Ayanna Pressley, 2019
American politician serving as the U.S. Representative
for Massachusetts’s 7th congressional district
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“You cannot have a government for and by the people if it is not represented by all of the people.”
—Ayanna Pressley
In 2019 Democrat Ayanna Pressley caused a major and exciting upset in Boston politics. She very soundly defeated the ten-term incumbent Mike Capuano in the primary election and ran unopposed in the general election. Though she and Capuano agreed on many subjects, Pressley ran on the slogan that ‘Change Can’t Wait’ and spoke of her own major life experiences to relate to her supporters. She was endorsed by almost every major political figure in Boston. Her surprise win by such a big margin in a city known for its white, union-driven politics was a massive victory for minorities, women and underdogs everywhere. It joined the wave of political success enjoyed by many women from diverse groups that the behavior of the current government has spurred into action.