Jeromie Whalen, a high school journalism teacher and progressive Democratic challenger aiming to unseat longtime Rep. Richard Neal in western Massachusetts, has a record that includes past legal incidents, according to police records. The campaign, which has gained national attention amid a wave of insurgent victories in primary contests, faces scrutiny over Whalen's history.
Whalen, 39, admitted to several run-ins with the law during his younger years, attributing them to "newfound independence and alcohol." He stated that these incidents led him to "shape up" and "grow up."
Among the disclosed incidents are a 2006 arrest in Osceola County, Florida, for misdemeanor battery. Whalen was accused of drunkenly assaulting a security guard at a hospital emergency room after resisting medical staff. He told The Post that he was refusing services and that prosecutors did not pursue the case. A mugshot from this arrest shows him grinning.
In 2009, Whalen was arrested for a noise violation at a house party in Amherst, Massachusetts. Police reports described him as "uncooperative and rude" when asked for a warrant to enter the premises where beer pong was being played. He received a $100 noise citation, and he stated that a judge subsequently dismissed the matter. His mugshot from this incident does not show him smiling.
A year later, at age 23, Whalen crashed his Mazda pickup truck into bushes near an Amherst home at approximately 4:07 a.m. Police files indicated the vehicle swerved off the road, narrowly missing a utility pole. Whalen initially stated he could not recall if he was under the influence at the time of the crash. However, he later confirmed in a Facebook post that he was arrested for driving under the influence, which resulted in the loss of his driver's license and mandatory classes.
Whalen is challenging Neal, 77, who has represented western Massachusetts since 1989 and is known as a centrist institutionalist. Whalen's platform includes support for single-payer healthcare, increased taxes on high earners, a $15 federal minimum wage, and ending military aid to Israel. He has also voiced concerns about privacy regarding license-plate scanners and advocates for reducing congressional spending to curb the national debt.
Whalen has received an endorsement from Our Revolution, a group associated with Sen. Bernie Sanders. He has criticized Neal's fundraising practices and stated that the incumbent "waited too long" and did not take his challenge seriously. Neal's campaign did not respond to a request for comment. The race is set to feature a local TV debate.
The contest occurs amid a trend of incumbents losing primaries to progressive or self-described socialist challengers. Several House Democrats have lost their seats in primaries this year, and a recent notable defeat was that of Alex Vindman in the Florida Senate primary to a candidate endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America.