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Zayda Ortiz
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Zayda Ortiz (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives to represent the 35th Middlesex District. She lost in the Democratic primary on September 3, 2024.
Ortiz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Zayda Ortiz was born in Oklahoma. She graduated from Tulsa Central High School. Her career experience includes working as an activist and healthcare administrator.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 35th Middlesex District
Incumbent Paul Donato Sr. won election in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 35th Middlesex District on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Paul Donato Sr. (D) | 96.8 | 14,995 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 3.2 | 494 | ||
| Total votes: 15,489 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 35th Middlesex District
Incumbent Paul Donato Sr. defeated Nichole Mossalam and Zayda Ortiz in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 35th Middlesex District on September 3, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Paul Donato Sr. | 54.6 | 3,278 |
 | Nichole Mossalam | 35.6 | 2,137 | |
 | Zayda Ortiz | 9.7 | 583 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 6 | ||
| Total votes: 6,004 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Ortiz in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Zayda Ortiz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ortiz's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
My name is Zayda Ortiz, I am a child of Mexican immigrants who instilled in me the importance of community service. My husband Keith and I have made Malden our home for over 20 years.
After years of serving my community here in Malden as well as across the state, I’m excited to announce I am running to be your next state representative for the 35th Middlesex district Medford and Malden. I have a proven record of showing up when help is needed, identifying issues and finding the solutions. I have spent years creating connections, building coalitions and cultivating relationships within our community.
I’m determined to help fix the problems we face, fight for what is right, and take my lifetime of experience to the statehouse to make our government work for us all.- There is no question that we must do more to protect our environment, from the global to the municipal level. Medford and Malden are specifically at risk due to rising sea levels, increased stormwater flooding, and rapidly changing weather. We also face tough challenges with contaminated soil and lead water pipes that serve some of our homes and schools. The purity of water we drink and the air we breathe are fundamental to our communities’ well being. It is an all hands on deck moment that requires every solution available to us.
Reach 100% renewable energy by 2050. Strengthen public transportation to reduce emissions
Invest in and empower local climate solutions - We need affordable, safe and sustainable housing that is accessible to people at every stage of life. Seniors deserve to remain in our community where they have built deep roots, young families deserve homes where they can settle, and everyone deserves stable housing they can afford. This crisis demands a multi-level approach, keeping in mind that housing needs vary from city to city and across the state. Invest in affordable housing by creating a statewide housing production goal of 427,000 next 10 yrs, Create new housing in our unused space by removing barriers in converting vacant land and commercial buildings to multi-family housing and expediting the process for to create accessory dwelling units (ADUs)
- We urgently need to invest in transportation and infrastructure to meet climate and economic needs. Expanding both the T and the commuter rail systems to incorporate new communities into the system will reduce frustrating traffic and get people out of cars and back onto public transit. The MBTA is breaking down after decades of under-investment, and we are struggling to afford necessary roadway, bridge and tunnel repairs. There are no two ways about it: the state needs to fund efforts to fix our roads and bridges, and we need the T to be safe and reliable enough to be a desirable option for everyone. Invest in the MBTA and increase oversight to renew focus on serving our communities and hold the MBTA executives accountable.
I care about increasing access to high quality and equitable healthcare.
We need to reduce maternal mortality by updating the regulations governing birthing centers, expanding safer birthing options including Midwives and doulas, and incorporating mental health services into prenatal care, with special focus on Black and Latin mothers who still face elevated maternal mortality rates.
Shirley Chisolm and Ann Richards
they both stood their grounds in male dominated arenas and used their intellect and quick tongue to make a mark and move feminism forward.
they both stood their grounds in male dominated arenas and used their intellect and quick tongue to make a mark and move feminism forward.
the statehouse is just not working for the average person in Massachusetts. Cycle after cycle bills that should have support go nowhere. I am running to help get our government to work for the people and move legislation that reflects our shared values. I am committed to tackling barriers to getting bills through the legislative process by organizing fellow progressives, inside and outside the building, around agreed upon priorities and building the momentum to make these bills into law. We need to find equitable ways to build our revenue to invest in infrastructure issues such as dilapidated roads, bridges and the MBTA system. We need out of the box ideas to ensure that our community members are not pushed out due to raising housing costs- while making room for new families to invest in our evolving/ growing district. We need to protect our community from climate change and this is an opportunity to build jobs while we build a more climate resilient community.
Over the multiple cycles of organizing work I've grown a deep understanding of how the sausage is made. I know that there can’t be real change until we can recruit and retain people who are going to be able to deal with the ramifications of speaking out and not go along to get along. I believe our movement needs more people with connections to the outside advocacy work who can promote and build a collaborative environment to build power to move legislation forward I believe that person is me.
