OPINION: No Corporate PAC Money: Why We’re Supporting Patrick Roath For Congress

August 11, 2026 Submitted By Patrick Roath

As longtime residents of Hingham and Hull, we don’t often weigh in on federal races. But the September 1st Democratic primary for Massachusetts’ 8th Congressional District feels different, and we wanted to share why we’re supporting Patrick Roath.

Patrick has spent the past year doing something we don’t see enough of in politics: showing up. He’s been to our towns multiple times, meeting with residents, joining the regular standout in downtown Hingham, visiting Linden Ponds, and actually listening to what people care about. He’s not just passing through for a photo op. He’s building relationships and hearing what real people are focused on.

We’ve gotten to know Patrick, and what strikes us most is how thoughtful and genuine he is. He’s a voting rights advocate who led Common Cause Massachusetts, a former aide to Governor Deval Patrick, and worked in the Obama White House. He’s also a new dad living in Jamaica Plain. He gets the challenges young families face, from the cost of childcare to finding affordable housing, because he’s living them.

Patrick is running on issues that matter to South Shore families: making housing and childcare more affordable, defending public education, and bringing accountability back to our representation in Congress. He’s raised over a million dollars entirely from individual donors, without taking any corporate PAC money. That independence matters.

Patrick is challenging Congressman Stephen Lynch, someone many of us have supported over the years. But we’ve grown concerned. Congressman Lynch hasn’t held an in-person town hall since 2019.  He’s refused to debate. After 25 years in Congress, he holds no leadership position and has few accomplishments to point to. And on key votes, from the Affordable Care Act to immigration, he’s broken with the Democratic caucus in ways that don’t reflect our values.

We think our communities deserve a representative who shows up, listens, and fights for us. Patrick Roath is that candidate. He represents a new generation of leadership with the energy and urgency that this moment demands.

The primary is September 1st, and ballots will be arriving in mailboxes soon. We hope our neighbors will take a look at Patrick Roath – visit https://patrickroath.com to learn more. We think you’ll be as impressed as we are.

Contact hinghamroathsupporters@gmail.com if you would like to join the effort or add your name to this list of supporters.