The Not-So-Improbable Rise of Justin Thurber, Massachusetts newest State Representative

I met with Justin Thurber two weeks after the November 5th election. When we talked on the phone to set up our meeting, I asked him how things had been since winning his race. The State Representative-elect told me that he had been meeting with many people since his big win.

“Let’s just say I’ve had a lot of cups of coffee these past few weeks” Thurber laughed.

I took the hint and invited him to meet me for lunch at Fiesta, the Mexican restaurant in Somerset where we both reside. Thurber blended in with all the other patrons, wearing khaki pants and a Liberty University hoodie, a favorite I’ve seen him wear many times before. Both his son and daughter attend the school and Thurber’s pride shows.

We set up at a table in the front of the dining room and a waiter came over to take our drink order. I ordered a Shirley Temple and Thurber ordered a root beer.

The 50-year-old married father of three doesn’t drink alcohol, a promise he made to himself when he was a teenager and one he hopes his children follow.

“I spoke to each of my kids about making that decision, making a promise to themselves to not drink. My wife used to drink years ago but she no longer does either.”

I’ve known Justin Thurber just over two years. I hadn’t heard his name before the summer of 2022 when a neighbor of mine told me the Republican Thurber was thinking of running for the 5th Bristol seat. Several months later, I was at a sign holding event in Fall River for then Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson when I first met Justin, who once again blended in with the crowd holding signs. He told me he was running against Democrat Pat Haddad, plain and simple, no differently than he would say he was going to run to Home Depot to grab a box of nails.

“I’m running” he said with a grin.

Thurber launched a write-in campaign and made the general election ballot that November but lost to Haddad. Despite the loss, election results shocked those of us who were paying attention. Thurber won over 46% of the vote to Haddad’s 54%, coming within 1,400 votes of claiming the seat. With almost no name recognition and no money, Thurber’s ground game and more importantly, I think, his personality, won over voters.

Haddad, who at the time was a 22-year incumbent, had never faced a challenger for the seat since her initial win in 2000. A former gym teacher in the Somerset public school district, she went on to serve on the Somerset school committee and parlayed that into over two decades leading the 5th Bristol. Haddad was entrenched in local and state politics and either everyone thought she was doing a great job or no one thought they could beat her in an election. Everyone except Thurber.

With the support of his family, Thurber decided early on that he was going to run a second time against Haddad. Presidential election years are usually not favorable for Republican candidates in Massachusetts, with droves of Democratic voters heading to the polls every four years cultivating down-ballot massacres across the state. I doubt Thurber ever factored that into his decision to run, to be honest. He has a wholesome, optimistic outlook on life, one he tells me most people notice about him.

“At work, everyone says I see the glass as half full and I really do” he says.

Work for Thurber was at a small family-owned business in neighboring Fall River. Thurber joined the company just under two years ago, essentially keeping the business from closing it’s doors. He worked mostly full-time throughout his campaign, balancing his blue-collar job obligations with his door knocking and sign holdings, a surprising loyalty for a place he had only worked for a year or so.

“They need me there. I was able to turn the business around and keep it going. Without me, I’m not sure of it’s future.”

Thurber says that once he takes office in January, he will continue to help the company stay afloat.

“There are many members of one family that depend on that business. I feel terrible I won’t be there full time.”

Thurber’s other full-time job during this campaign was calling out Haddad on her voting record. His website detailed what the incumbent voted for, including increasing the statewide gas tax 5 cents, removing immigration status as a barrier to obtaining a driver’s license and giving an average 40% pay raise to public officials.

He often spoke about Haddad voting no to giving Veterans housing preferences over migrants, an issue close to home for Thurber, an Air Force Veteran. Thurber says he sent multiple requests to Haddad to debate those issues, but Haddad never responded. When she refused multiple offers to debate, Thurber had signs printed up that read: “Haddad Refused to Debate. Ask Yourself Why.”

As our meals arrived, we talked about the debate that never happened.

“If she had debated me, I bet there would have been some wins in it for her. She is an experienced politician and I’m not.” Thurber did give credit to Haddad for some of her work through the years, but he said she forgot a long time ago that the seat didn’t belong to her.

“It’s the people’s seat. Not mine. The 5th Bristol State Representative seat belongs to the people of Somerset, Swansea, Dighton and Taunton. Not me.”

Part of ensuring those people are properly represented is connecting with residents and listening to their concerns. Thurber said he has had a full schedule of meetings since election night, most recently meeting with all the police chiefs from his district together just this week.

“I love to listen to people. I will always listen and think over what people are suggesting. As a Chief in the Air Force, it was a big part of my job.”

Thurber says that when he ran back in 2022, he did not include his Veteran status on his lawn signs but he listened to his campaign team and this time around included his service on his campaign materials. Even in an article that we had previously posted about Thurber, we used a photo of him in his uniform and he asked that we change it. He never wanted anyone to think he was exploiting his service for votes. I changed the photo but urged him to get a professional headshot taken that could be used in the press but Thurber never made it a priority.

“Just use any old picture, that’s fine” he told me.

Despite not wanting to advertise his Veteran status, Thurber tells me that one of his personal goals is to inspire other Veterans to get involved in politics and run for office.

“I think our Veterans are the perfect people to run and serve in elected office. It just makes sense.”

We swapped parenting stories as our lunch approached the two hour mark, talking about how important it is for children to face a little adversity to build a good work ethic. He laughed the whole way through telling me what kind of a soccer coach he was when his kids were little, taking pride in his tough “no crying in sports” approach that parents always appreciated.

Thurber’s secret weapon is that he looks too happy to be a politician. He is often smiling and laughing, dressed for comfort and looking relaxed. This past October, he entered and won an apple pie baking contest at the local farmers market, his smile radiating in the local paper after his culinary win.

But the demeanor can be deceiving. Listening to him speak at a campaign event earlier this year, Thurber told the story of how both he and his wife lost their jobs, at the same time, for refusing to get mandated COVID vaccinations. His wife Kerri, a schoolteacher, was one of only three Rhode Island teachers that were fired from their jobs for not getting vaccinated. Thurber himself was forced to retire after 29 years in the Air Force for not getting the vaccine. Busy keeping their family above water, the Thurber’s didn’t look like a force to be reckoned with, but the signs were there.

Kerri went on to sue the school district she was fired from, reaching a settlement that reinstated her as a teacher and paid her $150,000 in lost wages. Thurber found his own path to vindication: winning the race to be the next State Representative of the 5th Bristol District.

Lunch is over but Justin and I are still talking. He’s been speaking with people in Boston about his swearing in, which will take place on New Year’s Day and how someone suggested that his office at the statehouse will most likely be “a small one in the basement somewhere” a notion that Thurber actually prefers.

“I would have no problem with a basement office at the statehouse. I like the idea of being unseen” he smirks.