Massachusetts Forward Party holds inaugural convention in Waltham

The Forward Party, a grassroots political party, held its first-ever state convention in Waltham on Sunday, using the event to elect officers and expound upon the party’s agenda, successes and values. 

The event was run in part by Sean Diamond, a Waltham resident who was the first Forward Party candidate to run in Massachusetts. Diamond made an unsuccessful bid for the 9th Middlesex House District Representative race in 2024. 

Diamond was elected as the Forward Party’s vice chair during the convention on Sunday.

The Forward Party was founded in 2021 by 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang and seeks to put the party’s agenda in the hands of small communities to identify their needs and interests, instead of creating a single party policy framework that follows a centralized one-size-fits-all agenda.

As such, the party does not have a policy framework but rather a list of values. These values include respecting the rule of law, steadfastly supporting American democracy, using an ethical and compassionate approach to policy, moving toward a less divisive political future and creating data-driven solutions to problems. 

Self-described radical centrist Max Asker of Quincy said that the party is for people who feel “politically homeless.” Asker said he made his way to the party after feeling let down by Democrats. 

“You see how little work they do in a two-year cycle,” said Asker, who was elected to an at-large position during the convention and serves on the party’s Policy and Platform Committee.

Around 40 people from around the state attended the May 4 convention, held at the American Legion on Waverly Oaks Road. Attendees, who spanned in age from young professionals to retirees, voiced dedication to the need for an alternative to the dominant Democratic and Republican parties. 

Kevin Huang, a Malden resident who has been with the party since its founding, said he is optimistic about the continued success of the party and is looking forward to seeing how its development unfolds. 

“It’s good to have more flow, competition and energy in elections,” Huang said during an interview with The Waltham Times. “This could be the next step.”

Kerry Healey, who served Massachusetts as a Republican lieutenant governor from 2003 to 2007 under Gov. Mitt Romney and is now part of the Forward Party, led a string of speakers at Sunday’s convention.

Healey (no relation to current Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey) said she, too, is optimistic about the party’s potential for success in Massachusetts politics. She said the state’s large percentage of independent voters could combine with Republican voters (a minority among Massachusetts voters) to make the Forward Party “a second party, not a third party.” 

She also championed the party’s dedication to solutions based on data and factual information. “You can have your own opinion but you can’t have your own facts. The facts are the facts,” she told attendees.

Other speakers also endorsed the Forward Party and its approach at Sunday’s convention.

Nathan Lockwood from Voter Choice Massachusetts talked up the importance of giving voters options on the ballot and praised the Forward Party’s commitment to ranked choice voting. 

Mike Byrne and Tom Hiett from Veterans for All Voters highlighted what they see as the Forward Party’s embrace of values — such as the importance of working together with teammates to accomplish a goal — that they said veterans developed during military service.

Harvard professor Danielle Allen urged voters to work toward a less divisive future, saying that while she is still a Democrat, she supports the Forward Party’s mission. 

Jesse Littlewood from Coalition for a Healthy Democracy said a party like the Forward Party would align more with a functioning democracy whereas the current political environment is driving candidates toward extremism. 

Meanwhile, Lisa Mair, a representative from Braver Angels, shared her own journey moving from a staunch liberal to a centrist and stressed the importance of conversations and understanding as espoused by the Forward Party. 

To end the convention, the party approved party bylaws and elected state officials. In addition to Diamond as vice chair, Spencer Reynolds was elected state chair and candidates Max Asker, Cole Nardone, Marc Warner and Keoni Aricayos were elected at-large executive committee members.