Nika Elugardo Announces Campaign Team for State Senate Run

January 11, 2022 

STATE REPRESENTATIVE NIKA ELUGARDO ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN TEAM FOR STATE SENATE RUN

At a meeting of campaign advisors, Nika Elugardo shared how her selection of team members will reflect her values and vision for community building and equitable justice. The campaign will draw from her leadership experience as an active legislator and community and economic development advocate to best represent the residents of the Second Suffolk District. 

Boston, MA – On Saturday, January 8th, 2022, Massachusetts State Representative Nika Elugardo (D-Jamaica Plain) held a meeting with advisors to shape the campaign vision and principles and to announce the initial campaign staff and senior consultants team to launch her run for the Second Suffolk District. 

“I’m grateful for the support of so many leaders from across the Second Suffolk District and beyond who have encouraged me to enter the race for State Senator,” says Nika. “Our campaign will be grounded in collaborative teamwork among our staff and volunteer network and rooted in purposeful engagement with the voters and residents of the Second Suffolk District. We will use the opportunity of this campaign to honor the heroes past and present whose long struggle delivered us this historic and one-of-a-kind majority Black Senate district.” 

Mayor Kim Janey kicked off the gathering expressing her support for Nika in her role as Honorary Campaign Chair and said: 

“It is a distinct honor and a privilege to serve as honorary chair of Nika Elugardo’s Senate campaign,” says Kim Janey. “Our district deserves a senator with a proven record of strong leadership and bridge-building that centers the innovation and power of residents. Nika has proven that she can do this — and more.”

Honorary District Chairs, Representative Russell Holmes, Councilor Ricardo Arroyo and Councilor Kendra Lara, also act as key advisors to the campaign. The meeting, attended by over 60 kitchen cabinet members and new supporters, introduced Nika’s campaign team and walked through the vision, strategy, fundraising plan, and timeline to launch. Civic leader and community activist Mel King made a surprise appearance and spoke in support of Nika’s candidacy for Senate. 

To help build her campaign operation and form the framework for her policy platform, Nika has tapped experienced campaign staffers and consultants who represent a broad and long legacy of progressive work in community service, anti-racism, and organizing. 

The Chavez Group will work with Nika as a general consultant to the campaign. Chavez Group partners Doug Chavez and Eldin L. Villafañe previously worked as senior strategists to Boston City Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia’s first campaign and US Senator Ed Markey’s most recent victory. 

Nika has also selected Brian Muldoon and Dan McCormick of Erikson Communication Group as senior strategists to the campaign. Muldoon has served the role of campaign strategist to such historic elections as Rachael Rollins’ Suffolk D.A. race and Julia Mejia’s campaign for Boston City Councilor At-Large.  

In addition, the campaign team will include Cristina Aguilera as Campaign Strategist, Isabel Torres as Campaign Associate, Bridgit Brown as a consultant for candidate communications, and Ed Burley as candidate coach.

The campaign will officially announce in Nubian Square on January 19th and in February will launch neighborhood kickoff events throughout the district in celebration of Black History Month.

State Representative Nika Elugardo has over 25 years of experience in community and economic development with public, private, and nonprofit leaders, especially in BIPOC and immigrant communities.

Centering grassroots and indigenous leaders as experts and guides, Nika has partnered to develop breakthrough models and collaboration in education, youth development and violence prevention, gender justice, and anti-trafficking in Boston and internationally.

Nika’s work experience, training as a lawyer and policy leader, progressive values, and passion position her as a bold, effective leader on Beacon Hill, where she now represents the 15th Suffolk District, which includes communities in Jamaica Plain, Mission Hill, Roslindale and Brookline. As a State Rep, she continues her mission to expand the power and voice of people historically disenfranchised from government, with a special focus on public housing residents, youth and elders, LGBTQ+ residents, incarcerated activists, and members of the disability community. On Beacon Hill, her comprehensive legislative platform has centered Housing, Education and Healthcare Justice as mechanisms for dismantling structural racism and ending systemic poverty.

Can you support the campaign today? Every dollar counts!