SPRINGFIELD — The Massachusetts Democratic Party State Convention returned to Springfield this Saturday after a six-year hiatus, drawing approximately 3,900 delegates to the MassMutual Center for a platform convention focused on shaping party priorities for the next four years.
Longtime former Lancaster Democratic Party Chairman and former Regional School Committeeman, Don Adams, noted the heightened police presence. “This convention comes at a tense time in the national political arena,” he said.
Adams, a delegate this year and longtime attendee of past state conventions, remarked, “The convention is an important forum — it provides the delegates with a chance to consider key policy issues ahead of the midterms.”
Looking around at the delegates flooding the arena, Adams, a manufacturing engineer, observed: “It’s a record turnout for an odd‑year platform convention. Certainly, the organizers have done a good job.”
Democratic Party Chair Steve Kerrigan, in his opening remarks, set a somber tone. “We gather here, of course, at a time of great peril,” he said, referring to the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. “We denounce political violence in all its forms, and that cannot be the way we make political change in our country. We make change through debate and, when necessary, dissent.”
When asked which speakers appeared to make the best impressions on the crowd, Adams said, “I thought Democratic Party Chair, Steve Kerrigan, gave a very good opening speech.” He continued, “State Auditor Diana DiZoglio got a standing ovation for her speech.” He laughed, “The party insiders and the State House crowd she’s been wrestling with can’t have ignored that.”
Adams, who hails from the private sector, further observed, “Auditor DiZoglio has been fighting for transparency in the budgeting process for some time now. She’s waging what many people consider to be an absolutely critical battle for the welfare of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We have to have full disclosure and accountability in state government.”
Adams was joined in this sentiment by Lancaster Delegate Lisa Beaudry, who stated, “Auditor DiZoglio is right; transparency in government is critical.” This was Beaudry’s first convention.
Both Delegate Adams and Delegate Beaudry expressed great admiration for Attorney General (AG) Andrea Campbell. “Attorney General Andrea Campbell has a compelling personal history — she’s a great example for young Americans,” Adams stated.
Beaudry fully agreed. “I thought our AG was fabulous. We heard Attorney General Campbell tell us that her father was incarcerated and her mother died when she was a baby. Our AG has overcome great odds to be standing there on that stage today — it’s a true American Horatio Alger story.”
During the convention, Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno, who welcomed delegates to the city, emphasized the importance of pragmatic leadership. “We’re at a very crucial time right now,” Sarno said. “Sometimes we look back to our principles and what the Democratic Party is all about, and that is that we have some common sense and pragmatic leadership to get things done for people that are in need.”
State Representatitve Carlos Gonzalez of Springfield used his remarks to advocate for stronger gun laws. “We need to continue to fight for sensible gun control,” he said. “But the innocent death of children in our schools with rifles that are really for war, for the military, have no place in society today”
Senator Jake Oliveira of Ludlow looked ahead to 2026, calling on delegates to rally behind efforts to flip Republican-held congressional seats. “This is a rally to fight for the principles that we believe in, which is making sure we support working families,” he said.
Delegates also considered a charter amendment that would change the convention schedule from annual to biennial, freeing up alternate years for regional training and local organizing efforts, but the measure ultimately failed to pass.
Adams hoped the convention would bring attention to the City of Springfield itself. “Mayor Dominic Sarno has done a great job in Springfield. Springfield presents great opportunities for further economic development,” he said.
