Mariah Lancaster

Mariah Lancaster earned a high school diploma from Lexington High School. Lancaster received a B.S. in pre-veterinary medicine from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a doctorate of veterinary medicine from Tufts University. As of July 2026, Lancaster was a veterinarian and former foreign affairs officer at the State Department and science policy advisor and legislative staff in the U.S. House of Representatives.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a scientist, a public servant, and a proud Massachusetts native. I was raised by a single mom who stretched our grocery budget to keep food on the table and I relied on student loans to graduate from UMass Amherst and Tufts University.

I worked overnights as an emergency veterinarian throughout the pandemic, saw firsthand how private equity and corporate monopolies are driving up costs across the country, and I went to Washington to combat this rampant corruption.

I worked in the State Department, combating corruption and organized crime around the globe. I was then selected to serve as a science policy advisor and legislative staffer for two Democratic Congresswomen in the U.S. House of Representatives, where I wrote legislation, staffed congressional hearings, and shaped federal policy on issues from public health to national security - all while working nights and weekends at an emergency veterinary hospital. As Trump began to destroy our government, weaponize our national guard, and kidnap our neighbors, I had to do more.

We need working people in Congress to put our needs first, ahead of monopolies and corporate shareholders. We need a positive agenda to achieve Medicare for All, affordable and equitable education, and a clean energy revolution. I’m running for Congress to root out the corruption eroding the fabric of our democracy and to be the voice for the working families of the Sixth District on Capitol Hill.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

We must end corporate and government corruption. Monopolies are colluding to inflate the cost of living while our president is taking a cut of the profits. In Congress, I'll break up monopolies, take on the insurance companies and corporate landlords driving up costs, and hold this administration accountable for its illegal actions. I'll fight for single-payer healthcare to get special interests out of your doctor's office, cap executive pay, ban Congressional stock trading, and tax the rich. I'll fight to overturn Citizens United and get dark money out of politics for good. I’m running a campaign powered by people and will never accept a dime of corporate PAC money, because you can't fight a rigged system while being funded by it.Our communities are struggling to fully fund our public schools. We need robust federal investments to support public education from cradle to career. Meanwhile, Trump is actively dismantling the Department of Education, childcare costs more than a mortgage, and federal student loans are economically crippling my entire generation.

Our public schools need funding for new buildings, pay raises for teachers and ESPs, and special education programs that adapt to students needs. The Massachusetts Teachers Association and the National Education Association know that I will fight for universal childcare, equitable funding for public schools, full funding for IDEA and Special Education, and debt-free college for every student across the country.Climate change is the existential threat of our time. Trump's war on renewable energy raised prices and cost us jobs. The North Shore has been hit hard by clean energy projects being defunded and jobs disappearing, all while gas and electric bills just keep climbing.

As a climate activist and environmental conservationist, I am proud to have the endorsement of 350MassAction. In Congress, I'll restore EPA enforcement against polluters harming frontline communities and invest in union apprenticeships for clean energy construction. I’ll vote to ban new oil and gas leases on federal lands, support our fisheries, expand clean energy programs, and electrify transit on our path to 100% clean energy by 2040.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am deeply passionate about universal, single-payer healthcare and the fight for disability justice. I aim to overhaul the Department of Education, including eliminating interest on federal student loans, to support our public schools and unlock educational opportunity.

We must restore America’s role as a global champion of human rights. I will fight to abolish ICE, create a commonsense pathway to citizenship, rebuild our international humanitarian aid, and to end America’s complicity in genocide.

Finally, I am proud to be the climate candidate in this race. I'm a wildlife and conservation veterinarian and, as a scientist, I know we have no time to lose to combat climate change and to invest in disaster resilience here at home.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, moral clarity, determination, and collaboration.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To protect our rights, to deliver federal resources, and to champion the needs of our communities - from direct constituent services to innovative legislation solutions.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I aim to ensure the next generation has economic prosperity, the freedom and opportunity to pursue their passions, and a sustainable environment balancing the needs of our population with those of our natural heritage.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

In college, I spent three summers working for Swissbakers - a family bakery in the Reading Train Depot. I worked from Salem to Newburyport, selling bread and other baked goods at farmers markets all along the North Shore. A key memory is the day I learned the unfortunate lesson that seagulls have a particularly strong affinity for croissants.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

