Andrea Joy Campbell’s story is one of resilience, faith, and the power of opportunity. It’s also the story of Massachusetts – a place where anything is possible when government actually works for the people.
Born and raised in Roxbury and the South End neighborhoods of Boston, her mother passed away in a tragic car accident on her way to visit her father in prison when Andrea was only eight months old. While Andrea’s grandmother did the best she could, she occasionally struggled with alcoholism. She and her brothers would spend their early years moving between relatives and foster care until their father came home, and she met him for the first time at eight years old.
Life wasn’t easy. Her family was poor and relied on public housing and food assistance. Her father, who had worked hard to rebuild his life after prison, died suddenly when Andrea was a student at Princeton, before he could see her graduate. Her twin brother, Andre, died at just 29 years old in the Department of Correction custody because he didn’t get the health care he needed – a tragedy that fuels Andrea’s fight for accountability and justice to this day.
Thanks to their support – and her own determination – she graduated from Boston Latin School and became the first in her family to go to college and law school, graduating from Princeton University and UCLA Law School.
After earning her law degree, Andrea returned home to fight for kids and families. She worked as a legal services attorney defending the rights of children with disabilities, and served as legal counsel to Governor Deval Patrick. In her race to represent District 4 on the Boston City Council, she defeated a long-time incumbent, becoming the first woman to represent the district and went on to become the first Black woman ever elected President of the Boston City Council. On the Council, her first piece of legislation – the Community Preservation Act – continues to generate millions every year for affordable housing, parks, and historic preservation.
Since day one, she has led with empathy, urgency, and deep belief that the role of Attorney General is about more than just enforcing the law – it’s about making life better for people too often left out and left behind.
Andrea’s story – from foster care to Princeton to public service – is what drives her every day. She knows what it’s like to have your destiny written off before you’ve had a chance, and she knows what happens when people step up to change that. Her vision for Massachusetts is simple but bold: a Commonwealth where everyone – no matter who you are or where you come from – can dream big and have those dreams actually come true.
But she can’t do it alone. This campaign is about all of us — about showing that when we come together, we can build a Commonwealth where justice, freedom, and opportunity belong to everyone.
Join us. Stand with Andrea. And let’s keep fighting for the future Massachusetts deserves.
