Connor Murray
DemocraticQ2 What specific forms of AI regulation do you support, and where would you draw the line between necessary oversight and overregulation that could slow innovation?
Artificial intelligence holds real promise, but only when it is paired with responsible guardrails that adequately consider its impact on humanity and nature. Policymakers must carefully examine the potential for AI systems used in healthcare, employment, housing, education, or criminal justice to set society back, rather than drive it forward.
AI has already proven that it can serve the public interest, but leaders in our state government must recognize that we can keep Massachusetts at the cutting-edge of the technological frontier while simultaneously setting necessary regulations to protect civil rights. I support rules that protect peoples’ privacy, guard against discrimination, require transparency (especially in relation to automated decisions that affect people’s rights or livelihoods), and shut the door on malicious uses of AI like deepfakes built to mislead voters or commit fraud.
I also consider the detrimental environmental impact of large-load AI data centers. These facilities should be built and operated sustainably, in a way that does not negatively alter their host communities. However, just a few miles from my district, the largest data center in Massachusetts turned a once thriving Lowell neighborhood into a nightmare for its residents due to excessive noise, pollution, and utility costs. Those are pressing issues that must be resolved before we dedicate further taxpayer resources to the industry’s expansion.
We can be proud of technological innovations like artificial intelligence, while also recognizing and responding to their apparent drawbacks, and that’s exactly what I intend to do if elected to the state legislature.
Q3 What policies, if any, do you support or envision to manage land-based resources in your state (water, open-space preserves, parks, etc.)?
Our natural resources aren’t simply a backdrop to Massachusetts’ economy and public health; they are the very foundation upon which the Commonwealth is built. Our state budget and policies need to be written to protect clean drinking water, preserve open space, invest in our parks and forests, and restore the rivers, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems that give our communities a fighting chance against climate change. Good environmental policy is evidence-based, crafted with input from the affected communities, and implemented in a time-sensitive manner that reflects the urgency of the situation it is designed to address.
As a candidate running to represent communities along the Merrimack River watershed, I know firsthand the importance of safeguarding water quality and stopping pollution before it ever reaches our neighborhoods. I support strict enforcement of our environmental protections and mandates, and I believe in the principle that polluters - particularly large corporate polluters - should be held responsible for the damage they cause.
Conservation and economic growth aren’t opposing forces. In fact, they reinforce each other. Strategic investment in climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, clean energy, and outdoor recreation creates jobs and costs less over time in addition to protecting the natural resources our children and our children’s children will eventually inherit. It is vital that we make these investments now so we can guarantee a beautiful, healthy, and resilient Massachusetts for generations to come.
Q4 What policies do you support to secure affordable and ready access to healthcare services for your constituents?
Healthcare is a human right that should be accessible to everyone, no matter where they live or what they earn. I support expanding access to primary care, mental health services, reproductive and maternal care, and community health centers, and addressing workforce shortages head-on by investing in the physicians, nurses, EMTs, and health professionals who keep our healthcare system running.
Lowering healthcare costs means greater price transparency, cheaper prescription drugs, stronger public health infrastructure (such as air quality monitoring), and more preventive care, because stopping illness before it emerges is almost always cheaper than treating it after the fact. A healthier population translates directly to stronger families, stronger communities, and a stronger economy.
Massachusetts has led the nation in healthcare for many years, yet too many residents still put off care they need because of unreasonably high costs. In fact, approximately 40% of Massachusetts families reported struggling to pay for healthcare in 2025, and an eighth of Massachusetts residents are in medical debt. While I am proud of what this state has accomplished in the healthcare sector, I am incredibly disappointed that those resources are unattainable for so many of us. That is why I support Medicare for All in Massachusetts, which would reduce costs for families, small businesses, and municipalities alike, while simultaneously eliminating the administrative burden health insurance companies have placed on our state’s medical professionals. Everyone deserves timely, high-quality care, and we need to build a new system that puts patients over profit.
Q5 Do you have any policies or programs in mind to reduce the financial burden for students wanting to attend college?
Higher education should open doors, not block them behind a mountain of debt. I support increasing state investment in public colleges and universities, expanding need-based financial aid, and creating a pathway for in-state students to graduate college free of debt. The Commonwealth should also work to expand paid internships, apprenticeships, work-study, and employer partnerships so students can gain real experience without sacrificing financial stability, as well as opportunities to earn college credits during high school through dual-enrollment programs.
A student’s success depends on more than tuition; it depends on housing, transportation, childcare, and the everyday costs that too often derail a degree in progress. I will prioritize policies that reduce those expenses, such as fare-free and reliable public transit and capping childcare costs at the federally recognized affordability standard of 7% of household income.
The future of our workforce depends on making college attainable for students from every background. Investing in education strengthens our economy, fuels innovation, and creates opportunity that positively impacts entire communities. Education is a public investment that pays dividends for generations.
Q6 How will you support fellowships and training grants that promote the development of graduate students and other early career scientists in your community?
Graduate students and early-career researchers are the reason Massachusetts leads our country in science and innovation. I support expanding fellowships, research assistantships, and training grants so students can pursue their research without undue financial strain.
That support should come with mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real partnerships among universities, government agencies, and private industry, so we are providing students the kind of experience that turns scientific discovery into real-world solutions and strengthens our workforce along the way.
These opportunities should be within reach for students from every background and every institution across the Commonwealth, building a scientific community that reflects the people it serves. By investing in the next generation of scientists, Massachusetts can prioritize medical research, technological innovation, environmental protection, economic growth, and more, all at the same time. Support young researchers today, and Massachusetts stays what it has always been: a place discovery calls home.