Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley Easily Defeats Challenger Pastor Roy Owens

Massachusetts’ member of “The Squad” will remain in Washington.

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley fended off a challenger and won reelection on election night.

Pressley garnered 87.64% of the votes compared to Independent challenger Pastor Roy Owens’ 12.42%, as of shortly before 11 p.m. with 78.52% of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press.

In 2018, Pressley was elected, making her the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from the Massachusetts and has been involved in legislation to ensure fair compensation for low-wage workers, to support survivors of sexual assault and harassment and to fundamentally reimagine the criminal legal system.

Originally from Chicago, she moved to Boston and attended Boston University. She wasn’t able to graduate because she had to support her family after her mother lost her job.

Pressley became a household name as one of the four progressive Democrats known as the ‘squad’ when they came under attack from President Donald J. Trump. Pressley along with congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar make up the group.

Owens touts “traditional family values” and “common sense’ as the backbone of his campaign and said that Pressley’s policies are “destructive.” He specifically highlighted increases in the cost of homes, rent and taxes that are pushing the “poor and middle classes” out.