Woman vs. Machine: Andrea James Fights for Justice in Massachusetts
Andrea James has never been one to stay quiet in the face of injustice. A Roxbury native, attorney, abolitionist, and advocate for returning citizens, James has spent the last 15 years pushing for reforms that challenge the status quo—especially when it comes to women’s prisons and the impact of the War on Drugs.
Now, she’s taking that fight to the highest office in the state. James recently announced her run for Governor of Massachusetts. I was immediately intrigued by her decision to run. Andrea has been a past guest on our podcast. I love hearing her discuss prison reform and the need to find better solutions when it comes to our criminal justice system.
The Race
When asked why she decided to run, James said:
“We have been going up to the state house here in Massachusetts for more than a decade now, asking for very reasonable changes… fighting this new women’s prison, the governor has just increased it from $50 million that we’ve held up for four and a half years to now $360 million. So enough, enough, enough. We wanted to also use a campaign as an organizing tool. A movement that will far outlive whatever the outcome of this particular campaign is.”
I had a feeling her run would be met with opposition. She frames her campaign as both a challenge to business-as-usual politics and an organizing tool for communities long excluded from the political process. Her platform is unapologetically rooted in abolitionist principles: stopping the construction of a new $360 million women’s prison, reinstating the right to vote for incarcerated people, and redirecting resources toward communities most harmed by criminalization.
Let’s Get This Understood
On why abolition is central to her platform, James explained:
“Abolition actually requires more accountability than the current criminal law system does now. It challenges the system in its inadequate responses to harm. Hurt people hurt people. Healthy people thrive. That’s what we’re talking about.”
While that message may resonate with many grassroots organizers and people like myself, it’s also a stance that is a magnet for criticism. James has already heard the skepticism firsthand:
“I’ve been asked, ‘why are you running? You know you’re not going to win.’”
Her place in this race demands that her platform gets heard. James’s candidacy has sparked conversation about transparency, accountability, and what real progress looks like in a state that prides itself on being a national leader. On Massachusetts politics, she says:
“We’ve got one of the least productive legislatures in the country—and we have a trifecta. A blue governor, a blue house, a blue senate. And yet still we are one of the least productive. We need to change that… before we compromise, we need to ask: what is it that people are really asking for?”
Andrea Wants Less Performance, More Action
When it comes to cannabis, James calls for equity to move beyond lip service. Having served on an early community advisory group to the Massachusetts Cannabis Commission, she’s watched firsthand how licenses initially went to law enforcement and prosecutors rather than the communities most impacted.
“I remember reading police reports where the police would base their probable cause on stopping and arresting this young Black guy because of the odor of marijuana. That was outrageous to me… We still have a lot of reparations to do for the harm that was caused. And we need to talk about these big corporations that are coming in and taking over the cannabis industry and making it very difficult for the small business person.”
For James, cannabis equity is not just economic opportunity—it’s a form of reparations.
Bigger Than This Moment
Win or lose, Andrea James is clear: this run is bigger than the governor’s seat. It’s about building a movement that forces Massachusetts to grapple with equity, justice, and the kind of future its people truly deserve.
To learn more about her campaign, click here
