Rep. James McGovern is seeking his 15th term in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Worcester Democrat has represented the state's 2nd Congressional District since 2013. The district includes all of the city of Worcester and most of Worcester County, as well as parts of Franklin, Hampshire, Middlesex and Norfolk counties. He faces a challenge from Cornelius Shea, a retired teacher who is running as an independent.
James McGovern, Democrat
McGovern, 64, has seen substantial changes in Worcester since he was first elected to Congress nearly 30 years ago.
“When I was first elected, Union Station was a shell, the airport was dying, the Hanover Theatre didn’t exist and there were brownfields all over the city,” McGovern said.
It was partly through McGovern’s efforts in Congress that the city secured federal funding to helped in its revitalization, making Union Station a transportation and event space hub, ensuring the airport had the equipment needed to attract airlines to the city, and bring the theater to life.
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Other changes that were fueled, in part, by federal dollars include the Gateway Park Project, in cooperation with Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that brought bioengineering and life sciences into the city; the Kilby-Gardner-Hammond project, completed with Clark University, revitalized the Main South neighborhood with the construction of 22 units of modern affordable rental housing.
McGovern also played a role in locating an outpatient medical facility for veterans at UMass Memorial Hospital. In the past, Worcester-area veterans seeking medical services had been forced to travel to Boston or Northampton, or even out of state.
“The new VA outpatient center at UMass has cut down wait times and improved care for our veterans,” McGovern said. Working to address the needs of veterans is a priority for McGovern, who worked to create a federal program that trains service dogs for wounded warriors, from those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder to others with more visible wounds.
“These service dogs have turned out to be helpful for veterans, it helps them get back on their feet, get on with their lives,” McGovern said. The congressman was also instrumental in helping pass the PACT Act, which extends treatment to veterans through the VA for conditions associated with exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxins.
One of McGovern's primary concerns as a legislator has been addressing the issue of hunger in America.
“Food is a basic, undeniable human right for everyone the planet,” McGovern said. “We’re the richest country in the world, yet 45 million people in the U.S. are food insecure.”
His concerns with access to nutritious food prompted him to work on organizing the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in 2022. The conference, attended by President Joe Biden, gathered agencies from the nonprofit, health care, business and government sectors to address the issue of hunger.
“I was over the moon with pride” McGovern said, when Massachusetts passed a free universal school meals measure in 2023.
Cornelius Shea, Independent
Even though Shea, 66, is happy to be retired, he threw his hat in the ring to run for Congress because he believes no one should run unopposed.
“We need to hold our politicians accountable for their actions,” Shea said.
Shea, who lives in Shrewsbury, refers to himself as a "(John F.) Kennedy Democrat," although he is running as an independent.
“I know when the (International Brotherhood of) Teamsters refuse to endorse a candidate, that there’s something amiss in the party,” Shea said, referring to the recent decision by the national union not to endorse Kamala Harris in the presidential race.
The candidate, born to a homemaker and firefighter father, was the first in his family to attend college. He earned a bachelor's and two master's degrees, attending St. Michael’s College, Fitchburg State and Clark University. He joined the Marine Corps after graduation and applied for officer candidate school, serving on active duty in the amphibious assault vehicle division.
He said he served as a platoon commander at Camp Pendleton and served in Okinawa, Japan. His last active duty post was at officer candidate school as an instructor in Virginia. After his discharge, he was hired by AT&T as an account executive in New York. A transfer to Boston resulted in a change of career path.
A promised promotion and transfer to New Jersey to oversee the company’s 800-service was derailed when his wife declined to move out of state, he said. Instead, he got a job at the Worcester Alternative School and worked nights at the Gerald Creamer Center.
“I helped more than 1,000 of the most at-risk students earn their high school diplomas,” Shea said. “Those kids probably would not have gotten their diplomas; it was highly rewarding.”
Shea said he would be a middle-of-the-road congressman.
On immigration, Shea he said he would only welcome those migrants who have been vetted and are sponsored to ensure there is no criminal element entering the U.S. The Healey administration's approach of offering shelter and state services to incoming migrants rankles.
“Charity begins at home. We have to take care of American citizens first; if there’s extra money, then we can take care of others,” Shea said, adding he sees homeless veterans and despairs.
In contrast with McGovern, Shea supports requiring voters show proof of citizenship before being allowed to vote. He would also deport migrants accused of attacks on police officers and women.
As a retiree, Shea is concerned with inflation’s effect on his pension. He wants to see the U.S. tap into the nation’s oil reserves.
“We could use the oil money to fund research into green energy, and pay down the $34 trillion in national debt,” Shea said.
