Eric Lesser

Obama presidential campaign

After college, Lesser joined Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, helping stage events in New Hampshire.^[7] Following Obama's near victory in the New Hampshire Democratic primary,^[11] Lesser was tapped to be the campaign's "Ground Logistics Coordinator." In that position, he traveled with then-Senator Obama to 47 states and six countries—over 200,000 miles in total.^[12][13] Lesser created a luggage-management system that earned him the trust of the campaign team, the traveling press, and his future boss, Obama advisor David Axelrod.^[14] Reflecting on Lesser's logistical prowess, President Obama said, "Eric Lesser may be running a Fortune 500 company one day," adding "we are lucky to have such a smart and committed young man as part of our team."^[2]

During a campaign stop in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Lesser organized an impromptu Passover Seder. When Obama arrived, he promised: "Next year in the White House."^[3][15]

White House aide

When the campaign ended, the Senior Advisor to President Obama, David Axelrod, tapped Lesser to serve as his Special Assistant. For two years, Lesser shared a wall with the Oval Office.^[7][14][16] The Washington Post described Lesser as a "wunderkind," and the New York Times called him a "West Wing mascot."^[17][18] In 2011, Lesser became the Director of Strategic Planning at the Council of Economic Advisers. In the White House unit charged with offering the President objective economic advice, Lesser coordinated the communications strategy behind the economic recovery and historic job creation of the Obama administration.^[19][20]

White House Seder

Lesser was a chief organizer of the first presidential Seder in American history.^[21][22] The annual White House Passover Seder was attended by President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughters.^[23][24][25] The Seder is a reunion of the original group who met in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania during the 2008 campaign.^[26][27]

Elections

On February 3, 2014, The Republican newspaper reported that Lesser was considering a bid for the First Hampden & Hampshire seat in the Massachusetts State Senate that was recently vacated by Sen. Gale Candaras.^[28] On February 18, 2014, Lesser announced his candidacy for Massachusetts State Senate.^[29] On September 9, Lesser won the five-way Democratic primary.^[30] On November 4, Lesser defeated Republican Debra Boronski and America First candidate Mike Franco to win the State Senate seat.^[31]

Lesser launched his reelection bid in September 2016 after an uncontested Democratic primary.^[33] On November 8, 2016, Lesser defeated James "Chip" Harrington, earning 56 percent of the vote to Harrington's 44 percent.^[34] During the campaign, Lesser attracted a series of high-profile endorsements, including both U.S. Senators from Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey; U.S. Representatives Richard Neal, Joe Kennedy III, and Seth Moulton; former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis; and Springfield, Massachusetts mayor Domenic Sarno.^[35][36][33] Notably, Lesser earned the endorsement of his former boss, President Barack Obama, who only endorsed 161 candidates nationwide that year.^[37] That year, Obama endorsed no other candidate in Massachusetts. Lesser was sworn in for a second term in the Massachusetts State Senate on January 4, 2017.^[38]

Lesser won his third and fourth elections to the Massachusetts State Senate in 2018 and 2020, running uncontested each time in the Democratic primary and general election.^[39]