Democracy Starts Here: First District Congressional Forum
About this Event
Election Day is coming! Come hear candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives seat for the First Congressional District of Massachusetts discuss their goals for our district. Meet candidates and see them in action in a Q&A style format. Doors open early so can connect with community organizations focused on voter education, registration, and community engagement. Are you sure you’re registered to vote? Come early and make sure!
The “Democracy Starts Here: First District Congressional Forum” will take place on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 from 5:00-8:00pm at 52 Sumner, the performing arts venue at 52 Sumner Avenue known for live music, theater, and other entertainment offerings. The event will have two components:
● Community Conversations (5:00-6:00pm)
● Candidate Q&A (6:00-8:00pm)
The highlight of the event is the Candidate Q&A portion of the evening, featuring candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives seat for the First Congressional District of Massachusetts. Invitations have been extended to all candidates for the seat, from all parties. The Candidate Q&A will be moderated by G. Michael Dobbs, retired executive editor of The Reminder, where he served for more than 20 years in that role. He continues working at Focus Springfield Community Television, where he hosts a program, “Government Matters.” He also co-hosts a local news audio/video podcast called “Cine-Geezers,” with Stephen R. Bissette.
The Community Conversations portion of the event will kick off the night and will give attendees an opportunity to meet community organizations involved in the event. Staffed tables set up on the venue lawn will include organizations conducting voter registration or other nonpartisan voter services, sponsoring organizations and coalition partners, candidates participating in the forum, and other community organizations on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached.
About the Candidates
There are four candidates in total on the ballot, with two from the Democratic Party and two running Independent—there are no candidates running from other parties (i.e. Republican, Green, etc.). Nadia Milleron (Independent) and Jeromie Whalen (Democratic) have both RSVPed in attendance. Richard Neal (Democratic incumbent) and Anthony Celata (Independent) have not yet responded to our invitations. The co-organizers hope to confirm the remaining two candidates soon.
Richard Neal and Jeromie Whalen will face off in the Democratic Primary on September 1. The General Election will take place on November 3, with Anthony Celata and Nadia Milleron on that ballot as unenrolled candidates.
About the Co-Organizers
Nearly 40 organizations are co-organizing the candidate forum
A coalition of nearly 40 local nonprofits, neighborhood councils, and community organizations is banding together to host what promises to be the largest and most anticipated first district Congressional forum in the district. The co-organizers include the following organizations:
Concerned Citizens for Springfield
East Forest Park Civic Association
Forest Park Civic Association
League of Women Voters Springfield
Maple-High/Six Corners Neighborhood Council
McKnight Neighborhood Council
Metro Center Association
Sixteen Acres Civic Association
The Partnership Alliance & Coalition Team (PACT), which includes:
Billy’s Pickleball Kids
Born Free Outreach Services
Darrell Lee Jenkins Jr. Resource Center
Defending Democracy in Hampden County
Defending Democracy: The Fields
First Church of Christ Longmeadow Environmental Justice Team
First Church of Christ Longmeadow Social Justice Team
Freedom Writers Inc
Friends of Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge, Inc.
Grassroots for Gun Violence Protection
Gray Matters
Greater Springfield Senior Services
Jewish Community Center
Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts
Longmeadow Antiracism Coalition
Longmeadow Adult Community Center Fund
Longmeadow DEI Advisory Committee
Longmeadow Democratic Town Committee
Longmeadow Pipeline Awareness Group
Longmeadow Pride Alliance
Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence
No Place for Hate Longmeadow
PFLAG East Longmeadow
Pioneer Valley Project
Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts
Rise Up Western Mass Indivisible
Singing the Resistance
Springfield Climate Justice Coalition
Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield
Youth Fighting for a Sustainable Future
Other Organizing Partners
The co-organizers extend a special thanks to our venue and media partners. Thank you to 52 Sumner for hosting the forum and being actively engaged in its planning. Gratitude to Focus Springfield and Westfield Technical Academy for providing recording and broadcasting services to extend the event’s reach to public access television.
Parking
Parking is free and available on the street or directly across the street in the old Friendly’s parking lot. A police officer will be present at the crosswalk to assist with crossing.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
