We think of Massachusetts as a liberal, small-d Democratic state. But look behind the scenes and you’ll find a surprising reality: We pass the fewest laws in the country, and our legislation is woefully opaque. Everything from climate legislation to hospital oversight is stalled.

Our own district’s representation exemplifies this crisis: Incumbent Assemblywoman Marjorie C. Decker (D) does not reflect our community’s priorities, from good government to good transportation to affordable housing. Fortunately, Cambridge voters have the opportunity today to replace her with a progressive, pro-Democratic candidate: former Harvard Graduate Student Union-United Auto Workers President Evan C. MacKay (Class of 2019).

To see why we should, let’s look at Decker’s record. When 94 percent of voters in the district directed her to make committee votes public in 2022, Decker voted against it several times. She also voted against giving state legislatures and the public more time to review bills before bringing them to a vote. Otherwise, state legislatures pass omnibus bills at the very end of the session with little public scrutiny.

But it goes beyond procedural issues. Decker has voted against advocates’ calls to restrict the right to housing. And in 2023, she supported a tax bill that provided hundreds of millions in tax cuts for corporations and the super-rich and diverted funds from infrastructure and education investments that Cambridge voters strongly supported.

As a local mobility justice activist, I’ve witnessed firsthand the disconnect between Decker’s values ​​and those of her constituents. After a memo from a state official revealed that she had lobbied against a popular weekend park on Memorial Drive even though the Cambridge City Council voted 7-2 to keep the streets open to people, Decker dubiously denied that she had done so.

She also doesn’t fare well on road safety. In June, Decker made no public statement after a car tragically struck and killed a cyclist on Cambridge streets. But on the day of the vigil, she found time to promote a costly fundraiser.

Today’s primary is an opportunity to question and rethink how this district – one of the most progressive in Massachusetts – is represented in the state House of Representatives. If politicians refuse to support things we need, like housing and functioning public transit, we deserve bold new leadership.

And that’s exactly what Evan MacKay offers. They’re running on a platform that recognizes the lack of transparency in the state legislature, and their positions on housing and climate are more in line with Cambridge’s progressive values.

Despite the Red Line’s complete inoperability, Decker barely mentioned the T in her campaign, while MacKay has made sustainable, multimodal transportation a central part of her policy, earning an endorsement from Cambridge Bicycle Safety. Despite housing prices in Cambridge being unaffordable and rising daily, Decker accepts money from developers, while MacKay has promised not to.

On the climate issue, Decker has said little about the expansion of private jet air traffic at Hanscom Field, which is damaging our environment, and the airport’s largest carbon emitter has made the biggest contribution possible to her campaign. MacKay has campaigned against preventing the expansion of private jet air traffic.

As a former HGSU president, MacKay knows how to take on the establishment and win big. We have a chance to support a progressive champion who will fight to ensure our state government meets the needs of the people of Cambridge and across our Commonwealth. Vote for Evan MacKay for State Representative.

Clyve Lawrence (Class of ’25), editor at Crimson Editorial, is a government affairs representative at Adams House and a volunteer for MacKay’s campaign.