Besides Paul Tsongas and Marty Meehan, who else belongs on Lowell’s political Mount Rushmore?
Teddy Panos
April 10, 2026
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Lowell’s renaissance has been well-documented as having several key parts: Federal, state and local governments working in unison; a strong public education sector, including Middlesex Community College and UMass-Lowell; a thriving business community; and a strong non-profit sector. Another key element is the media. Over the years journalists at The Sun and WCAP have worked hard to provide the role of watchdog while also entertaining readers and listeners with features, public service announcements and community news coverage. For a multitude of reasons, however, local news coverage has shrunk. That’s why the Panos effort is so key: Another eye on City Hall, town halls, the business community and various non-profits will keep all leaders, whether elected or appointed, on their toes. That’s a good thing. Not that it needed any legitimacy, but Inside Lowell serves up an even stronger hand with Dan Phelps and Patrick Cook, both former Sun journalists, on board. Good luck to the new venture!
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In Lowell, according to official enrollment data from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by a ratio exceeding 4-to-1. “Out of 75,064 total registered voters, the partisan breakdown isolates 19,516 Democrats (26%) against a minimal core of 4,655 Republicans (6.2%). However, a VERY commanding 66.6% majority (49,984 voters) is registered as Unenrolled or Independent”. This also represents Massachusetts’ statewide distribution, where “registered Democrats sit between 24.5% and 27%, Republicans hold roughly 8%, and Unenrolled voters form a massive 64% to 66%”. Because a substantial portion of the electorate is Unenrolled, voters are less bound by official party labels and ideology. Turnout and candidate preference are often influenced and persuaded by the local issues and the economy. You all know, those “kitchen table issues” plus direct “door to door” contact and “constituent services”. So in working-class, post-industrial gateway cities like Lowell, "political pundits" usually find that voters prioritize immediate economic concerns, like localized jobs, housing costs, infrastructure, and inflation over rigid and uncompromising national party and ideology platforms. Always remember, this unique electorate dynamic frequently creates a “structural paradox” in Massachusetts state representative races. Why, because in the low-turnout September state primaries, a highly progressive or ideological candidate can successfully secure the nomination because they motivate a small, energetic base of voters and activists. However, when that nominee advances to the November general election, they suddenly face the more practical and realistic working-class Lowell voters. So, if they fail to strategically pivot away from the rigid and unrealistic national ideological platforms and fail to focus squarely on those “kitchen table” issues, they become highly vulnerable to a more moderate, community-focused candidate who can effectively appeal to the MASSIVE independent majority!
- Jeanne Balkas