Neighborhood View, with input from local organizations, sent questions to the three candidates hoping to succeed Jason Lewis as Malden’s state senator in the Fifth Middlesex district. Before the Sept. 1 election, we will publish each candidate’s answers, one question at a time, presented in rotating order by last name. Biographies submitted by the candidates and links to all of the answers appear at the bottom of each article.
What didn’t we ask that you would like to share with voters?
Ryan O’Malley
As a longtime community advocate, I have helped elevate and amplify marginalized voices and empower communities to make Malden a better place to live. I am a no-nonsense public official who is fighting to bring common sense to Beacon Hill. My primary priorities are education funding reform, government accountability, protecting public assets, and affordability.
I am running because I want to be your next State Senator – I am not using this position as a stepping stone to Congress. I also believe that we can and must protect immigrants and marginalized communities without tokenizing them and using them as political tools to get elected. The same goes for community advocates and advocacy groups, who are doing the hard work to improve our communities. “Love people, not things; use things, not people.” The other way around never works…
Kate Lipper-Garabedian
I am proud to have represented Malden, Melrose, and Wakefield in the House of Representatives – delivering millions of dollars in funding to our communities, assisting neighbors with thousands of constituent service requests, and passing legislation that makes Massachusetts better and more livable and affordable for its residents. My experience as a legislator and proven record of effective leadership at the State House set me apart as the most qualified candidate to represent the 5th Middlesex District in the State Senate from day one. This is why I have earned the endorsements of State Senator Jason Lewis; State Representatives Steven Ultrino, Paul Donato, Rich Haggerty, and Mike Day; Melrose Mayor Jen Grigoraitis; more than 30 City Councilors, Town Councilors, Select Board members, and School Committee members leading in all six municipalities in the District; and organizations including Mass Retirees, LIUNA Laborers 22, Boston Carmen’s Union Local 589, Vote Mama, the Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund, Ironworkers Local 7, MOSES, and Reproductive Equity Now. I would be honored to earn your vote so we can continue this important work together!
Carey McDonald
Many candidates will use similar words in their campaigns, so the question becomes: what will we really fight for? I’ve fought to fund our schools, roads, libraries, parks and public services. I’ve fought for climate equity and access. And I’ve fought tirelessly for our neighbors who are being targeted by the Trump administration, especially immigrants and LGBTQ+ community members like me. I’ve sued the Trump administration about ICE enforcement, and personally supported local organizing like Indivisible and LUCE to mobilize our communities. We need more state funding for legal aid, for grants that have been withdrawn for political reasons, and we need to guarantee all our rights in state law that we have taken for granted. The Federal government has been relentless in attacking Massachusetts. I will fight every day to protect our rights, our economy, our privacy and our people.
Biographies submitted by the candidates
Ryan O’Malley
Ryan is the product of Malden Public Schools (K-12). He is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and Boston College Law School. He is a former Park Ranger in the Middlesex Fells and Breakheart Reservation. He currently works as an affordable housing attorney. He likes trees.
Campaign website: Ryan O’Malley for State Senate
Kate Lipper-Garabedian
Kate Lipper-Garabedian serves as State Representative for the 32nd Middlesex District and chairs the House Committee on Ethics. Since her election in 2020, she has led on legislation including nursing home and assisted living reforms, tax relief for renters, campaign funds for childcare expenses, and technology and data privacy protections and has been a vocal advocate for increased early education and childcare funding and universal K-12 school meals. A former seventh-grade public school teacher and education attorney, Kate served as Chief Legal Counsel to the Massachusetts Secretary of Education after graduating from Harvard Law School and clerking on the First Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals. In a legislature of 200 Representatives and Senators, she is one of only 11 members who are mothers raising children at the same time they serve. Kate has secured more than $5.25 million in earmarks for her District in the last two fiscal years alone. Kate lives in Melrose and is the proud mother of two school-aged boys.
Campaign website: Kate Lipper-Garabedian for State Senate
Carey McDonald
As a working parent, a nonprofit executive, and a three-term Malden city councillor at large, I understand our challenges and I’m committed to getting things done. I bring my professional experience as an executive of a national nonprofit in budgeting, management, policy, and governance, strategic planning, crisis response and legal issues. I have a BA in Economics from Pomona College, and a MS in Organizational (Nonprofit) Leadership from Wheelock College.
My spouse Sarah and I moved to Malden to raise our kids, and are proud parents of two Malden Public Schools students. I first ran for office in 2021 because I wanted to invest in building a better future for them. I’ve been very proud to make progress on funding our library and schools, advancing climate action and environmental justice, lowering utility bills, investing in basic infrastructure like removing lead pipes and paving roads, making our sidewalks safer, and advancing racial equity and language access.
I’ve worked hard to build relationships across our community and beyond. These relationships are the foundation of my campaign, because they are the people I am fighting for. I’m very proud to be endorsed by unions representing teachers, firefighters, human services workers and grocery store employees, environmental and progressive groups like Clean Water Action, Mystic Valley Progressives and the Working Families Party, and Malden Mayor Gary Christenson.
In our spare time (!) our family likes to travel and go camping. We enjoy music, concerts and dance parties together. During the winter, I volunteer with the Malden Warming Center.
My family traces its roots back to the founding of communities on the North Shore, including Malden and Winchester. My commitment is to work across the 5th Middlesex District to create communities where everyone can thrive.
Campaign website: Carey McDonald for State Senate
Learn how to take part in the election
The Malden City Clerk’s office provides 2026 Election Information about polling places, how to vote, early voting, and more.
Watch the Malden candidate forums
- Malden Safe Streets forum, July 20, 2026
- Malden Candidate Forum Tech and AI Presented by Reconnect Malden & Schools Beyond Screens, July 22, 2026
- Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition Forum, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026
- Online Candidate Forum hosted by Chinese Culture Connection, Aug. 19, via Zoom
at Malden Safe Streets candidate forum, hosted by Bay State Cohousing, July 21, 2026. (Photo: MSS)
Maldonians ask, candidates answer
- Professional experience
- Transportation equity, submitted by Malden Safe Streets
- AI in schools, submitted by Reconnect Malden
- Housing costs, submitted by a new community group, via Malden Safe Streets
- Structural budget issues for cities and towns
- Economic development
- Climate resilience action and advocacy
- Auditing the Legislature
- Closing statement
Be the first to comment