Dean not as dean, but as sergeant-at-arms of the Massachusetts electors of the Electoral College in 2016. (courtesy Karen Lee)

Legislators throughout the 413 are likely to face challenges as part of this year’s election. Most of the region’s seats are not especially competitive in the general elections. However, several incumbents face challenges in the primary. Democrats from North Adams to Springfield will have to fight to secure their party’s nomination. The representative for the 5^th Hampden District has now joined the list.

Holyoke Rep Patricia Duffy will face political consultant and Democratic State Committee member Dori Dean in the primary. Last week, Dean pulled papers to appear on the ballot for the Holyoke-based seat. She filed with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign & Political Finance on Friday, allowing her to begin raising money.

“I am running for State Representative because I believe Holyoke deserves a representative who will not only listen to the concerns of the community but also fight tirelessly to deliver real results,” Dean said in an email to WMP&I.

”For too long, our district has faced challenges that require bold action and a representative who is fully invested in our city’s future. I am ready to be that advocate,” she continued.

The 5^th Hampden district includes all of Holyoke and most of Ward 3 in Chicopee.

The 5th Hampden is Holyoke–all of Holyoke–and, after 2020, includes a smidge of Chicopee. (via malegislature.gov)

Seats such as the 5^th Hampden are overwhelmingly Democratic. The previously announced primary challenges in the 413 are no different.

North Adams City Councilor Andrew Fitch is challenging State Rep John Barrett in the 1^st Berkshire. Two incumbent Springfield reps, Bud Williams and Angelo Puppolo of the 11^th and 12^th Hampden districts are also facing challenges. Johnnie McKnight have filed against Williams and Wilbraham educator Michael Lachenmeyer is running against Puppolo.

Dean gained prominence as Alex Morse’s campaign manager and first chief of staff. Their political relationship ended early in his first term. Nevertheless, Dean remained active in local and state politics. She continued as a political consultant, working on several state campaigns. More she recently has branched into business consulting.

Holyoke has experienced a fair amount of upheaval in recent years. City leaders recently passed a major restructuring of municipal bureaucracy and last year the state restored local control of the schools. The latter reached a major milestone this month with the selection of a new superintendent.

Indeed, public education was among the priorities Dean outlined in her email. She also listed public safety, economic development, affordable housing and environmental justice as key issues.

The race is in its infancy, but Dean will need to lay out how she can better deliver on these and other matters. Holyoke is one of the Commonwealth’s most diverse communities and struggles with a great number of needs. Its schools and city government itself rely heavily on federal and state support, the former of which has become increasingly unreliable.

Both businesses and nonprofits have already felt the impact of federal cuts, some of which were likely illegal.

Duffy campaigning in 2020 (before COVID). (WMP&I)

Dean is in a position to muster a serious a bid, but the three-term Duffy is no pushover. The latter triumphed (during COVID) in a three-way primary in 2020 that included a then-sitting City Councilor and a longtime political activist.

She succeeded her then-boss, Aaron Vega, who retired that year to take positions in regional economic development.

In a text, Duffy confirmed she would be running for reelection. As for Dean’s challenge, the incumbent said she was prepared to stand on her record.

“I’m looking forward to the campaign ahead, talking about my record and my love for Holyoke,” Duffy said.

The primary is on September 1.