Over the multiple cycles of organizing work I've grown a deep understanding of how the sausage is made. I know that there can’t be real change until we can recruit and retain people who are going to be able to deal with the ramifications of speaking out and not go along to get along. I believe our movement needs more people with connections to the outside advocacy work who can promote and build a collaborative environment to build power to move legislation forward I believe that person is me.
I was raised to be of service to my community and I have a deep empathy and desire to see everyone thrive and be able to reach their fullest potential
Passing bills and budgetary responsibilities to the district are important components to the work. I believe the most important duty of this position is constituent services. I have been a navigator of complex systems and helped people understand intricate concepts into simple language my whole life. From translating for others that only speak Spanish to breaking down step by step medical procedures for patients I know how to help our constituents get the services they need and guide them through the hurdles.
I pledge to be earnest and dedicated to the constituents and the needs of my district I will answer and speak to whomever wants to know how and why I voted. We may not always agree on the solutions but I will to explain the reasons and factors into my votes and support of bills.
I pledge to be earnest and dedicated to the constituents and the needs of my district I will answer and speak to whomever wants to know how and why I voted. We may not always agree on the solutions but I will to explain the reasons and factors into my votes and support of bills.
That I made a change that helped others find their success with a few less barriers and a smoother path.
The election of Jimmy Carter. I was 6
I worked as a prep cook for an Italian restaurant. I was promoted to working grill during lunch rushes.
the theme song to Gilligan's Island
I am a dyslexic. I was not diagnosed until I was an adult and I am very self conscious about my spelling and trans versing letters and numbers.
The governor and legislature needs to work together creating a robust agenda that fits sees the needs of our state
We are in a housing and affordability crisis. We have been able to stay above water through many financial upheavals, but we need to invest immediately in developing affordable housing.
I think to truly understand how things work there does need to be some sort of experience of how the legislator and the leadership runs the people's business
It is imperative to have relationships with your collogues.
Progressive Mass
joint committee on elder affairs, joint committee on racial equity, Joint committee on transportation
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Massachusetts House of Representatives 35th Middlesex District |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 5, 2024
Current members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Ronald Mariano
Majority Leader:Michael Moran
Representatives
Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket District
Thomas Moakley (D)
1st Barnstable District
Chris Flanagan (D)
1st Berkshire District
John Barrett (D)
1st Bristol District
Michael Chaisson (R)
1st Essex District
Dawne Shand (D)
1st Franklin District
Natalie Blais (D)
1st Hampden District
Todd Smola (R)
1st Hampshire District
Lindsay Sabadosa (D)
1st Middlesex District
1st Norfolk District
Bruce Ayers (D)
1st Plymouth District
Michelle Badger (D)
1st Suffolk District
Adrian Madaro (D)
1st Worcester District
2nd Barnstable District
Kip Diggs (D)
2nd Berkshire District
2nd Bristol District
James Hawkins (D)
2nd Essex District
Kristin Kassner (D)
2nd Franklin District
Susannah Whipps (U)
2nd Hampden District
Brian Ashe (D)
2nd Hampshire District
Homar Gomez (D)
2nd Middlesex District
James Arciero (D)
2nd Norfolk District
Tackey Chan (D)
2nd Plymouth District
John Gaskey (R)
2nd Suffolk District
Daniel Ryan (D)
2nd Worcester District
Jonathan Zlotnik (D)
3rd Barnstable District
David Vieira (R)
3rd Berkshire District
Leigh Davis (D)
3rd Bristol District
Lisa Field (D)
3rd Essex District
Andy Vargas (D)
3rd Hampden District
Nicholas Boldyga (R)
3rd Hampshire District
Mindy Domb (D)
3rd Middlesex District
Kate Hogan (D)
3rd Norfolk District
Ronald Mariano (D)
3rd Plymouth District
Joan Meschino (D)
3rd Suffolk District
Aaron Michlewitz (D)
3rd Worcester District
4th Barnstable District
Hadley Luddy (D)
4th Bristol District
Steven Howitt (R)
4th Essex District
Estela Reyes (D)
4th Hampden District
Kelly Pease (R)
