Andrea
James

iBerkshires published a profile of James's gubernatorial campaign, covering her grassroots fundraising approach, ballot access effort, and campaign themes, as she continues her independent bid alongside Democratic incumbent Maura Healey and Republican Michael Minogue.

Healey and Minogue debated on WBZ-TV without James. James was outside the event and criticized her exclusion, telling MassLive: 'I'm being left out of a debate that I'm qualified for, that I am on the ballot. I should be accepted into this debate.'

The Boston Globe published a campaign profile describing James's priorities as affordable housing, lower energy costs, cheaper child care, universal health care, and more equitably funded education. The article also reported that James had been convicted of federal wire fraud, served prison time, and was disbarred more than a decade ago, citing a state Board of Bar Overseers decision.

WWLP reported that James hosted a meet-and-greet in Holyoke, discussing affordability, housing, education, health care, and criminal-justice reform. James declared: 'We needed 10,000 signatures, we got 13,311. I am on that ballot and I am running and we're running to win.'

A MassINC poll of likely voters reported by the Salem News put Healey at 54%, Minogue at 32%, and James at about 4%, with 6% undecided. The report characterized Healey's lead over Minogue as 22 points.

The Real News published a profile of James's grassroots campaign, focusing on her effort to mobilize the large share of Massachusetts voters who are unenrolled in a party, and noting her certified ballot signatures and small-donor fundraising approach.

The Boston Globe reported that James opted into Massachusetts's public campaign-financing program but appeared short of the $125,000 in qualifying contributions required for gubernatorial candidates. State records showed just under $50,000 raised since her campaign account opened. James said she opted in partly to draw attention to the difficulty independents face raising money.

Coverage noted that Andrea James, as an independent candidate, was being kept out of Massachusetts governor debates, a point she and others highlighted as a barrier for independent candidates.

James announced her campaign had collected 13,311 signatures, above the 10,000 required for ballot access in Massachusetts. She said the signatures were certified by the Secretary of the Commonwealth and described her campaign as relying on small individual donations, never having had $100,000 in its coffers.