Brookline Resident Jesse Mermell Announces Run For Kennedy's Seat

BROOKLINE, MA — Former Brookline Selectwoman Jesse Mermell is running for Congress. She's the third Brookline resident and fourth person to announce they intend to take the seat that Joe Kennedy is set to leave as he challenges Sen. Ed Markey for his seat in Senate.

Democratic Socialist Ihssane Leckey of Brookline declared she was running in May, expecting to challenge Kennedy himself. Brookline resident Alan Khazei, who co-founded City Year announced his candidacy last month. Newton City Councilor Grossman declared last week as well. And several more appear to be circling from Brookline and beyond.

The recent president of the Alliance for Business Leadership Jesse Mermell plans to formally announce her campaign for Congress in Fall River today.

Before leading the Alliance for Business Leadership as president, Mermell, 39, was the youngest resident to be elected to the then Board of Selectman at 27. She then stepped down in 2013 to work in Gov. Deval Patrick's administration as communications director. She also worked for Planned Parenthood.

Mermell has also been a Town Meeting Member and has been recognized as one of 40 under 40 to watch from the Boston Business Journal.

In 2018, she was chosen to represent the Elizabeth Warren Campaign at the Brookline Caucus.

The Fourth Congressional District includes parts of Bristol, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Worcester counties. Before Kennedy was elected in 2012, Barney Frank held the seat from 1981 until Kennedy took over.

Read more:

• MA Treasurer Deb Goldberg Eyes Joe Kennedy's Seat
• Arrival VR: Ihssane Shares Her Immigration Story (2019)
• Joe Kennedy Mulling Senate Run Against Ed Markey (August)
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Endorses Sen. Ed Markey
• Joe Kennedy Announces Run For Senate
• Newton's Grossman Declares Run For Kennedy House Seat (Sept.24)
• Several Brookline Residents Eye Kennedy's Seat In Congress (Sept. 25)