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Immigration attorney Diann Slavit Baylis is considering a run for Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District, potentially joining a growing field of Democrats vying for the seat left open by Rep. Seth Moulton’s decision to challenge Sen. Ed Markey.
Slavit Baylis, a Marblehead resident and attorney, has built her career representing immigrants and refugees seeking asylum in the United States. Her potential entry follows her husband Angus McQuilken’s unsuccessful 2020 bid for the same seat, when he secured 9.7 percent of the primary vote against Moulton.
“I grew up the last of nine kids in a middle-class family in Haverhill,” Slavit Baylis said in a statement as she explores a possible candidacy. “I grew up understanding the value of families and community, working hard and most importantly our duty of civic involvement.”
Her interest emerges amid a rapidly expanding Democratic primary field for the open congressional seat. Rick Jakious, a Swampscott resident and longtime Moulton aide, entered the race in October, positioning himself as a continuity candidate with a decade of experience serving the district. Vice President Kamala Harris recently endorsed Dan Koh, former chief of staff to former Boston mayor Marty Walsh.
Other declared candidates include state Rep. Tram Nguyen of Andover, former state representative Jamie Belsito of Topsfield, attorney John Beccia of Lynnfield and software engineer Bethany Andres-Beck of Middleton.
Slavit Baylis has been increasingly visible on immigration issues across the North Shore. In April, she joined Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker at a Marblehead League of Women Voters event, where she detailed the impact of recent immigration policies on local communities.
“I fight against the Trump administration every day through my role as an immigration attorney protecting my clients from mean-spirited, unfair and illegal immigration actions,” she said. “I am on the front lines dealing with the Trump Administration’s policies and all of their damaging effects.”
She criticized what she described as a disconnect between campaign promises and policy outcomes.
“Donald Trump said he would be targeting criminals but what he is really doing, and we are seeing it right here in this district, is going after landscapers, home care workers and others who are essential to our economy,” Slavit Baylis said.
A graduate of Merrimack College and Suffolk Law School, Slavit Baylis is the youngest daughter of former Haverhill Harbormaster Red Slavit. Her professional background includes serving on the House of Seven Gables Board of Trustees and providing “Know Your Rights” presentations for immigrant communities across Essex County.
This wouldn’t be her first campaign. Slavit Baylis unsuccessfully sought the 8th Essex District state representative seat in 2022, securing 6.8 percent of the vote in a crowded Democratic primary. She also won election as a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Her statements emphasize economic concerns alongside immigration issues.
“The disconnect between what Donald Trump said he was going to do and what he is actually doing goes well beyond immigration,” she said. “He said he was going to lower the cost of living when in fact the cost of everything is going up and families are struggling. People are worried about their jobs, their health care and their ability to put food on the table.”
In January, Slavit Baylis helped establish a Marblehead Democratic Town Committee immigration subcommittee to mobilize local resources for immigrant communities. The group has compiled a database of 40 organizations providing immigrant services within Essex County.
“What do we need? We need a member of Congress who is going to fight every day to protect our families, to protect our communities and to protect our democracy,” she said.
The Democratic primary is scheduled for Sept. 1, 2026.
