MA-7: Primary Challenge

​It appears a budding Democratic primary challenging is beginning to form.  The Boston Globe is reporting that Cambridge City Councilman Nadeem Mazen, who previously said he would not seek re-election this year, is instead planning to challenge Rep. Mike Capuano (D-Somerville).  Mr. Mazen is the first Muslim elected to political office in Massachusetts.  He has dedicated himself to help more Muslims enter the political process and run for office.  Mazen has not confirmed that he is going to challenge Rep. Capuano, only that he is looking at a 2018 campaign.  He wants to receive more input and talk to more opinion leaders before making any public statement, he told the Globe reporter. 
 
Should Mazen run, it will likely be one of many congressional incumbent primary challenges that we will see throughout the country during the present election cycle.  Rep. Capuano, who has received only minimal opposition during his ten terms in the House, would begin such a race as a big favorite.  The Cambridge portion of the 7th District is only 7% of the total population, thus giving Mazen a rather small political base from which to build.