Democrats rally party faithful at Lynn caucus

More than 150 Lynn Democrats showed up Saturday to kick off the election season, even as Lt. Gov. Tim Murray warned the group that they are in for a battle.Murray joined Lynn Democrats for the party’s caucus at the Lynn Housing Authority. The event served both to nominate Lynn delegates for the state convention in June and fire up the city’s Democratic base, Murray said.Murray and other elected officials, like U.S. Rep. John Tierney and State Sen. Tom McGee of Lynn, warned Lynn Democrats that every seat up for election in November is at stake.”We can’t take anything for granted,” Murray told the crowd.He noted Republicans are gaining ground across the Bay State, especially since 2010 when they won more seats on Beacon Hill and Massachusetts voters elected a Republican, Sen. Scott Brown, to the U.S. Senate.That year, Murray and Gov. Deval Patrick topped Republican nominee for governor Charlie Baker and former state senator Richard Tisei, Baker’s running mate. Now, Tisei is taking on Tierney for the Sixth District seat.In such an unsure political climate, Murray said it’s important to support Democrats in fortified places like Lynn.”Lynn is a traditional Democratic community, and we need to gather the base,” he said.Agnes Ricko, the co-chairwoman of the Lynn Democratic City Committee, said she was happy with Saturday’s turnout.”It’s great to see so many new faces,” Ricko said before Democrats from the city’s seven wards voted on delegates to represent them in a convention in June, where the party will nominate its candidate for U.S. Senate.One of those new faces at Saturday’s caucus was 22-year-old Jimmy Cowdell of Ward 1.As an aide to state Senate Majority Leader Frederick Berry, D-Peabody, Cowdell said he feels the urgency of this year’s election.”We have to keep the majority,” he said.Ward 5 resident Victor Canaan has attended the Lynn Democratic caucus since he moved to America. He said he supports the Democratic Party because its policies on education, health care and immigration are friendlier to the Hispanic community.”In the Republican party, no one is doing nothing for the immigrants,” he said. “They just focus on the rich.”The Democratic platform on the economy also appeals to younger voters, said 30-year-old Cassie Vitali of Ward 7.”Democrats support a lot of the issues I see facing younger people,” she said. “I think Lynn is trying to get more young people involved.”Young and old, politicians like Tierney they are impressed at the turnout at Democratic caucuses across the state this week.”I think people understand the stakes are high,” Tierney said.Amber Parcher can be reached at [email protected].