History of Alex Morse in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: November 28, 2024

Alex Benjamin Morse is an American politician notable for being the 44th mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts, serving from 2012 to 2021. A Democrat, Morse made history by becoming the youngest mayor of Holyoke at the age of 22. Demonstrating considerable political acumen, he was reelected three times, ultimately serving nearly a decade. Under his leadership, Holyoke experienced various developments and changes. In March 2021, Morse resigned from his mayoral position to take on a new role as the town manager of Provincetown, Massachusetts, starting in April 2021. His career reflects a successful trajectory in local governance, marked by youthful ambition and progressive leadership. Morse's transition to Provincetown signifies his continued commitment to public service and local government management.

January 29, 1989: Birth of Alex Morse

Alex Benjamin Morse was born on January 29, 1989, in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He is the youngest of three children of Tracey and Ingrid Morse (née Powell).

2001: Joined Holyoke Youth Commission

In 2001, at the age of 12, Alex Morse joined the Holyoke Youth Commission, showing an early interest in politics and advising city leaders on youth issues.

2010: Campaign Training and Fundraising

In 2010, Alex Morse attended a workshop hosted by Wellstone Action in New York City, where he began training and quiet fundraising for his future mayoral campaign.

January 2011: Mayoral Campaign Announcement

In January 2011, Alex Morse announced his candidacy for Mayor of Holyoke during his final semester at Brown University, following campaign training and fundraising efforts.

2011: Campaign Against Casino Development

During his 2011 mayoral campaign, Alex Morse opposed plans for a casino in Holyoke, contrasting with the then-mayor's support for such plans.

2011: Elected Youngest and First Openly Gay Mayor

In 2011, Alex Morse was elected as the youngest and first openly gay Mayor of Holyoke at the age of 22, gaining national attention.

2011: Graduation from Brown University

In spring 2011, Alex Morse graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts in urban studies, marking an important educational milestone.

October 2012: Opposition to Casino Development

In October 2012, Alex Morse publicly opposed casino development in Holyoke, advocating for alternative economic development strategies.

November 26, 2012: Announcement to Support Casino Development

On November 26, 2012, Alex Morse announced plans to support casino development in Holyoke, collaborating with local businesses, but later reversed his decision due to community backlash.

December 2012: Reversal on Casino Development Support

By December 2012, Alex Morse reversed his decision to support casino development in Holyoke, citing strong opposition from the community.

2012: Elected Mayor of Holyoke

In 2012, Alex Morse was elected as the Mayor of Holyoke, becoming the youngest person to hold this position at the age of 22.

2012: Recognition by Out magazine

In 2012, Alex Morse was ranked #9 in Out magazine's list of 100 most eligible bachelors. Morse expressed gratitude for the recognition, highlighting Holyoke's mention in national publications.

2013: Continued recognition by Out magazine

In 2013, Alex Morse was ranked #66 in Out magazine's list of 100 most eligible bachelors, following his previous year's recognition. Morse appreciated the positive exposure for Holyoke.

2013: Reelection as Mayor of Holyoke

In 2013, Alex Morse was reelected as the Mayor of Holyoke, continuing his leadership in the city.

November 19, 2014: Executive order on federal civil detainer requests

On November 19, 2014, Alex Morse issued an executive order to the Holyoke Police Department, directing them not to enforce federal civil detainer requests for holding immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally beyond their usual release point. This policy, initiated during his tenure, excluded individuals registered as sex offenders, with previous indictments or convictions, or outstanding warrants.

2014: Lecturer position at UMass Amherst

In 2014, Alex Morse began his role as a lecturer of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a position he held until 2019.

2014: Settlement Agreement Controversy

In 2014, Alex Morse faced criticism for a $45,000 settlement agreement with a city solicitor, which he justified as a cost-saving measure against potential legal expenses.

2015: Third Term as Mayor of Holyoke

In 2015, Alex Morse was again reelected as Mayor of Holyoke, solidifying his position and leadership in the city.

2015: Mayoral Term Extension

In 2015, Holyoke's mayoral term was extended from two years to four, with Alex Morse being reelected to serve the first four-year term starting in 2017.

2015: Opposition to State Receivership

In 2015, as chair of the Holyoke School Committee, Alex Morse opposed state receivership of local schools, advocating for local control and later supporting state initiatives due to improvements.

