Three of the 10 Democratic candidates vying to replace retiring Rep. Niki Tsongas canvassed the Merrimack Valley Sunday afternoon, two days before voters head to the polls to choose the nominee for the 3rd Congressional District.
While they hold similar policy views, they come from different backgrounds. Dan Koh is a first-time office seeker who served as Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s chief of staff. Gifford is President Obama’s former ambassador to Denmark. And state Sen. Barbara L’Italien has spent 15 years on Beacon Hill.
“You’d be shocked to see how many people are still undecided,” said Gifford, who spent the day campaigning in Lowell.
The candidates said the election is about who is the best person to fight President Trump.
“We need to stand up against all these backwards immigration policies,” said Koh. “We need to stand up to fighting for the America that we believe in.”
L'Italien gained national attention this summer when she duped the Fox network, appearing on one of its shows instead of their intended guest, and using the airtime to blast President Trump for his administration's policy of separating migrant families at the border.
In addition to Koh, Gifford and L’Italien, there are seven other candidates in the race, including Jeff Ballinger, Alexandra Chandler, Abhijit Das, Leonard Golder, Juana Matias, Bopha Malone and Lori Trahan.
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The district, which includes 37 cities and towns, encompasses parts of Essex, Middlesex and Worcester counties.
Tsongas, who was first elected in 2007, announced in 2017 that she would not seek re-election.
Pepperell businessman Rick Green is the only Republican candidate in the race.
