Simon runs for House seat of Gentile, who’s not running for reelection

Ravi Simon of Sudbury, longtime aide to Democratic State Rep. Carmine Gentile and chair of the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee, announced that he is running for State Representative in the 13th Middlesex District, following Gentile’s decision not to seek re-election in 2026. Gentile has endorsed Simon as his successor for the 13th Middlesex, which covers southwest Lincoln (Precinct 1), all of Sudbury, and parts of Concord, Wayland, and Marlborough.

“No one is better prepared than Ravi to take on the responsibilities of this office,” Gentile said. “He has an unmatched understanding of the district, a deep knowledge of the legislative process, and a strong grasp of policy. In Ravi, the district has the opportunity to elect a thoughtful, energetic leader who will be ready on day one.”

“For the last 11 years, Rep. Gentile has been the model of responsive, principled public service. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked closely with him for five of those years,” said Simon. “In that time, I have had the privilege of getting to know each of the communities in the 13th Middlesex District better. I’m running for State Representative to continue our work fighting for both the progressive values and needs of my home district.”

During his tenure with Gentile, Simon assisted constituents with issues ranging from housing and healthcare to unemployment and public benefits, according to a press release from Simon. He drafted and helped advance legislation and amendments including Gentile’s bills to establish a $20/hour minimum wage, allow same-day voter registration, make public higher education debt-free, and restrict unlawful deployments of the Massachusetts National Guard. 

Simon also helped secure millions of dollars in state funding for local projects across the district, including rail trails, the redevelopment of MCI-Concord, and the development of a new food pantry on the Sudbury-Wayland border, his release said. 

In addition to his State House experience, Simon has served for three years on the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee, including two years as chair, and he is running for reelection unopposed. During his tenure, the committee successfully onboarded a new superintendent, negotiated a teachers’ contract that increased educator pay without a Proposition 2½ override, and banned cellphones in classrooms. He also serves as co-chair of the Sudbury Democratic Town Committee and as a member of the Democratic State Committee.

Previously, Simon worked as public policy and communications associate for Providers’ Council, advocating on behalf of community-based nonprofits that serve seniors, children with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness.

Simon’s story is rooted in the immigrant experience. His father’s family fled Russia in the early 20th century while his mother immigrated from Sri Lanka and become an American citizen. His parents chose Sudbury to raise their family, and Ravi is a 2015 L-S graduate (he has a 2019 bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University in political science and government). If elected, he would be the first person of South Asian descent to serve in the Massachusetts legislature.

“My generation will live with the consequences of the choices we make right now,” Simon said. “I’m running because I don’t want us to look back and wish that we had done more to defend our democracy, make Massachusetts affordable, or save our climate and environment. Over the coming months, I look forward to listening closely to residents across the district about their own hopes and dreams for the future.”

For more information about Simon and his campaign, visit www.ravisimon.com.