As a child, I was diagnosed with multiple life-changing disabilities. At fifteen, I was diagnosed with a non-healing spinal fracture that has caused chronic pain and dynamic disability throughout adulthood. At seventeen, I was diagnosed with hereditary epilepsy that has since been diagnosed in multiple members of my family, including two of my siblings. I was incredibly fortunate to have grown up with the protections of the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), that ensured I had the support necessary to graduate high school and build a successful life. These experiences are why I am so deeply dedicated to Medicare for All and fully funding our public schools. I know what it's like to rely on your healthcare to survive and to need robust educational support. No family should have to live in fear of bankruptcy because their child gets sick and no child should miss out on a gold-standard education because they have complex medical needs. We have the resources to provide for working families and for the disability community, and it's time for our government to deliver.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The U.S. House is the piece of the federal government that is closest to the people. House Representatives are intended to be the voice of their communities in Congress, to elevate their concerns and to advocate for changes in the federal government to align with their needs and their values. The House is uniquely positioned to truly reflect the diverse tapestry that is the American people.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Massachusetts Teacher’s Association, National Education Association, 350MassAction, Salem City Councilor Erin Turowski

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

While September 11th, 2001 is unforgettable for us all, I had a personal connection to a victim of the attacks. It was profoundly impactful on our lives and our families. I will always honor the sacrifices made by our first responders, including those who live right here in the Sixth District, and I will fight to ensure they receive the care they deserve.

