Why I’m Running:

My family has been part of Massachusetts communities for seven generations. Too many people have been struggling for decades, and now there are even more. I'm running for Governor as an independent candidate because it’s time our government works on behalf of all of us, not just the wealthiest. We need new leadership, and I’m ready.

Too many people can barely afford to stay in the communities they love. Housing, food, childcare, utilities, and healthcare are too expensive. Public schools are neglected and underfunded. Our children don’t have enough pathways to independence. Our transportation systems are inadequate, and our bridges and roads are crumbling. Meanwhile, the governor and legislature give tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy, and exploit us and our resources. It’s supposed to be Commonwealth, not Corporatewealth.

Everyone can thrive in one of the wealthiest states in the country.

My Story:

I’m Andrea James, a proud daughter of Massachusetts from a family that has called this Commonwealth home for seven generations. I’m running for Governor because I believe our state should work for all of us, not just a privileged few.

The strength of Massachusetts has always come from everyday people, workers and union members, small business owners, single parents, families juggling two or three jobs, people who’ve lost work or never found stable employment, those navigating the criminal legal system, and the countless neighbors who stretch every dollar to keep food on the table and the lights on. These are the voices we must finally center if we want to build real health, wellness, opportunity, and shared prosperity across every community. After all, “Commonwealth” means of the people, and it’s time the people come first.

As a mother and grandmother, I know what it means to work hard to raise children with safety, health, and kindness at the center. I’ve been a single mom, a married mom, and a widow far too soon. I’ve lived the struggles that can turn life upside down in an instant. I cared for my parents into their nineties, one living with dementia and the other with a failing heart, and I know the heartbreak of being told that the only way to get support was to sell the home my family had cherished for five generations.

As a criminal defense attorney, I stood with people at the most difficult crossroads of their lives. And as someone who has faced struggles of my own, I know that leadership is about more than degrees and textbooks. It’s about experience, resilience, courage, and the integrity to own mistakes, get back up, and keep moving forward with transparency and determination.

For the last 15 years, I’ve worked to end the harm of toxic prisons and replace them with humane, effective solutions rooted in healing and accountability. I’ve written and passed policy to reduce mass incarceration, founded organizations to end the imprisonment of women and girls, built a national network of women and families directly impacted, and advocated successfully for the release of people who had been overcharged and oversentenced. Beyond justice reform, I’ve helped communities build hydroponic farms to grow fresh food and opened transitional housing for people returning home.

Now, I’m running for Governor because it’s time to reimagine Massachusetts. We can’t afford to keep waiting for trickle-down promises that never reach families on the edge. We all deserve safe and affordable homes, neighborhoods with resources and opportunities, good schools regardless of our zip code, jobs that pay a living wage, universal childcare, Medicare for All, healthy food, clean air, renewable energy, and a public banking system that prioritizes people over profit.

Massachusetts can and must lead with courage. Together, we can lift from the bottom, rebuild faith in government, and create an economy and a quality of life that allows every single one of us to thrive. In this moment of uncertainty, let’s choose hope. Let’s build the infrastructure for innovative, equitable, and sustainable solutions that will carry our Commonwealth forward for generations to come.

The People in Power Just Don’t Get It!

Too few people in power are listening, nor are they operating with transparency and inclusivity. Outdated and ineffective narratives are still being relied upon by too many of the Massachusetts Democratic establishment. This only serves to maintain ineffective policies, deny investment where needed, and continue to support bloated budgets that are no longer necessary. Even when voters have spoken on key issues, they are being ignored.

I'm running because Massachusetts should work for everyone. Every family deserves the chance to build a good life here. Let’s reimagine Massachusetts together and put the people back at the center of the Commonwealth.

Call to Action:

This campaign isn’t just about electing a governor. It’s about building a movement that puts people before profits and justice before politics; a movement led by all of us.

So join us. Knock doors. Talk to your neighbors. Share our vision. And together, we will win the future Massachusetts deserves.