Massachusetts state Representative Shawn Dooley (R-Norfolk) will run for a new office this year.
The 55-year-old plans to run for the Massachusetts Senate in the Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex District against incumbent state Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham)
Dooley, a former town clerk and school committee chairman in the town of Norfolk, has represented the Ninth Norfolk District since winning a special election in 2014.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity — but it is going to be a huge challenge and I will need your help,” Dooley posted on Facebook on Thursday, February 10. “It will be a grassroots campaign, going door to door — person to person — talking to folks about a common sense, people focused approach to government.”
After redistricting, the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District will include: Bellingham, Dover, Franklin, Medfield, Milford, Millis, Needham, Norfolk, Plainville, Sherborn, and Wrentham.
Rausch has represented the district since 2019. She beat incumbent Republican Richard Ross (R-Wrentham) in 2018 (51.2 percent to 48.6 percent) to earn the seat.
Dooley said he is both nervous and excited for the race.
“Over the past few years, we have all seen how much more polarized our communities have become — and that needs to change if we are going to continue to grow and succeed,” Dooley wrote on Facebook. “Too many politicians on both sides are focused on pandering to the extremes or placating special interests. The theme of my campaign is simple: People Not Politics.”
Dooley currently works as an on-call firefighter and emergency medical technician in his community.
Dooley also serves as the Republican state committeeman for the Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex District. He won the seat during the March 2020 presidential primary. He ran to be the next chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party in January 2021, but was defeated 39-36 by the incumbent, Jim Lyons.
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