Paul Feeney, the democratic candidate for State Senate from the Bristol-Norfolk district, sweeped the special election on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
Feeney ran a close race, winning by roughly 500 votes against his republican competitor, Jacob J. Ventura of Attleboro.
A big advocate for Massachusetts workers and women’s rights, Feeney was endorsed by Planned Parenthood, Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts state affiliate of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and Mass Nurses Association, among others.
Feeney attracted a large crowd of volunteers, including many Wheaton students. On Sunday, Oct. 15, 15 students from both Feminist Association of Wheaton (FAW) and Wheaton College Democrats gathered in Attleboro to hear both Feeney and Warren speak.
Elizabeth Warren, the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, advocated for Feeney, stating, “We need someone fighting the same fight on Beacon Hill as I am fighting on Capitol Hill.”
After Feeney’s and Warren’s speeches, Wheaton students dispersed throughout Attleboro for canvassing.
Casey Smith, a consistent volunteer for the Feeney campaign, pondered her contribution: “It’s crazy to think that Feeney won by only 500 votes. I’ve been canvassing for months and I’ve probably gone to that many doors. What if we helped make that impact?”
The Feeney campaign is a recent example of Wheaton student involvement in local politics.