth District.
Patrick Roath is a voting rights advocate and attorney running for Congress to take on Trump’s authoritarian agenda and deliver bold solutions for working families. With roots on the South Shore—his mother was born in Brockton and raised by a single mother in Braintree—Patrick has spent his career fighting to expand democracy and opportunity: securing automatic voter registration and universal mail-in voting for millions of Massachusetts residents, and standing with immigrant families seeking asylum from persecution.
As an aide to Gov. Deval Patrick and President Obama, or as a Fulbright fellow in Malaysia, Patrick has always fought for people over powerful interests. Now he’s running a grassroots campaign that refuses corporate PAC money because real change requires real independence.
Patrick believes Congress needs fighters who will defend our country against Trump’s attacks, and leaders who understand what we need to do now to build the future we all deserve.
Patrick lives in Jamaica Plain with his spouse, Vicky, their newborn daughter, and their rescue dog, Brodie.
Powered by people
not corporate PACs.
Patrick Roath isn’t taking a dime of corporate PAC money—because he believes real change starts with real people, not big donors. He’s running a grassroots campaign powered by working folks, not corporate interests. That means he’s accountable to you, not CEOs or lobbyists. If you want a leader who’ll fight for working families, not the wealthy few, pitch in today and help fuel this people-powered movement.
Rep. Stephen Lynch
Congressman Lynch is not listening to us and has shown that he can’t stand up to the Trump Administration. After 24 years in office, it’s time for change.
A lot has changed since Rep. Stephen Lynch was first elected to Congress in 2001. Boston is facing an exodus of working-class families who can no longer afford to live here, and national attacks threaten our way of life, basic rights, and economic well-being. Now more than ever, we need a leader who will listen to the experiences of real MA-8 families and fight for us in Washington.
He is the last remaining Democrat in Congress who voted AGAINST the Affordable Care Act.
He voted with Republicans to expand deportations and to “thank ICE for defending the homeland.”
Was “pro-life and proud of it” for the majority of his career.
He hasn’t held an in-person town hall since 2019 and shouted at a constituent who asked him to stand up to Donald Trump.
Lower Costs and End Corruption
This is a pivotal time for our country. Right now, we need leaders who are ready to meet the moment, who understand what’s at stake, and who are ready to fix our democracy by building the future we deserve. This campaign is about proving that our government can still get things done for people – starting with tackling the out-of-control costs that are driving people away from our communities.
Affordable housing
Massachusetts is too expensive. The exceptionally high cost of living threatens our region’s future as we lose families and workers to more affordable states. This isn’t just a local problem—it’s a national crisis demanding bold federal action.
We need Washington to lead an ambitious campaign to build millions more affordable units across the country and provide direct assistance to first-time homebuyers.
Family Affordability & Childcare
Every day, across the Eighth District, I hear the same thing: raising a family in Massachusetts, particularly in and around Boston, has become impossibly expensive. Right now, the average annual cost of infant care in Massachusetts is over $26,709 – that is out of reach for most families, and among the most expensive in the country. That is more than tuition at UMass, and the increases in recent years are out of control.
This crisis is personal for me. My wife and I are growing our family and, like every parent across our district, we’re confronting these crushing costs firsthand. Too many families I know are leaving Massachusetts or deciding not to move out of the state or not have children at all because they simply can’t afford it. The lack of affordable childcare options leads to older Americans sacrificing more of their time to help with childcare, and ultimately makes our economy far less productive than it could be.
We need comprehensive federal action to make raising a family affordable again.
Affordable Healthcare
Every American deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare. The United States is alone among developed countries in not guaranteeing universal health coverage. Too many families face crushing medical bills, limited choices, and unnecessary barriers to care.
There is so much we can be doing in the short, medium, and long term to fix our healthcare system and build up to universal coverage.
Jobs & Economic opportunity
America’s economy should work for working people, not just those at the top. I will champion an opportunity economy where everyone has a chance to compete and succeed. I’ll fight to cut taxes for more than 100 million working and middle-class Americans by expanding the Child Tax and Earned Income Tax Credits, while ensuring the wealthiest Americans and largest corporations pay their fair share. I’ll support investments in American manufacturing, infrastructure, and clean energy that create good-paying jobs with family-sustaining wages and benefits. By removing barriers to opportunity and investing in communities that have been left behind, we can build a future where hard work is rewarded and the middle class thrives.
Reproductive Rights
I believe that family planning decisions are profoundly personal and should remain between individuals and their healthcare providers—not politicians or the government. The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has created a healthcare crisis across our nation, with dire consequences falling heaviest on low-income communities and people of color.
I would be a strong pro-choice vote in Congress and would fight tirelessly to restore and strengthen federal protections for reproductive freedom. I would champion legislation to codify the protections of Roe into federal law through the Women’s Health Protection Act and work to ensure that everyone has access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care regardless of where they live or their economic status.
Immigration
America deserves an immigration system that reflects both our values and our interests—securing our borders while continuing our proud tradition as a nation that welcomes those who come to contribute to our shared prosperity.