Campaign websiteLancaster's campaign website stated the following:Combat CorruptionMoney in politics is eroding the fabric of our democracy, serving the wealthy and abandoning working families.As your Representative, I'll prioritize our communities over special interests, reject corporate PAC money, and slam shut every loophole allowing billionaires to rig the rules in their favor.To combat corruption and establish a functional democracy, I will vote to:Impeach and prosecute Trump and his alliesBan Congressional stock tradingOverturn Citizens United & ban corporate political spendingRestore the integrity of our federal agencies, including an independent Department of JusticePass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act,ending partisan gerrymandering and restoring voting rightsCodify early and mail-in votingRequire federal elected officials to disclose and divest all financial conflicts of interestClose tax loopholes and strengthen IRS enforcement against billionaire tax evasionAbolish the electoral collegePublicly fund local, state, and federal electionsPass Ranked Choice Voting nationwideLimit campaigns to six months before Election DayMake Election Day a federal holidayFight for Working Americans"To fight for working people, we have to send working people to Washington" –MariahUnions built the middle class. Infrastructure connects it. Education sustains it.I will fight for all three.As an emergency veterinarian, I've seen firsthand that the vast majority of American families can't afford an $1,000 emergency. People are working hard, day in-day out, and yet our wages aren't rising while prices skyrocket.The Trump administration has waged an all-out assault on labor unions, slashed infrastructure investments, and abandoned the families who need reliable transit, good jobs, and affordable childcare to survive. I will stand with workers from day one.Pass the PRO Act to strengthen collective bargaining rights and protect workers' freedom to organizeExpand anti-trust enforcement, breaking up monopolies to improve wages and restore consumer choiceCap corporate executive pay at 50x their median worker and 100x their lowest paid worker.Pass federal paid Family and Medical Leave, including pet bereavementScrap the cap on Social Security payroll taxes, eliminate income tax on Social Security,and increase benefitsInvest in workforce training and union apprenticeships for clean energy construction and modern manufacturing jobsBuild high-speed rail, electrified commuter rail, and expanded MBTA bus servicewith fare relief for low-income and disabled ridersExpand infrastructure for electric vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestriansRecognize and support Congressional staff unions and pay all interns and staff living wagesClean Energy Revolution“Clean energy is the future of American prosperityand the only path to our planet's survival.” – MariahAmericans are tired of rising gas prices and endless war over oil.While Trump is spending billions to end clean energy projects, raising utility costs and killing jobs on the North Shore, I will champion a clean energy transition that lowers our bills, invests in local jobs, and secures an energy independent future for the entire nation.To invest in and sustain a clean energy revolution, we must:Expand clean energy tax credits and restore the Inflation Reduction ActOnshore manufacturing of clean energy technologiesElectrify our public transit and achieve 100% clean energy by 2040Ban oil and gas leases on all federal lands and waters, and end federal oil subsidiesImplement Extended Producer Responsibility and expand Corporate Polluter ResponsibilityBan data centers pending strict federal regulations:Require public publication of energy and water usage dataPrioritize consumer energy useSet premium rates of pay for energy consumptionRequire renewable energy use and advanced cooling methodologiesProtect our water sources and our environmentUniversal Healthcare & Reproductive Freedom“No family should go into debt when facing illness.No shareholder gets a vote in your healthcare.” –MariahAs an emergency veterinarian, I have guided families through the impossible choice between affording care and paying rent. They have seen firsthand how private equity is buying essential services, inflating prices, and taking advantage of desperate families.The same is true across the entire healthcare system — the only solution is structural reform:Enact Medicare for All with universal, single-payer coverageExpand Medicare to include comprehensive dental, vision, and hearing careWipe out all medical debtCodify Reproductive Rights:Write abortion rights and birth control into federal lawRepeal the Hyde AmendmentBan pregnancy crisis centers that spread medical disinformationFederally protect gender-affirming careExpand teen mental healthcareInvest in overdose prevention centers to humanely address the opioid crisisInvest in emergency services:Federally fund non-profit and municipal ambulance servicesAmend the No Surprises Act to include ground ambulancesEliminate prior authorization requirements and end all out-of-network billingAllow Medicare to negotiate drug prices and prescription medication importationRestore Medicaid and CHIP eligibility for immigrants; end exclusion of undocumented people from ACA marketplacesExpand health savings accounts to include veterinary careEquitable, Accessible, Affordable Education“Education should unlock opportunity,not shackle students into a lifetime of debt.” –MariahGrowing up in Massachusetts public schools, I thrived with reasonable accommodations that empowered me to graduate despite serious health challenges. Every student deserves that same level of care and opportunity to achieve their potential.Every child deserves a strong public education, regardless of their zip code.Massachusetts has gold-standard public schools — let's make that the national standard.To support our teachers and our students, we must:Invest in:Universal childcareFree meals for all childrenNational minimum base-pay for teachers with increases for cost-of-livingTitle I schools and equitable per-pupil spending, ending reliance on local property taxesNationwide free community college and adult literacy programsFree state college and university for in-state students and subsidized public school tuitions and fees for all studentsReform our Federal Student Loans, creating affordable, common sense repayment plans for past and future borrowers.Forgive all capitalized interest and federally subsidize all loansCredit borrowers for past payments, applying credits to repayment of the original loanEliminate private servicing of federal student loans, requiring direct service by the Department of EducationExpand Public Service Loan Forgiveness to part-time workers, public service & government contractors, and elected officialsFully fund the Department of Education, the Office of Civil Rights, and IDEA for