Another possible candidate for Seth Moulton’s seat: Angus McQuilken

Angus McQuilken

As Massachusetts US Representative Seth Moulton travels the country exploring a run for the Democratic presidential nomination, back home in his district more people continue to explore running for his seat.

Now joining the list of Democrats exploring a run in the state’s Sixth Congressional District is Angus McQuilken, a longtime activist against gun violence who is now involved with the life sciences industry.

McQuilken, 49, said he will continue to speak at local Democratic committees over the course of the summer to gauge whether to take the next step, filing paperwork allowing him to raise money. He recently addressed Democrats in Wakefield, Reading, Danvers, Ipswich, and his hometown of Topsfield.

On most issues — like gun violence and improving health care and transportation in the district — McQuilken doesn’t diverge much at all from Moulton, who has signaled he would run for reelection if he isn’t the presidential nominee.

But McQuilken says he is driven less to challenge Moulton than he is to address his “frustration” that Washington isn’t acting quickly enough to address major issues.

“I am frustrated with Washington. I like Seth Moulton,” McQuilken said in an interview. “I am not announcing that I am considering a primary challenge against Seth Moulton. I am considering running for the seat and we’ll see who else decides to run.”

That said, he said he disagreed with Moulton’s high-profile challenge to deny Nancy Pelosi another term as speaker last fall, calling it “not on the right track.”

McQuilken joins a growing list of potential primary challengers to Moulton, who won a third term in November. Among those pondering a run are former US Representative John Tierney, former state senator Barbara L’Italien of Andover, and state Representative Lori Ehrlich of Marblehead.