AFT Massachusetts Endorses Roath for Congress (June 18, 2026)
AFT Massachusetts, which represents teachers, paraprofessionals, librarians, nurses, and support staff in public schools, colleges, and libraries across the Commonwealth, today announced its endorsement of Patrick Roath, Democratic candidate for Congress in Massachusetts’ Eighth District.
The Executive Board of the AFT Massachusetts, which voted on the endorsement, is made up of elected representatives of the 25,000 AFT Massachusetts members statewide. The union cited Roath’s commitment to strengthening public education, defending students and educators, and fighting back against federal attacks on schools, workers, and public services.
"From his commitment to universal pre-k to his call for the federal government to fund special education costs at the level they've promised for decades to his support for strong workforce and vocational opportunities for our students, Patrick Roath is a candidate with a strong vision for supporting our schools, our families, and the communities throughout the district," said American Federation of Teachers President Jessica Tang. "The AFT Massachusetts is excited to support his campaign and we look forward to speaking directly with residents about why educators, librarians, and other public employees are excited to send Patrick Roath to serve the eighth congressional district."
"I'm honored to earn the support of AFT Massachusetts and its 25,000 members," said Patrick Roath. "From the classroom to the college campus to the public library, these are the people who hold our communities together, and they deserve a Congress that has their backs. I'll fight to fully fund our public schools and colleges, to protect the freedom to organize, and to lower the everyday costs squeezing working families across this district. I'm grateful to stand with AFT Massachusetts in that work."
Roath is an attorney and voting rights advocate who formerly served as board chair of Common Cause Massachusetts. Roath has raised more than $1 million from individual donors without accepting any corporate PAC money, and has been endorsed by former Governor Deval Patrick, David Hogg’s Leaders We Deserve, and nearly three dozen local elected officials.
The 8th Congressional District includes a number of communities—spanning from Suffolk County down to Bristol and Norfolk Counties. AFT Massachusetts locals within the district include the Boston Teachers Union and the Norfolk Aggie Federation of Teachers.
“Public education and organized labor are being attacked, undermined, and eradicated by our federal government. Patrick knows what’s at stake and he’ll fight for our schools, our students, and our future,” said Erik Berg, President of the Boston Teachers Union, which endorsed Roath earlier this month. “He will be a tireless advocate for the whole district – and we’re excited to work with him to defend public education, build a stronger labor movement, and create the future Boston children deserve.”
Additionally, the Massachusetts Library Staff Association (MLSA), a local of the AFT Massachusetts, represents a number of librarians at public libraries throughout the 8th Congressional District including Thayer Public Library in Braintree, Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy, and the Boston Public Library system. Other public library systems represented by the MLSA within the district include those in Abington, Holbrook, Hull, Milton, Stoughton, and Weymouth.
About the AFT Massachusetts
The AFT Massachusetts, a strong voice for collaborative education reform that is good for students and fair to educators, represents over 25,000 educators and staff working in public schools, universities, libraries, and health offices across the state. The union represents members in a variety of roles including teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, librarians, custodians, cafeteria workers, faculty, maintenance staff, and more. In addition to public school districts across the state, AFT Massachusetts members work in vocational schools, collaboratives, public libraries, and both public and private institutions of higher education.
About Patrick Roath for Congress
Patrick Roath is a voting rights advocate, attorney, and candidate for Congress in Massachusetts' 8th District. Roath, 39, lives in Jamaica Plain with his wife Vicky and their infant daughter. Learn more at patrickroath.com.