BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Two days after announcing he's running for Senate in 2020, Rep. Joe Kennedy spent the morning at the South End Community Center meeting with patients and discussing the opioid crisis with doctors.
Rep. Kennedy was joined by Massachusetts State Rep. Joe Santiago, who he spent time with while serving together in the Peace Corps.
Kennedy shared his thoughts on the addiction epidemic with reporters following his visit.
"To walk through the streets and see people here that are in need of services share their stories and talk about their frustrations, say that yes, while people are trying to help, there's still an awful lot of need? It's been a privilege," Rep. Kennedy said. "It's been helpful, and it certainly puts a real human face on a crisis that the federal government is still not addressing the way it needs to, particularly when it comes to an urban community that has been looked over when it comes to the opioid epidemic."
On Saturday, Kennedy formally announced he's challenging Sen. Ed Markey in 2020 for the Senate seat he currently holds.
"This campaign is ultimately going to be decided by the voters of Massachusetts," Kennedy said. "I look forward to making my case as I did over the last two days, and as we will for the next year."
He described in part why he is running.
"It is a critically important time in our country to say that every voice counts, every voice matters, everybody in this country deserves protection, everybody has a contribution to make, and that your government's got your back and wants you on the field," he said. "That's the race we're gonna run, and we're gonna keep showing up until people actually believe that."
WBZ NewsRadio's Kevin Coleman (@KevinColemanWBZ) reports
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