He’s back. Ben Downing, who walked away from his Senate seat after 10 years of serving residents in the Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden Senate District, says that he will be throwing his hat into the ring to run for Governor.

An immensely popular senator, especially here in the Berkshires, Downing walked away from his Senate seat in 2016 making good on his promise to serve no more than 10 years. His entry into the 2022 race for governor, was officially announced via press release and a video to his supporters this morning. 

Growing up in Pittsfield, I lived what it meant to be an afterthought in the state’s political power circles… Now, as an East Boston resident, I’m part of a new community just as familiar with being written off. From one side of Massachusetts to the other, I have spent my life in communities that have had to fight harder than they should to get fair representation, equitable access to resources, and attention from Beacon Hill. So, I know what a difference state leadership makes. And I know we need better than what we are getting right now. ~ Downing

 

Check out the full video here:

 

It’s not going to be easy. Downing will face an uphill battle, especially if Gov. Charlie decides to run again. Baker remains extremely popular among voters, and one could argue that his handling of the coronavirus pandemic rivals that of any governor across the country.

As a state Senator, Downing represented the largest district in the state, comprising 52 cities and towns. Over a decade in office, he led legislative efforts to accelerate our clean energy development and respond to climate change, rebuild our urban and rural economies, reduce poverty and hunger, strengthen our state ethics laws, and expand protections for transgender individuals.

Since 2017 he has served in a leadership role at Nexamp, a leading renewable energy company. In that role, he led efforts to improve accessibility within the green economy, expand to new markets outside of the northeast, and deploy cutting-edge energy storage solutions here at home. He serves on the board of the Environmental League of Massachusetts and is a leading advocate for climate action in the Commonwealth.

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