Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley wants to go to Congress and she's not afraid to challenge longtime incumbent and fellow Democrat Michael Capuano to get there.
"It's not personal at all," Pressley said. "I respect the contributions of Congressman Michael Capuano."
Pressley, a Chicago native, says challenging Capuano has more to do with perspective then specific issues. She was the first woman of color elected to the Boston City Council in 2009. She has made the advocacy of women a key focus and has been open about having been sexually abused and assaulted.
"I certainly do think I bring a new lens, we all have our own authentic and unique lens based on our walk this life, and certainly being a black woman has formidably shaped my own."
Capuano says he's known Pressley for a while. He says that she's a good person, that it's a free country and she's welcome to run.
Capuano, a former mayor of Somerville, has held the 7th district seat for 20 years.
"We had a discussion. I asked her, 'What have I done that you disagree with?' Just trying to get an idea of what she was thinking. And there was no substantive issues that she offered. And that's fine. She talked about a different perspective, which I respect," said Capuano
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Congressman Capuano goes into this challenge with hundreds of thousands of dollars in his war chest. But Pressley is confident she will have enough money to be competitive.