4th Middlesex District
4th Norfolk District
James Murphy (D)
4th Plymouth District
4th Suffolk District
David Biele (D)
4th Worcester District
Natalie Higgins (D)
5th Barnstable District
Steven Xiarhos (R)
5th Bristol District
Justin Thurber (R)
5th Essex District
5th Hampden District
Patricia Duffy (D)
5th Middlesex District
David Linsky (D)
5th Norfolk District
Mark Cusack (D)
5th Plymouth District
David DeCoste (R)
5th Suffolk District
5th Worcester District
6th Bristol District
Carole Fiola (D)
6th Essex District
Hannah Bowen (D)
6th Hampden District
Michael Finn (D)
6th Middlesex District
Priscila Sousa (D)
6th Norfolk District
William Galvin (D)
6th Plymouth District
Kenneth Sweezey (R)
6th Suffolk District
Russell Holmes (D)
6th Worcester District
John Marsi (R)
7th Bristol District
Alan Silvia (D)
7th Essex District
Manny Cruz (D)
7th Hampden District
Aaron Saunders (D)
7th Middlesex District
Jack Lewis (D)
7th Norfolk District
Richard Wells (D)
7th Plymouth District
Alyson Sullivan (R)
7th Suffolk District
Chynah Tyler (D)
7th Worcester District
Paul Frost (R)
8th Bristol District
Steven Ouellette (D)
8th Essex District
Jenny Armini (D)
8th Hampden District
Shirley Arriaga (D)
8th Middlesex District
8th Norfolk District
Edward Philips (D)
8th Plymouth District
Dennis Gallagher (D)
8th Suffolk District
Jay Livingstone (D)
8th Worcester District
Michael Soter (R)
9th Bristol District
9th Essex District
Donald Wong (R)
9th Hampden District
Orlando Ramos (D)
9th Middlesex District
Thomas Stanley (D)
9th Norfolk District
Marcus Vaughn (R)
9th Plymouth District
Bridget Plouffe (D)
9th Suffolk District
John Moran (D)
9th Worcester District
David Muradian (R)
10th Bristol District
Mark Sylvia (D)
10th Essex District
Dan Cahill (D)
10th Hampden District
Carlos Gonzalez (D)
10th Middlesex District
John Lawn (D)
10th Norfolk District
Jeffrey Roy (D)
10th Plymouth District
Michelle DuBois (D)
10th Suffolk District
Bill MacGregor (D)
10th Worcester District
Brian Murray (D)
11th Bristol District
11th Essex District
Sean Reid (D)
11th Hampden District
Bud Williams (D)
11th Middlesex District
Amy Sangiolo (D)
11th Norfolk District
Paul McMurtry (D)
11th Plymouth District
Rita Mendes (D)
11th Suffolk District
Judith García (D)
11th Worcester District
Hannah Kane (R)
12th Bristol District
Norman Orrall (R)
12th Essex District
Thomas Walsh (D)
12th Hampden District
Angelo Puppolo (D)
12th Middlesex District
Greg Schwartz (D)
12th Norfolk District
John Rogers (D)
12th Plymouth District
Kathleen LaNatra (D)
12th Suffolk District
Brandy Oakley (D)
12th Worcester District
Meghan Kilcoyne (D)
13th Bristol District
Antonio Cabral (D)
13th Essex District
Sally Kerans (D)
13th Middlesex District
Carmine Gentile (D)
13th Norfolk District
Joshua Tarsky (D)
13th Suffolk District
Daniel Hunt (D)
13th Worcester District
John Mahoney (D)
14th Bristol District
Adam Scanlon (D)
14th Essex District
Adrianne Ramos (D)
14th Middlesex District
Simon Cataldo (D)
14th Norfolk District
Alice Peisch (D)
14th Suffolk District
Rob Consalvo (D)
14th Worcester District
James O'Day (D)
15th Essex District
Ryan Hamilton (D)
15th Middlesex District
Michelle Ciccolo (D)
15th Norfolk District
Tommy Vitolo (D)
15th Suffolk District
Sam Montaño (D)
15th Worcester District
Mary Keefe (D)
16th Essex District
16th Middlesex District
Rodney Elliott (D)
16th Suffolk District
Jessica Giannino (D)
16th Worcester District
Daniel Donahue (D)
17th Essex District
Frank Moran (D)
17th Middlesex District
Vanna Howard (D)
17th Suffolk District
Kevin Honan (D)
17th Worcester District
David LeBoeuf (D)
18th Essex District
Tram Nguyen (D)
18th Middlesex District
Tara Hong (D)
18th Suffolk District
Michael Moran (D)
18th Worcester District
Joseph McKenna (R)
19th Middlesex District
19th Suffolk District
Jeffrey Turco (D)
19th Worcester District
Kate Donaghue (D)
20th Middlesex District
Bradley Jones (R)
21st Middlesex District
Kenneth Gordon (D)
22nd Middlesex District
Marc Lombardo (R)
23rd Middlesex District
Sean Garballey (D)
24th Middlesex District
David Rogers (D)
25th Middlesex District
Marjorie Decker (D)
26th Middlesex District
Mike Connolly (D)
27th Middlesex District
28th Middlesex District
Joseph McGonagle (D)
29th Middlesex District
Steven Owens (D)
30th Middlesex District
Richard Haggerty (D)
31st Middlesex District
Michael Day (D)
32nd Middlesex District
33rd Middlesex District
Steven Ultrino (D)
34th Middlesex District
Christine Barber (D)
35th Middlesex District
Paul Donato (D)
36th Middlesex District
Colleen Garry (D)
37th Middlesex District
Danillo Sena (D)
Democratic Party (134)
Republican Party (25)
Unenrolled (1)
