The Berkshires chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America are very proud to announce our endorsement of Senator Ed Markey. Senator Markey has been a long time champion of progressive legislation, including being an original cosponsor of Medicare for All and co-author of the original Green New Deal resolution. With our endorsement, we are asking members of our chapter and other chapters to phonebank, donate and canvass to help Senator Markey overtake Rep. Joe Kennedy III and defend his seat in the September 1st primary, so that he can join recent DSA endorsed victors Jamal Bowman and Cori Bush in Congress and continue the fight for Medicare for All, a Green New Deal and other priorities of a democratic socialist agenda.

In other news Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, running to unseat longtime Democrat incumbent Richard Neal, has been accused of inappropriate behavior by the College Democrats of Massachusetts and disinvited from their events at Umass Amherst and Amherst College. Mayor Morse was a lecturer at Umass Amherst and a regular guest of College Democrats events on campus, and is accused of using his position both as a lecturer and as a local mayor in an inappropriate manner with younger students. Umass Amherst is currently conducting their own investigation. Mayor Morse maintains that all relationships with students were consensual, and has apologized for not being "more cognizant of his position of power." To our knowledge at the time of writing, no students have come forward with accusations of rape, assault, non-consensual sexual activities, or underage sex/sexual activity with a minor.

The Executive Committee has discussed this matter over the past few days, and feels it is necessary to have the rest of the chapter weigh in via poll: Should we, as a chapter, retract our endorsement of Mayor Alex Morse in light of recent events or should we retain our endorsement of Alex Morse in the MA-01 Primary? A yes vote is a yes for retraction of endorsement, a no vote is a no against retraction of endorsement. Below are links describing the College Democrats letter to Alex Morse, as well as Alex Morse's statements in response.
https://twitter.com/collegedemsofma/status/1292521048861220864/photo/2
https://dailycollegian.com/2020/08/college-democrats-allege-inappropriate-misconduct-between-holyoke-mayor-alex-morse-and-college-students/
https://krdo.com/politics/2020/08/08/democratic-house-candidate-in-massachusetts-apologizes-after-being-accused-of-inappropriate-behavior/    
https://twitter.com/alexbmorse/status/1292634553669091329/photo/2

Here is the poll to vote in