Sen. Elizabeth Warren is throwing her political weight behind Rachael Rollins in the race to be Suffolk County’s next district attorney.

In a press release Tuesday, the Massachusetts Democrat and potential 2020 presidential candidate officially endorsed Rollins, whose progressive reform platform has earned national attention (as well as criticism).

“Rachael has the experience, dedication, and drive to lead Suffolk County in the direction of equal justice for all – including those dealing with poverty, addiction, and mental illness,” Warren said in a statement.

Rollins, a 47-year-old former lawyer for the MBTA and Massport, became the first black woman to win the Democratic nomination for Suffolk district attorney last month following a crowded primary race. She will face independent candidate Michael Maloney, a 38-year-old defense attorney, in the Nov. 6 general election for the Boston-based position.


If elected, Rollins says she would improve the criminal justice system by focusing on “equity and justice” and prioritizing the prosecution of violent crimes over more minor offenses. Some of her proposed reforms include eliminating cash bail and most mandatory minimums, as well as declining to prosecute a list of petty crimes in the majority of cases. The latter proposal has raised alarms from Maloney, police unions, and conservative media, but Rollins says it would simply codify a policy shift that has already taken hold, both locally and nationally.

Rollins said Tuesday she was “inspired and grateful” for the endorsement of Warren, who she called “a fierce advocate for the working-class” and “a voice to the voiceless.” The Bay State senator, who is running for a second term, will also be on the ballot this November.

“Together we will fight to make our criminal justice system fairer for everyone,” Rollins said.