August 1, 2016: Public Endorsement for Cannabis Legalization

On August 1, 2016, Alex Morse publicly endorsed the legalization of cannabis, becoming the first Massachusetts mayor to do so.

2016: Endorsement for Cannabis Legalization

In 2016, Alex Morse became the first incumbent mayor in Massachusetts to endorse the legalization of cannabis, supporting a ballot initiative for this cause.

2016: Completed Program at Harvard

In 2016, Alex Morse completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow.

2017: First Four-Year Term as Mayor

In 2017, Alex Morse became the first Mayor of Holyoke to serve a four-year term following the extension of the mayoral term.

2017: Endorsements in Mayoral Reelection

In 2017, Alex Morse received endorsements from the Pioneer Valley AFL–CIO and the New England Regional Council of Carpenters Local 108 for his reelection campaign as Holyoke's mayor.

2017: Vetoed Moratorium on Recreational Marijuana

In 2017, Alex Morse vetoed a city council moratorium on recreational marijuana retailers, promoting investment in cannabis cultivation in Holyoke.

2017: Reaffirmation of sanctuary city policy

In 2017, following a threat from the Trump administration to defund sanctuary cities, Alex Morse reaffirmed the policy of not enforcing federal immigration requests in Holyoke. He noted that this policy did not affect Holyoke's largest Latino group, the Puerto Rican community, who are American citizens.

2017: No Confidence Vote by Firefighters

In 2017, the local firefighters' union expressed a vote of no confidence in Alex Morse due to safety concerns about fire department operations, which he disputed.

2018: Cannabis Industry Development in Holyoke

By mid-2018, a $10 million cannabis cultivation facility opened in Holyoke, part of Alex Morse's efforts to promote the industry. The city saw significant investment in cannabis facilities, including a large sale to Trulieve.

2018: Response to City Auditor's Resignation

In 2018, after the resignation of Holyoke's city auditor and suggestions of financial mismanagement, state auditor Suzanne Bump found no grounds for a state audit, and Morse called for changes in financial oversight.

June 22, 2019: Announcement of U.S. House candidacy

On June 22, 2019, Alex Morse announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives, challenging incumbent Democrat Richard Neal for Massachusetts's 1st congressional district. Despite endorsements from groups like the Justice Democrats and the Sunrise Movement, Morse was defeated by Neal by around 17 percentage points.

2019: End of lecturer role at UMass Amherst

In 2019, Alex Morse concluded his tenure as a lecturer of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, having started in 2014.

2019: Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition

In 2019, Alex Morse was named in Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Law & Policy, recognized for his initiatives such as providing refuge to Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria and promoting legal marijuana businesses.

April 2020: Anonymous contact regarding allegations

In April 2020, Business Insider journalist Grace Panetta reported that she was contacted anonymously with vague allegations against Alex Morse. This was later linked to the same individuals in chat logs acquired by The Intercept, suggesting an organized effort against Morse.

August 12, 2020: Publication of alleged smear campaign

On August 12, 2020, The Intercept published an article that revealed a coordinated effort by the UMass Amherst College Democrats to implicate Alex Morse in a scandal, allegedly to support Richard Neal. The publication of chat logs suggested a planned sting operation, though both Neal's campaign and the College Democrats denied involvement.

August 2020: Smear campaign allegations

In August 2020, the College Democrats of Massachusetts accused Alex Morse of using his position for romantic or sexual gain, which Morse and Out magazine labeled a smear campaign. The accusations involved Morse contacting students of legal age through dating apps. This led to a withdrawal of some endorsements, while others, like the Justice Democrats, continued to support him.

August 16, 2020: Sunrise Movement resumes support for Morse

On August 16, 2020, the Sunrise Movement resumed its support for Alex Morse following the controversy surrounding allegations against him. This decision was influenced by the recognition of the situation as orchestrated political attacks targeting Morse's sexuality.

September 2020: Primary Election Loss

In September 2020, Alex Morse ran for the 1st congressional district in Massachusetts but lost the primary election to the incumbent, Richard Neal.

December 1, 2020: Announcement of Not Seeking Reelection

On December 1, 2020, Alex Morse announced that he would not seek reelection as Mayor of Holyoke in the following year.

March 26, 2021: Resignation as Mayor of Holyoke

On March 26, 2021, Alex Morse resigned from his position as the Mayor of Holyoke to accept a new role as the town manager of Provincetown, Massachusetts.