L’Italien raises $320G in first quarter for 3rd District bid

ANDOVER — State Sen. Barbara L’Italien raised $320,000 as a candidate for the 3rd Congressional District seat in the fourth quarter — her first quarter of reporting since entering the race in November.

The total is the most raised by a female congressional candidate in her first reporting period since U.S. Rep Niki Tsongas’ first attempt at the same position, according to a Tuesday press release from L’Italien’s campaign.

“I’m so grateful for the hundreds of supporters who have donated to this campaign,” L’Italien stated in the release. “People are supporting our campaign because what I’ve been able to accomplish here in Massachusetts and my bold vision for what we need to tackle in Congress.”

L’Italien announced in November that she was running for the seat held by Tsongas for more than a decade.

She has focused her campaign on working “on behalf of people with disabilities and seniors, and as a leader fighting for marriage equality and a woman’s right to choose, for which she was removed from her church,” Tuesday’s release states.

“Working families know we need someone in Washington who has shown courage and leadership,” L’Italien stated. “From fighting the Betsy DeVos education privatization agenda to pushing for clean energy and single-payer health care, I will be able to hit the ground running on issues that matter to families right here in this district.”

L’Italien represents Dracut, Tewksbury, Andover and Lawrence in the state Senate and previously served eight years as a state representative.