Marjorie Decker

Marjorie Decker earned a high school diploma from Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1994, and a graduate degree from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government in 2007. Her career experience includes working as a full-time state legislator.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a mom of two who has spent my life fighting for people whose voices are too often missing when decisions are made.

I grew up in Cambridge public housing, raised by parents who worked hard but still struggled to meet some of our most basic needs. My father was a Vietnam veteran who carried the invisible wounds of undiagnosed PTSD, and my family experienced challenges that too often go unseen. I learned early that the problem was never families like mine. It was systems that too often failed to support working people and ensure they could care for their families and thrive.

That experience shaped my belief that government’s job is to make people’s lives better, not create obstacles that make survival harder. It taught me that accountability matters, because when those in power are not held accountable, it is often people with the least political power who suffer the consequences.

My work in the State House has always been about making sure families like mine are represented and at the table. I have fought to hold powerful interests accountable, expand healthcare and mental health access, take on corporate and fossil fuel interests, pass common-sense gun laws,, and build communities where people have the resources to thrive.

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?

Growing up in public housing taught me that poverty is not an identity or an inevitability. It is shaped by the choices we make through our budgets, laws, and public policies. Every day, we have opportunities to prevent people from falling into poverty and to help families build economic stability. That’s why I led the effort to increase the Earned Income Tax Credit from 15% to 40%, increased the Child and Family Tax Credit, and over the last six years have repeatedly increased cash grants for older adults and people with disabilities. I also filed a comprehensive anti-poverty bill that brings together proven strategies to reduce poverty and expand opportunity because I know government can change lives when we make the right choices.As Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health, I have fought to eliminate inequities in health care. I led reforms to stop insurance companies from overriding decisions made by patients and their doctors by improving step therapy and prior authorization laws. I authored one of the nation’s most comprehensive maternal health equity laws to address racial disparities and save lives. I have also passed five common-sense gun safety laws, helping Massachusetts maintain one of the nation’s lowest gun homicide rates, and authored legislation protecting access to health care for transgender patients. I believe everyone deserves affordable, accessible, high-quality care.I ran for office because families like mine, who grew up in public housing and poverty, were too often the subject of policy debates but rarely at the table. I believe transparency and accountability are essential to building trust and ensuring government works for everyone. That’s why I communicate through weekly newsletters, town halls, office hours, and regular meetings with constituents. I made my committee votes public before the rules required it and fought to make legislative votes more accessible. I have always worked to center those too often left out, and that commitment has earned the trust of my constituents and the endorsement of more than 45 organizations.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

What I am most passionate about is using public policy to make people’s lives better, especially for communities that have historically been marginalized or left out. Growing up in public housing and seeing communities like mine too often talked about but not included shaped my commitment to ensuring people have a voice at the table. As a public servant, I have used my political capital to reduce poverty, advance racial equity in health care, protect LGBTQ+ communities, expand access to mental health care, support children and families, and ensure every child has the resources they need to thrive. My passion is making government work for the people who need it most.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

We have 45 endorsements, including:

Reproductive Equity Now

Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund

Massachusetts Nurses Association

Massachusetts Building Trades Council

Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund

Boston Teachers Union

American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts

Massachusetts AFL-CIO

SEIU MA State Council

Tufts University Democrats

Voters of Tomorrow

National Association of Government Employees

Coalition for Social Justice

National Association of Social Workers MA Political Action Candidate Election

Marjorie Decker did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Marjorie Decker did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Marjorie Decker did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.