This is the first installment of a weekly series focused on the races for legislative seats this election cycle where longtime incumbents have decided not to seek reelection.
A competitive race is shaping up between two Democrats looking to fill the outer Cape Cod House seat that Rep. Sarah Peake, a nine-term Democrat from Provincetown, decided not to seek reelection to this year.
MA Legislature
Rep. Sarah Peake
The 4th Barnstable District, which Peake has held since 2006, stretches from Harwich to Provincetown. It is a corner of Massachusetts defined by a seasonal economy that relies heavily on the natural beauty of its coastal land.
Peake announced plans in mid-February to retire at the end of this legislative session and since then, two Orleans-based candidates have jumped into the mix — Homeless Prevention Council CEO Hadley Luddy and Orleans Select Board Chair Michael Herman.
Environmental issues are top of mind among residents as are housing prices, which Peake said are in line with some of the wealthiest suburbs in Boston, New York, or Los Angeles. Housing costs are likely a burden for the year-rounders whose median income “certainly doesn’t match with what those home prices are,” she said.
“When we talk about environmental issues that takes into consideration large projects like wastewater management, taking nitrogen out of our waste stream in order to preserve our embayments and keep the water quality good for fish and shellfish,” Peake told the Herald.
Luddy, who earned Peake’s endorsement, said addressing the high cost of living in the area is one of her priorities.
“We are seeing this really significant migration of members of our workforce who are no longer able to live and work here because they can’t afford to be here and frankly, can’t find housing to be able to maintain their livelihood and raise their families and stay in our communities,” she said.
Herman said he is concerned about housing on the Cape as well as the impacts climate change will have on communities in the district.
“Cape Cod is definitely the epicenter, if you will, or ground zero, that canary in the coal mine, … regarding climate change, and our waters in Cape Cod have definitely declined, the water qualities in the last few decades,” he said.
The two candidates are in the midst of fundraising and have drawn support from out-of-state donors, with Luddy pulling in nearly $20,000 in March and Herman raising just over $10,400 during the same time period, according to state records.
Herman said top dollar donations from people in Maryland and Connecticut and smaller contributions from New York and New Jersey are from connections he made through his business career, people who have second homes on the Cape, and family.
Luddy also pulled in money from Connecticut, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Texas, D.C., and Illinois, according to state campaign finance records.
“I have a pretty broad network of folks that I’ve known over the years, honestly it’s everything from people I grew up with in Amherst to people I’ve had professional affiliations with to family members and people that really believe in me,” she said.
With no Republican officially filed to run for the seat as of Saturday, this race could likely be decided during the Sept. 3 Democratic state primary.
Peake said the “beauty of the district” is that it is politically purple but trending blue. A Republican, Shirly Gomes, held the seat for more than a decade before Peake was elected.
“When I was elected in 2006, it was a surprise to people. They didn’t think this lesbian from Provincetown and a Democrat could get elected. But I worked hard and knocked on a lot of doors and got it over the goal line,” Peake said.
Both Luddy and Herman defined themselves as progressive Democrats who are willing to work with people of different political mindsets.
“I would definitely say my social views are more progressive but definitely based on my history of business and economics, I think you can have both. I think you can have a strong business, strong economy and still do the right thing,” Herman said.
Luddy said she has worked with people “of all walks of life and opinions.”
“I’m focused on critical issues of our day relative to serving our community, relative to climate change and environmental challenges, relative to being sure that we’re supporting the rights of our community members, including women’s reproductive health care choices and the LGBTQ+ community,” she said.
