Andrea Campbell

Andrea Campbell
Born	Andrea Joy Campbell
Birthplace	Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Title	45th Attorney General of Massachusetts
Known for	45th Attorney General of Massachusetts; first Black woman elected to statewide office in Massachusetts
Education	Princeton University (BA) University of California, Los Angeles (JD)
Spouse(s)	Matthew Scheier
Children	2

Andrea Joy Campbell (born in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 45th Attorney General of Massachusetts since January 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Campbell previously represented the 4th District on the Boston City Council from 2016 to 2022, during which time she served as council president from 2018 to 2020. In 2021, she ran for Mayor of Boston but placed third in the nonpartisan preliminary election. The following year, Campbell launched a successful campaign for attorney general, becoming the first Black woman to qualify for ballot access for statewide office in Massachusetts and, upon her election, the first Black woman to serve as the state's attorney general. She was only the second Black person to hold the office, after Edward Brooke, who served in the role from 1963 to 1967. As attorney general, Campbell has pursued actions on housing compliance, consumer protection, and governmental oversight, including high-profile legal disputes with other state officials.

Early Life

Andrea Joy Campbell was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. Her early life was marked by significant personal hardship. Campbell experienced the challenges of growing up in a family affected by involvement in the criminal justice system, and she faced the loss of close family members at a young age. Her twin brother, Andre, died while in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, a tragedy that profoundly shaped her perspective on government accountability and the systems that serve vulnerable populations.

Despite these adversities, Campbell found pathways to academic achievement and professional success. She has credited the opportunities she received—including access to education and mentoring—as formative influences that motivated her to pursue public service. Her early experiences in Boston informed her later policy priorities, particularly around criminal justice reform, youth services, and equitable access to opportunity for residents of underserved communities.

Campbell grew up in the neighborhoods of Dorchester and Mattapan, areas of Boston that have historically faced challenges related to poverty, crime, and underinvestment. Her personal narrative of overcoming adversity in these communities became a central element of her subsequent political campaigns and public identity.

Education

Campbell attended Princeton University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She subsequently enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctor degree. Her legal education prepared her for a career that would span both the private and public sectors before she entered electoral politics. Prior to running for the Boston City Council, Campbell worked in legal and policy roles, drawing on her academic training at both institutions.

Career

Boston City Council (2016–2022)

In November 2015, Campbell won election to the Boston City Council, representing the 4th District, which encompasses the neighborhoods of Dorchester, Mattapan, and Roslindale. She defeated longtime incumbent Charles Yancey, who had served on the council for over 30 years, in a result that was seen as a generational shift in Boston politics. Campbell took office on January 4, 2016, succeeding Yancey.

Campbell was re-elected in 2017. In December 2017, she was selected by her colleagues to serve as president of the Boston City Council, succeeding Michelle Wu in the role. She served as council president from January 2018 to January 2020, when she was succeeded by Kim Janey.

During her tenure on the council, Campbell focused on issues related to education, public safety, and governmental transparency. She was involved in efforts to strengthen the role of the Boston Inspector General, pushing for a council vote on the position despite opposition from then-Mayor Marty Walsh. In 2021, as discussions around police reform intensified nationally, the Boston City Council passed an ordinance restricting the Boston Police Department's use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and other crowd-control weapons. Campbell was among the councilors who supported the measure, which was subsequently signed by Acting Mayor Kim Janey.

2021 Mayoral Campaign

In September 2020, Campbell announced her candidacy for Mayor of Boston in the 2021 election, becoming one of the first candidates to formally enter the race. The race eventually became a crowded and competitive contest among several prominent candidates, including fellow City Councilors Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George, as well as Acting Mayor Kim Janey, who assumed the office after Marty Walsh was appointed United States Secretary of Labor by President Joe Biden.

