Tisei Plans Run for Congress Under Redistricting Proposal

Former State Senator Richard Tisei said yesterday he plans to challenge Democratic Congressman John F. Tierney if a proposed redistricting plan is adopted, according to a story in today's Boston Globe. 

The Republican said the addition of Billerica and Tewksbury, towns that have voted Republican in recent years, could help the party defeat Tierney, the Globe reported.

Tisei served as the state Senator for Melrose since 1991 and, starting in 2001, Wards 1-5, after redistricting carved out Wards 6 and 7 and moved them into another district. He ran for lieutenant governor as Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker's running mate last year and lost.

Under the proposed redistricting plan, Congressman Ed Markey's 7th District is renamed the 5th District and is expanded to include a sliver of Cambridge, now represented by Michael Capuano, as well as the western towns of Southborough, Ashland, Holliston, Sherborn, and a large portion of Sudbury. And Markey would lose Everett to the new 7th District which would be represented by Capuano. Markey would continue to represent Melrose.

The redistricting proposal was unveiled Monday. It decreases the number of Congressional districts in the state from 10 to nine because the state's population grew slower than the rest of the nation's over the last 10 years.

The full House and Senate have to approve it before the Congressional session ends on Nov. 16. If that happens, the governor has to sign it in order for it to be approved.