special educationRepeal the Educational Choice for Children Act and phase out voucher programs that divert funds from public schoolsAbolish ICE & Protect Immigrants“DHS is a duplicative and wasteful Department —ICE has devolved into a criminal agency that terrorizes American families.” –MariahI was the first candidate in this race to call for the abolishment of ICE, the dismantling of DHS, and the impeachment of Kristi Noem.The Republicans in Congress gave ICE $75 billion — enough to operate for the next seven years — they're killing Americans, and now Trump is asking for more.Our immigration system should reflect our values. Allowing ICE to kidnap our neighbors across the North Shore and hold them in a detention facility in Burlington is not who we are as Americans.I will fight to dismantle the machinery of fear and build a humane immigration system:Close the DHS concentration camps and impose a moratorium on new detention facilitiesProhibit family and child detentionEnd mandatory detention and all incentives for mass detentionAbolish and prosecute ICE and Trump’s DHS leadershipRepeal ICE funding from the "Big Ugly Bill"Pass the DREAM Act and create a clear, streamlined pathway to citizenship including amnesty for current U.S. residentsDismantle DHS, restoring TSA to the Department of Transportation where it belongsRequire immigration agents to wear visible agency identification and body-camerasEstablish a commission to design a humane, accountable civil immigration enforcement systemPrevent the National Guard from engaging in immigration enforcementReform immigration courts into an independent judiciary staffed by qualified, impartial judgesRepeal the three-year, ten-year, and permanent bars to reentry for undocumented immigrantsRestore Medicaid eligibility for immigrants and remove discriminatory Medicare restrictions on green card holdersKeep Money in Our Pockets“The affordability crisis isn't an accident:it's the result of corporate monopolies, stagnant wages,and decades of policies that put profits over people.Congress must act now.” –MariahHousing is the biggest monthly expense for most families, and corporate landlords are driving rents skyhigh while the cost of groceries, utilities, and healthcare keep climbing.I will address the root causes: corporate monopoly power, corrupt private interests,and a tax code rigged to benefit billionaries.To bring down costs, we must:Enforce Anti-trust Law and End MonopoliesInvest in affordable housing, fully fund Section 8 vouchers,and repeal the Faircloth Amendment to expand public housingRequire private equity and hedge funds to divest from single-family homesMake rent tax-deductible and establish tax-free savings accounts for first-time buyersBreak up big agriculture and use our federal dollars to support family farmsBan dynamic pricing for groceries, concert tickets, and airfare, and require all in-store items to have a physical price tagRaise the Federal Minimum Wage to at least $25/hour, indexed to inflation and cost of living, and eliminate subminimum wages for tipped workers and workers with disabilitiesCap childcare costs at 7% of family income, invest in Universal Childcare, and increase FSA/HSA limits for dependent carePass a graduated wealth tax & raise the marginal tax rate on income >$100 millionFederally Legalize Marijuana and reinvest tax revenue in communities harmed by the “War on Drugs”Prevent Gun Violence"We cannot keep sending thoughts and prayers while we refuse to act.Gun violence is a public health crisis —and Congress has both the tools and the responsibility to address it." –MariahThe United States has the most guns per capita in the world. For too long, the gun lobby has blocked every common-sense reform, and we pay for it every single day.I will stand up to the NRA and work to pass the comprehensive measures necessary to keep our schools, houses of worship, and neighborhoods safe:Reinstate and expand the federal assault weapons banBan bump stocks and high-capacity magazinesImplement a buyback program with amnestyRequire a license to purchase firearmsRepeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act to restore gun manufacturer liability for violence inflicted using their productsRepeal the Dickey Amendment to resume CDC public health research on gun violence as a public health crisisRemove military-grade weaponry from domestic federal agents and police forcesBan deployment of military-grade weapons or drones against civilians on American soil outside of congressionally authorized warEnd qualified immunity for law enforcement and ban no-knock warrants for all agencies receiving federal fundingFund mental health professionals as embedded community resource teams within law enforcement unitsCreate a Division on Community Safety within HHS to fund health-centered, non-carceral public safety investmentsChampion Human Rights"LGBTQIA+ rights are a matter of life and death.As a member of the queer community,I refuse to allow bigotry and hatred to govern our policy, at home or abroad." – MariahAmerica's greatest strength has always been its relationships — with allies, international institutions, and the global community.Our nation was once a force for good in this world. Trump has squandered that legacy. It's up to Congress to rebuild it.As a former State Department official, I worked firsthand with government partners around the globe while administering millions in foreign aid to combat organized crime and advance conservation and human rights. As your Representative to Congress, I will repair our international relationships and renew our nation’s leadership role in the world order.To protect America's legacy, we must:Uphold and enforce U.S. Leahy Laws, preventing our tax dollars for being used to violate human rights around the globeOppose foreign military action without explicit Congressional authorizationRebuild a transparent humanitarian aid agency, restoring investments in public health, childhood nutrition, and agricultural supportRestore foreign aid to combat organized crime and protect our national securityRatify the Equal Rights Amendment and extend its protections to include gender identity and sexual orientationPass the Equality Act to protect trans healthcare and youth, and expand funding for LGBTQ+ community health and housingRatify the Rome Statute and support full U.S. participation in the International Criminal CourtRejoin UNESCO, the WHO, the Paris Climate Accord, and other global institutions abandoned by the Trump administrationClassify discriminatory book bans as federal civil rights violations and reverse Trump’s DEI bans within federal agenciesGrant DC statehood and ban federal overrides of democratically-passed DC City Council legislationRestore diplomatic relations with Cuba and grant Puerto Rico the autonomy to choose statehood or independence— Mariah Lancaster's campaign website (July 7, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.