Campbell's mayoral campaign emphasized themes of equity, opportunity, and accountability. She drew on her personal story of overcoming adversity in Boston's neighborhoods to argue that the city needed leadership with direct experience of the challenges faced by its most vulnerable residents. The Boston Globe editorial board endorsed Campbell for mayor, citing her policy proposals and personal narrative.

During the campaign, Campbell directed criticism at Acting Mayor Janey, citing what she described as missteps or inaction on major crises facing the city. The race was also shaped by the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19, which injected new urgency into discussions about public health policy among the candidates. Charter school policy also emerged as a campaign issue; an attack ad against Campbell referenced her past positions on charter schools, reviving the topic as a political flashpoint in the race.

In the September 2021 nonpartisan preliminary election, Campbell placed third, behind Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George, and was eliminated from the race. Wu went on to win the general election in November 2021.

Attorney General of Massachusetts (2023–present)

Following her departure from the Boston City Council in January 2022, Campbell announced her candidacy for Attorney General of Massachusetts in the 2022 election cycle. The seat had become open after incumbent Attorney General Maura Healey launched a successful campaign for Governor of Massachusetts.

Campbell's candidacy was historic: she became the first Black woman to qualify for ballot access for statewide office in the history of Massachusetts. She won the Democratic primary election by a substantial margin, securing the party's nomination. In the November 2022 general election, Campbell won by a large margin, and she was sworn in as the 45th Attorney General of Massachusetts on January 18, 2023. Her inauguration made her the first Black woman to hold the office of attorney general in Massachusetts and only the second Black person to serve in the role, following Edward Brooke, who held the position from 1963 to 1967.

Housing Enforcement

As attorney general, Campbell has pursued legal action to enforce state housing laws. In January 2026, her office filed lawsuits against nine Massachusetts communities for noncompliance with the MBTA Communities Act, a 2021 state law that requires municipalities served by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to zone for multifamily housing near transit stations. The enforcement action represented a significant use of the attorney general's authority to compel local compliance with state zoning mandates.

DiZoglio Audit Dispute

In February 2026, Campbell became involved in a high-profile legal dispute with Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio. DiZoglio had filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts seeking authority to audit the state legislature. Campbell's office moved to strike the lawsuit, arguing that the attorney general holds an exclusive "gatekeeper" role over cases brought directly to the state's highest court. Campbell's office filed a motion to intervene as a defendant in the case, contending that DiZoglio had bypassed the proper legal process by filing directly with the Supreme Judicial Court without the attorney general's permission.

The dispute raised questions about the separation of powers among Massachusetts constitutional officers and the scope of the auditor's authority to examine the operations of the legislature.

Social Media and Public Engagement

In February 2026, Campbell announced that she was leaving the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating that the platform "promotes hate, disinformation, and the exploitation of our kids." The decision drew attention in Massachusetts political circles and was covered by local media.

2026 Re-election

As of early 2026, Campbell is expected to seek re-election as attorney general. Reports have indicated that at least one Republican candidate has expressed interest in challenging her for the seat.

Personal Life

Andrea Campbell is married to Matthew Scheier. The couple has two children. Campbell has spoken publicly about the impact of her twin brother Andre's death while in state custody, describing it as a defining event that shaped her commitment to public service and government accountability. She has also discussed her family's broader experiences with the criminal justice system as a motivating factor in her career.

Campbell resides in Boston, Massachusetts.

Recognition

Campbell's election as attorney general in 2022 was a historic milestone in Massachusetts politics. She became the first Black woman elected to statewide office in the Commonwealth, a distinction that was noted by media outlets and political observers across the state and nationally. Her achievement broke a barrier in a state that, despite its reputation for progressive politics, had not previously elected a Black woman to any statewide constitutional office.

During her 2021 mayoral campaign, Campbell received the endorsement of The Boston Globe editorial board, which praised her policy proposals and her personal story of resilience.

Her tenure as president of the Boston City Council from 2018 to 2020 also marked a period of increased visibility, as she used the position to advocate for policy changes related to education, public safety, and governmental transparency.