Ayanna Pressley's Surprise Upset Shows Women Of Color's Power In Democratic Politics

Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley greeted family, friends, and supporters after beating Rep. Michael Capuano in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts' 7th Congressional District. Meredith Nierman/WGBH

In a surprise defeat that reflects a changing Democratic party, Boston City Council member Ayanna Pressley has defeated 10-term Democratic Rep. Mike Capuano in Massachusetts' 7th Congressional District.

Pressley is poised to become the first African-American woman to represent Massachusetts in the state's congressional history.

"It's not enough for Democrats to be back in power," she said at her election night celebration. "It matters who those Democrats are."

Pressley's victory is indicative of the broader success of female Democrats this election cycle. She joins a number of other black women who've won their primaries this year, including Stacey Abrams, who's running for governor in Georgia, Lauren Underwood, running for a congressional seat in Illinois, and Jahana Hayes, who's also running for a seat in Congress from Connecticut.

The Democratic party has referred to African-American women as the backbone of the party, but in recent years, some black organizers have expressed frustration that the party has not invested in recruiting black candidates. Pressley's victory is a sign that organizers and activists are no longer willing to wait for the party's blessing.

It's also a sign that issues of representation rather than ideology are motivating voters in Democratic primaries.

Pressley was long considered the underdog. Her opponent seemed to have the money and the loyalty of a popular incumbent. Plus, he had received the backing of local party officials, the Congressional Black Caucus PAC and even from Deval Patrick, the state's first African-American governor.

But Pressley ran an intense grassroots campaign, and although she and Capuano agreed on most policies, she argued that she was more in touch with voters in this majority-minority district

"It seems like change is on the way," said Pressley to raucous applause at her election night party. "Ours was truly a people-powered, grassroots campaign. ... that dared to do what Massachusetts Democrats aren't supposed to do."

There is no Republican on the ballot in this Democratic bastion - an urban district that encompasses Boston, Cambridge and surrounding suburbs, much of the area once represented by a young John F. Kennedy, and now often called the "Kennedy seat."

Capuano is only the second Democrat to lose a primary this midterm season, the first was New York Rep. Joe Crowley, who lost to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

And, similar to Crowley, he was quick to concede. "Ayanna Pressley is going to be a good congresswoman," he said.