FITCHBURG Just hours after he announced his bid for the U.S. Senate, Rep. Joe Kennedy III spent about an hour at Our Father’s House Saturday evening, speaking with the homeless shelter’s patrons and leadership about policy issues that affect some of the state’s most vulnerable populations.The stop in Fitchburg was one of about a half-dozen similar stops the campaign made over the course of the day, which largely targeted similar humanitarian institutions between Boston and North Worcester.Kennedy, who is challenging longtime Democratic incumbent Sen. Ed Markey, said after his visit that he believes structural change is needed if his party is going to successfully take on President Donald Trump. Part of that structural change means focusing more on the people who live in Massachusetts and the specific issues that they face, he said.“So from my perspective, the way to do that is a Massachusetts senator that is completely focused on our home state here in Massachusetts, running around our state, elevating voices around our state, understanding what (are) the challenges we confront and bringing those solutions to Washington,” Kennedy said Saturday night.During his visit to Our Father’s House, Kennedy listened as many of the patrons who arrived at the shelter for the evening shared what had brought them there in the first place. He asked them where they were from, about the type of work they do and repeatedly posed the same question: “What can we do?”
As Kennedy toured the facility, he kept most of his conversations hushed, as patrons shared intimate details with him about their lives. When one woman burst into tears after relaying a recent personal tragedy to the Congressman, he reached out and held her hand, thanking her for sharing her story.Kennedy has faced criticism from those who say such campaign stops may serve to exploit those who rely on the shelter for help, but Our Father’s House executive director Judith Pasierb said that most of the people who use the shelter were excited to hear that Kennedy would be stopping by. In the10 years that she has helped run the facility, she said, she did not remember any other politician asking to make such a visit.But the Representative’s challenges will far exceed accusations of pandering. Kennedy announced his bid for the Senate at a time when many Democratic voters are backing newer and younger candidates who are actively working to push the party’s platform further left, whereas he has been painted as a moderate descendant of old-guard Democrats. In spite of that, Kennedy said on Saturday that he didn’t believe age would be a determining factor for future Democratic success, mentioning his support for both the Green New Deal and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.“From my perspective, it’s about candidates that understand that if you’re going to try to solve systemic challenges the country faces, you need folks that are focused on systemic solutions,” Kennedy said.And as for his family’s legacy — and concerns that some voters have posed about the wisdom of electing the same political names time and time again — Kennedy said that it was his responsibility to make the case for himself as a potential senator.“I’m on the ballot,” Kennedy said. “And I’m grateful for the contributions that my family has made. But this one’s on me, and it’s up to me to make the case. It’s up to me to go forward before people in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and explain who I am, the values and vision I have, what I believe the challenges are and how we can fix it.”