LOWELL — The field of Democrats vying to succeed U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas has hit an even dozen.
Bopha Malone, a vice president at Enterprise Bank in Lowell who came to the United States as a Cambodian refugee when she was 9, told The Sun she is running for Tsongas’ seat in Congress, becoming the 12th Democrat in the race.
“My parents instilled in me the value of hard work and perseverance, and through hard work, I was able to have my American dream,” Malone, 36, said. “I was very, very blessed that I had many people supporting me, many organizations, and as a result, I made it to where I am today. The reason why I want to run is I want to be able to give that same opportunity to others.”
She began working for Enterprise Bank in 2005 shortly after graduating Lesley University, where she now sits on the board, and rose through various positions. Today, Malone is a vice president with the company, although she said she will take a leave of absence to run for the 3rd Congressional District seat.
Malone is also widely involved in leadership initiatives across the city, particularly those with a mission of empowering women. She serves on the board of directors of Girls Inc. of Lowell, Women Working Wonders, Working Cities Challenge, Community Teamwork Inc., Middlesex Community College and Lowell General Hospital. In 2014, Malone was named The Sun’s Woman of the Year.
Her family fled to Thailand when she was 3, amid bloodshed under the Khmer Rouge regime. Six years later, they resettled in the United States, and Malone spent most of her childhood in Lynn.
Malone will be running in the midterm election of a president who has repeatedly called for limiting or blocking the admission of refugees, particularly those from Muslim-majority countries often torn apart by war. That anti-immigrant rhetoric, part of what Malone called a “horrible” political climate under President Donald Trump, weighed on her as she considered whether to seek office.
“I was very blessed to have America open its doors to me because we fled a country where my parents witnessed their own people being murdered,” she said. “I think it’s so important that we help people and that we serve as a leader. For the administration to scare people, to turn its back on people, I don’t think it’s right.”
As a Cambodian-American, Malone’s candidacy fits a larger trend in the district. In 2010, Sam Meas became the first Cambodian-American to run for Congress in what was then the 5th District. State Rep. Rady Mom of Lowell is the first Cambodian elected to a state legislature. And just weeks earlier, Vesna Nuon and Dominik Lay won significant municipal elections in Lowell.
Although Nuon and Lay’s successes did not directly impact her decision, Malone said she was pleased with the results because “government should reflect its people.”
Malone will embark on a door-to-door listening tour across the district in the coming weeks, although she cited three key policy stances for her campaign: guaranteeing affordable education and health care, empowering women and girls, and addressing the opioid epidemic.
Malone lives with her husband, Tom, and their two children in Bedford, which falls in the 6th Congressional District, currently represented by Seth Moulton. However, she said she lives about a mile from Carlisle, which is a part of the 3rd District.
But despite her residence, Malone said she sees herself as more deeply connected to Lowell, the district’s largest city, than any of the other candidates thanks to her work.
“In the Greater Lowell community, I have a better pulse on the people,” she said. “I’ve been working in the Greater Lowell community for more than 10 years, so even though I don’t live here, I do have a lot of experience here.”
Tsongas announced this summer that she will not seek re-election in 2018. The following Democrats have declared they are in the race:
* Alexandra Chandler of Haverhill, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst.
* Abhijit “Beej” Das, a North Andover resident and president and CEO of Troca Hotel.
* Rufus Gifford, former U.S. ambassador to Denmark and former finance director for Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.
* Steve Kerrigan of Lancaster, a former lieutenant governor nominee, president of Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund and principal for Kilgeever Consulting Group.
* Daniel Arrigg Koh, an Andover native and formerly chief of staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.
* State Sen. Barbara L’Italien of Andover.
* Patrick Littlefield of Boxboro, an entrepreneur who previously served as executive director of the federal Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Innovation.
* Juana Matias, a first-term state representative from Lawrence.
* Nadeem Mazen, an Andover native and Cambridge city councilor.
* Terence “Terry” Ryan, chair of the Westford School Committee and director of the Merrimack Valley Small Business Center.
* Lori Trahan, a Westford resident and CEO of the Concire Leadership Institute who served as chief of staff to Marty Meehan when he was a congressman for the area.
The following Republicans have entered the race:
* Rick Green of Pepperell, owner of 1-A Auto and co-founder of the Mass Fiscal Alliance.
* Scott Gunderson of Groton, businessman, Iraq veteran who served in the U.S. Navy.
Follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisLisinski.
