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On Tuesday, Dec. 1, around 10 a.m., Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse said in a statement that he will not run for re-election next year because of a campaign promise he made, when he was first elected, to serve no more than 10 years in the role.
“Democracy works best when we create space for more voices and perspectives to influence the public sphere,” Morse said. “So, with a municipal election year almost upon us, I feel it’s important to let you know that I will not be seeking re-election.”
Morse was elected mayor at age 22 and in 2020 ran for Congress in a bid to unseat longtime U.S. Rep. Richard Neal. Neal (D-Springfield) was re-elected in November.
Morse, a Democrat, captured the nation’s attention when he was first elected - he was one of the youngest mayors in America and one of the nation's few openly gay mayors. He has been touted as a rising star in the progressive movement.
Morse made national headlines again when he ran for Congress. The 2020 race for U.S. Representative was largely seen as a commentary on how well America would support a progressive agenda. During the campaign, Mose was the target of a smear campaign by the UMass student Democrats' club. An internal investigation concluded that the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee colluded with the students to hurt Morse’s chances in the election and dissuade the mayor from challenging Neal.
Morse said he plans to use his remaining year in office to bolster public health.
The mayor said the accomplishments that he is most proud of include establishing the city’s needle exchange program, implementing measures to decrease Holyoke’s carbon footprint, bringing the cannabis industry to town, decreasing blite, maintaining Holyoke’s status as a sanctuary city, students achieving better educational outcomes, and creating an overall safer community.
“What I’m most proud of is the spirit of community we’ve nurtured,” Mores said, “the way we've opened doors to people and communities that long felt shut out and left behind. We built a government that reflected and represented everyone, and not only those who traditionally had access.
“When I reflect on these past 10 years, I can see that that’s exactly what we’ve done - together, all across the city, we’ve aimed higher.”
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