Far-left ‘polyamorous’ Democrat gaining support in mayoral bid in Massachusetts 

Another Democrat with far-left views is running for mayor, this time in an inner-ring Boston suburb – part of a wave of socialist candidates making gains in cities nationwide.

Somerville City Councilor-at-Large Willie Burnley Jr., 31, is a democratic socialist and openly polyamorous, meaning he has consensual romantic relationships with more than one person at a time. He has been part of the polyamorous community for about a decade.

His candidacy comes as young democratic socialist mayoral candidates are vying to win elections in New York City and Minneapolis this year. 

In New York, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, 34, has a 19-point lead over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a liberal Democrat running as an independent, according to a recent Siena College poll. In Minneapolis, Omar Fateh, 35, won the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party’s endorsement for mayor last month. 

Both Mamdani and Fateh represent the socialist or far-left side of the Democratic Party.  

Burnley is also being embraced by the party’s progressive wing, securing endorsements from U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, and the Greater Boston Labor Council, which called him a “strong voice for workers” who would “actively advance a pro-labor agenda.” 

Like Mamdani and Fateh, Burnley is also a strong supporter of Palestine and critic of Israel. He received an endorsement from the organization Somerville for Palestine.

“Willie is the only candidate who has committed to act on our Palestinian Solidarity ballot measure and figure out how to move public money out of companies profiting off of Israel’s apartheid, genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine,” the organization’s endorsement said.

Somerville, where Burnley lives, has about 80,000 residents. It has long been a progressive stronghold and is one of three Boston-area cities – along with Cambridge and Arlington – that recognize polyamorous relationships.  

In 2023, the city made national news when it passed an ordinance that protects residents from workplace discrimination and biased policing based on their relationship structure.

“For the longest time, people in our community have lived in the shadows of the law in a lot of ways,” Burnley said at the time. “It’s really just a personal choice to say I’m not going to hold back my love for people just because I have a preexisting relationship. I want to be in connection with as many people who want to be in connection with me.”

Outside of Massachusetts, Oakland and Berkeley, California, passed non-discrimination protections for polyamorous people in business, city services and housing last year.

The preliminary election in Somerville is scheduled for September 16, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election on November 4.

Burnley faces a crowded field with two‑term incumbent Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and City Councilor‑at‑Large Jake Wilson also having qualified to appear on the ballot.

(Media image credit: www.willieforsomerville.com)