Over the weekend, an outside political organization dropped a misleading campaign mailer into local mailboxes. The piece—currently under review by the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) for campaign finance disclosure violations—attempts to distort public records to create connections that simply do not exist.

As a candidate committed to transparency, integrity, and local leadership, Steve Medeiros believes in laying out the complete facts so voters in Dartmouth and New Bedford can see the full story—not a slanted, cherry-picked snippet from outside special interests.

1. The Contribution Record: Facts Over Slanted Spin

The attack mailer attempts to twist campaign finance reporting. Here is what Steve’s actual donation history reveals:

Longstanding support for Massachusetts Democrats: Including Senator Michael Rodrigues, Rep. Chris Markey, Rep. Tony Cabral, Rep. Mark Sylvia, Rep. Dennis Gallagher, Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, Rep. Jim Arciero, and more.

Consistently backing Democrats in Congress: Including Congressman Bill Keating, Congresswoman Katherine Clark, Congressman Richie Neal, Congressman Chris Pappas, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and 11 other Democratic members of Congress.

Prioritizing Massachusetts Representation: Steve’s primary focus has always been supporting strong representation for Massachusetts, ensuring local concerns are heard at the national level.

Principled Bipartisanship: The rare contributions Steve made across the aisle went exclusively to moderate members of the federal Problem Solvers Caucus—bipartisan leaders committed to breaking national gridlock, stopping political extremism, and getting real work done for working families.

100% Focused on Homeownership: Steve’s PAC contributions have gone exclusively to real estate organizations dedicated to expanding starter home opportunities, protecting private property rights, and helping local families afford their first home. Steve has never given to a non-real-estate PAC.

2. Grassroots Community Support vs. Special Interest Funding

Campaign finance reports filed with the State of Massachusetts through the end of July 2026 show a stark contrast between Steve’s grassroots campaign momentum and his opponent’s backing:

Campaign Contribution Comparison (Through July 31, 2026) 

What These Numbers Prove:

Broad Grassroots Momentum: Steve has out-raised his opponent by nearly 2-to-1 ($38,274.78 vs. $19,808.04). This lead is driven by having 229 unique contributors compared to Ed’s 143.

In-District Local Dominance: Nearly half of all funds raised by Steve—49.6% ($18,975.00 from local contributions)—come directly from residents living right here in Dartmouth and New Bedford Ward 1, compared to $9,206.23 from his opponent.

Accessible, Community-Scale Giving: The average contribution per unique donor is close ($167.14 vs. $138.52), proving that Steve’s financial edge comes from widespread enthusiasm across working families, not high-dollar corporate bundles.

Independent Policy Stances That Put Communities First:

Steve has repeatedly proven his independence by taking stances based on what is right for local families, even when it means breaking with industry orthodoxies:

Standing Up to Chapter 40B Mandates: Unlike typical real estate industry platforms, Steve has openly spoken out against Chapter 40B. He has called for the law to be updated and revised so that local municipal boards retain decision-making control and local infrastructure is protected—demonstrating that his top priority is standing up for our local towns, not real estate developers.

A Balanced, Open-Minded Approach to Rent Control: Steve deeply understands the immense financial challenges that local renters are facing across the South Coast. While he emphasizes that rigid, blanket rent control legislation acts as a temporary “band-aid” that can inadvertently discourage new construction and hurt overall housing availability, he is not dogmatically opposed to rent stabilization concepts. Steve is open to sensible solutions that protect tenants from price-gouging, with the critical caveat that any measure must not deter development or the creation of new housing. Steve remains open to policies that address both issues simultaneously, but maintains that the ultimate priority must be building enough housing units to solve Massachusetts’ supply crisis.

Steve Medeiros is beholden to no one except the residents of Dartmouth and New Bedford. When Steve arrives on Beacon Hill, his votes will be guided solely by what is best for local working families, seniors, public safety, and our schools—not by outside special interest groups.

Watch Steve’s Direct Video Response

Steve recorded a direct, personal video addressing the attack mailer, sharing his perspective on bipartisan problem-solving, and outlining his positive vision for our community’s golden opportunities:

Watch Steve’s Video Response on Facebook

Join Our Positive Movement

We refuse to let outside dark-money groups drag our community into negative attack politics. If you believe in transparent, independent, and local-first representation, stand with us:

Get Involved: Sign up to volunteer, request a lawn sign, or join our canvassing team by clicking here.