Our Teeming Shore

My campaign, and my life as a candidate, ended forever two weeks ago. 

Some of you know that I worked full-time while running for statewide office this year. It’s not something I’d recommend. Trying to serve two masters, even on a temporary basis, is not the best idea I’ve ever had, but it is one for which I volunteered with no promises of ease or comfort. Sure enough, neither was readily available. 

I’m not quite at the phase where I can objectively judge whether I’d have done it all over again if given my say over the space-time continuum. The campaign exacted a toll on my children, and I paid a very public cost for some private matters. Most think I should have expected it, and they’re probably right. Politics is like mixed martial arts without the rules and meritocracy.

That’s not to say there weren’t high points. The honor of being endorsed by four Governors, all of whom I hold in very high regard, and all of the state’s newspapers, reminds me that I am fortunate to have had experts in governing and politics believe in me. Lots of people gave toil and treasure to me. Moreover, I spent a lot of time with campaign aides and volunteers whose friendships I will safeguard forever. 

The biggest life lesson I learned came courtesy of the often marginalized communities throughout the state that I made a point of visiting. I spent an afternoon with members of the Bengali community and was greeted with open arms and kind words. I celebrated Durga Puja with a large group of Indian-Americans in Holbrook where I was warmly welcomed and even given a beautiful scarf that had been knitted just for me. And I spent countless hours with the Chinese-American community, in their homes and neighborhoods, and at their spectacular festivals. Finer, more generous groups cannot be found. 

A Saturday in Cambridge with Bangladeshi-Americans during my final campaign.

These people, and many other immigrant communities, treated me like it was their honor to meet me when, in fact, the reverse was true. Public opinion polls will provide analyses into what issues matter most to them, but I learned firsthand that political parties are unimportant to immigrants. What they care about is not being overlooked. They told me time and again that what matters to them is simply opportunity, family, community, and the chance to be part of the social fabric that makes America. It reminded me of what the novelist Chuck Palahniuk said: “The truth is, immigrants tend to be more American than people born here.”

When I consider his words, I’m reminded of the man who I met in Leominster who told me he was “more American” than I am because his ancestors arrived on this continent long before mine did. After making it clear he would not vote for me because I responded “No” to his litmus test (“Are you MAGA?”), he refused even to shake my hand.

No matter. Thanks to my many experiences visiting the newest Americans—those whose dreams and ideals actually do match mine—I still believe there’s hope for our country.