We cannot abandon our distinct role as a nation of immigrants and the vibrant melting pot of the world. That’s my personal story, as someone descended from Catholic and Jewish refugees fleeing persecution in Ireland and Central Europe. And as a lawyer who has worked on groundbreaking political asylum cases, I am deeply familiar with complexities and weaknesses of existing law.
Public education
As the proud product of public schools, I am committed to strengthening our public education system to ensure every child has access to high-quality learning opportunities regardless of zip code. Our schools face unprecedented challenges—from pandemic learning loss to growing mental health concerns—and we need bold federal leadership that empowers educators and supports students at every stage of development.
Rather than dismantling the Department of Education, we should transform it into a powerful resource for ensuring educational excellence in public schools across the country. This means providing meaningful support to teachers and administrators, including increasing teacher pay, reducing administrative burdens, and supporting schools that take steps to restrict phones from classrooms to enhance student focus.
Fighting for Full Equality & LGBTQ+ Rights
Every single person in our country is entitled to live with dignity, free from discrimination, and with the freedom to be their authentic self. As someone who has fought for civil rights as a lawyer and democracy advocate through my work with Common Cause Massachusetts and other groups, I would be a strong champion for LGBTQ+ equality if elected to the United States Congress. I have been on the front lines of this fight, including by suing Massachusetts to comply with the Constitution by providing appropriate healthcare to trans inmates.
Fixing politics & our democracy
This campaign is about fixing our politics and strengthening our democracy. That means advancing focused, serious, achievable measures designed to address corruption and make our institutions more responsive to the needs of the people.
No Corporate PAC Money. A pro-democracy anti-corruption agenda starts with how this campaign is being run. I refuse to accept any contributions from corporate political action committees (PACs), in an effort to strengthen the separation between candidates for office and corporate interests.
Foreign Policy
America can only be great on the world stage by being good.
My experience teaching English at a rural Islamic boarding school in Malaysia as a Fulbright scholar through the U.S. State Department taught me that America’s greatest strength isn’t our military might—it’s our ability to build genuine partnerships based on mutual respect and shared values. Real security comes from diplomacy, development, and demonstrating that democracy delivers.
Climate & The Environment
The threat posed by climate change requires the United States to take bold action to protect our planet and our future generations. That means both investing in long-term clean energy solutions and making practical decisions that improve the health, safety, and natural beauty of our communities on the ground. Climate change is impacting our region today, and the effects will only be more pronounced in the coming years.
Clean Energy Solutions. I’ll champion investments in the full spectrum of clean energy technologies—from offshore wind and solar to advanced nuclear, fusion, and geothermal—while building environmental resilience through targeted civil engineering projects throughout our district. Massachusetts has the research institutions, skilled workforce, and innovative spirit to lead the nation in developing and deploying these technologies.
To make meaningful national progress, we need climate policies that will endure across multiple administrations and find support on both sides of the aisle. We need to work to generate broad bipartisan support for climate action that creates clean energy jobs, improves public health, and strengthens our communities.
Gun Control
The epidemic of gun violence in America demands immediate and serious action. In Congress, I would be a strong advocate for imposing serious and comprehensive controls on gun ownership to minimize the odds that firearms fall into the wrong hands.
We should regulate firearm possession at least as much as we currently regulate motor vehicle possession. Just as we require drivers to be licensed, tested, and insured before operating a vehicle, we should implement a comprehensive licensing system for firearms. Guns are powerful tools that require proper training and responsibility.
Checks And Balances
The Trump Administration is trampling on the checks and balances imposed by the U.S. Constitution and attempting to unilaterally seize powers it is not constitutionally entitled to. These overreaches have been abetted by a Republican-controlled Congress that is letting the Executive run roughshod over Congress’s critical Constitutional role as a check against tyranny.
That acquiescence must end. If Democrats regain power on Capitol Hill after the midterm elections, we should prioritize restoring the critical checks and balances fundamental to our democracy. That means repealing or substantially amending statutes that the Trump Administration has exploited in attempts to seize and misuse authority.
Patrick in the news
Stay informed with the latest updates from the campaign.
- The Hill
Leaders We Deserve, the political group co-founded by former Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg, announced Monday that it’s backing Democratic candidate Patrick Roath, who’s challenging incumbent
- Politico
David Hogg is wading into the Democratic primary in Massachusetts’ 8th congressional district, backing a well-funded progressive challenge to a
- Press Release
Ten elected officials from Braintree, Brockton, Canton, Hingham, Walpole, and Whitman back Roath’s campaign for Congress BOSTON, MA — Patrick
- Boston Globe
Former Governor Deval Patrick endorses Patrick Roath in challenge against Stephen Lynch
Former Governor Deval Patrick is wading back into MassachusettsDemocraticpolitics, endorsing his former spokesperson and aide Patrick Roath in his congressional challenge to US
- Press Release
- Jamaica Plains News
Jamaica Plain resident Patrick Roath is running for Congress, banking on that his message to strengthen access to healthcare, support
