Second time around, a McKnight in shining armor? (submitted photo)

About 20 months ago, Johnnie McKnight, a teacher and municipal electoral contender, confirmed he was challenging 11^th Hampden State Rep Bud Williams. Given the incumbent’s 30-year political career and penchant for surviving, politicos greeted McKnight’s bid with polite shrugs. Williams won. McKnight announced Monday he is trying again, but he might get a much warmer reception this time.

The main reason for this is McKnight trailed Williams by only 245 votes in the 2024 Democratic primary. The result surprised political observers and may get him more support this time. Some conditions present in 2024 may not repeat, but other factors are at play. Democrats across the country are confronting younger challengers, and McKnight is again taking direct aim at the incumbent.

“I’m running again because the issues facing our district haven’t improved, they’ve gotten worse,” McKnight said in a text to WMP&I.

“Electric bills are soaring, food prices are climbing, and violence is not getting better,” he continued. “And we still don’t have the kind of representation that listens to people or fights for real solutions.”

In his release, McKnight recounts difficulties he overcame early in life with the help of his grandmother, aunt and other mentors. By implication, he suggests those same opportunities are scarcer now and points the finger at Williams.

“While he takes money from special interests, families in our district face rising grocery prices, soaring electric bills, higher taxes, and persistent violence,” McKnight says in his release. “And when it mattered most, he even voted against protecting women’s reproductive freedom. We deserve better.”

Williams did not immediately return an email requesting comment.

The 11^th Hampden covers Bay, McKnight, Old Hill and Upper Hill neighborhoods as well as a sweep of East Forest Park and Pine Point. Its periphery reaches into East Springfield, Forest Park and 16 Acres. The district is entirely within Springfield.

The 11th Hampden as of January 2023 (via malegislature.gov)

Williams has held his rep seat since succeeding Ben Swan in 2017. That year also marked the end of a Springfield City Council career that spanned three decades. Despite opposition and criticism from various quarters, Williams has only lost one race since 1993—his challenge to Mayor Domenic Sarno in 2009.

That is partly why the close call with McKnight stood out. Williams enjoyed a huge cash advantage over McKnight, who gave himself a substantial share of the money he raised. Williams also had greater name recognition, although McKnight had run for citywide office in Springfield several times. After doing this well despite these disadvantages, McKnight’s second bid is not a surprise.

Rep Williams’s aide Malo Brown running against Senator Adam Gomez (pictured) wasn’t just awkward, it may have weakened Williams in his own primary. (WMP&I)

One complication in 2024 undoubtedly hurt Williams in two ways. His aide, Malo Brown, primary challenge to Senator Adam Gomez prompted some backlash. However, Brown campaigning for himself also meant he was unavailable to campaign for his boss.

Assuming none of Williams’s staff run for anything next year, there are other factors that could put the wind to McKnight’s back. He is one of several younger candidates challenging incumbents nationwide and in the Valley. For example, Rep Angelo Puppolo is facing a challenge from Michael Lachenmeyer.

The 2024 primary statewide was fairly quiet with few major races attracting voters. Next year, Senator Ed Markey faces a primary challenge from at least Salem Congressman Seth Moulton. That could boost turnout in Springfield in unpredictable ways.

Heading into 2026, McKnight is also more explicitly drawing a contrast between Williams and other local African-American leaders. In his text, McKnight, who is himself Black, fetes Swan and the late Ray Jordan—Springfield’s first Black state rep—as leaders who “showed up, who listened and who put the community first.” That line and others suggest McKnight has his eye on Williams’s base.

While racially diverse, the district includes many of Springfield’s historically Black neighborhoods. Cracking Williams’s support among the Black precincts could be key for McKnight. Indeed, it is the most logical move. McKnight already bested Williams in the whiter and/or more diverse precincts like those in East Forest Park and Forest Park.

When comparing this bid to his last, McKnight said there is more time to prepare his field operation and meet voters. However, he also noted that he also has the result from last time.

“What’s different this time is that people now see he can be defeated, and they see a better option in this race,” he texted.