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Presented by Transportation for Massachusetts
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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook will not publish on Monday, Feb. 17. I'll be back in your inbox on Tuesday, Feb. 18. In the meantime, you can always reach me at smurray@politico.com.
THEY'RE COMING OUR WAY — Now that the New Hampshire primary is behind us, presidential campaigns are staffing up in Massachusetts.
Super Tuesday is only a few weeks away , and there are 91 pledged delegates up for grabs in Massachusetts on March 3. Typically, Massachusetts doesn't get the attention on Super Tuesday that larger states do. That's because California has 416 delegates up for grabs, for example, and Texas has 228. But with so many candidates still in the race, the road to the nomination is quickly becoming a math equation for the Democratic hopefuls.
That means every delegate counts, even in a small state like Massachusetts. In 2016, Hillary Clinton only took one more delegate from here than Bernie Sanders did.
Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire who is skipping the early states, is building a Bay State army. Bloomberg has 56 staffers in Massachusetts, including 45 field operatives. Bloomberg opened offices in Brookline, Fall River, Lowell and Quincy yesterday, and opened a Springfield office on Tuesday. Bloomberg also dominates the Boston media market with television commercials and digital ads.
Four staffers for Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Ind., will start in Massachusetts on Monday. The staffers will work in "temporary work spaces," the campaign said. Buttigieg's campaign also has 17 "Students for Pete" chapters here.
Elizabeth Warren's campaign had a Massachusetts operation from the get-go, which has been led by state director and former Holyoke City Councilor Josie Valentin since February 2019. The Massachusetts team has 12 staffers, including seven organizers, an organizing director and a community organizing director, along with field offices in Cambridge and Northampton. The Warren campaign has made 159,546 phone calls to Massachusetts in the last five weeks.
And Joe Biden, who is hoping for a reboot after disappointing performances in Iowa and New Hampshire, opened an office in Quincy in December. Biden hired former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh aide John Laadt to run his Massachusetts operation in October.
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: CAMBRIDGE COUNCILORS BACK MARKEY — Six members of the Cambridge City Council are putting their support behind Sen. Ed Markey today. Councilors Dennis Carlone, Alanna Mallon, Marc McGovern, Patricia Nolan, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheel , and Quinton Zondervan are supporting Markey's reelection campaign against Rep. Joe Kennedy III.
EXCLUSIVE: LISS-RIORDAN WON'T RUN IN MA-04 — Shannon Liss-Riordan, the labor attorney who ended her primary challenge against Sen. Ed Markey in January, will not run for Congress. Liss-Riordan lives in Brookline, which is located in Rep. Joe Kennedy III's district. That means she could have shifted her political ambitions to the crowded race to fill Kennedy's seat, as he runs his own primary campaign to unseat Markey.
"Many have asked over the last weeks whether I plan to run for the Fourth Congressional seat being vacated by Congressman Kennedy. I'm honored and humbled by the suggestion that I run for this seat, but I will not be a candidate for this office," Liss-Riordan said in a statement to POLITICO.
"My focus right now continues to be on leveling the playing field for working people, through my work in the courts, and by electing progressive Democrats here in Massachusetts and across the country. Too much is at stake for any of us to take a break from the activism that this moment demands of all of us."
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: KAY KHAN BACKS GROSSMAN — State Rep. Kay Khan will endorse Newton City Councilor Becky Grossman today in the race to replace Rep. Joe Kennedy III. Khan is the second state representative to back Grossman, along with Rep. Ruth Balser. In a statement, Khan touted Grossman as a "fearless young mom" who will act in the best interest of children.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker is a guest on WGBH's "Boston Public Radio." Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announces Workforce Training Fund grants in Brockton. Polito highlights the state's RESPECTfully program in Bourne. Senate President Karen Spilka speaks at a rally in support of the Senate's mental health legislation. Rep. Joe Kennedy III and state Sen. Eric Lesser visit Springfield.
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A message from Transportation for Massachusetts:
Massachusetts is facing a transportation crisis. Roads, bridges, and transit statewide urgently need investment. The gas tax, which has increased by only 3 cents since 1991, is a proven, stable, and immediate solution to make our commutes better. Learn more. |
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "'Fear Campaign' Alleged in Vehicle Repair Battle," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service: "Opponents of a proposed ballot question that would require vehicle manufacturers to allow repair shops to access digital information are running a "fear campaign" by alleging that the suggested law would create privacy risks, consultant and former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said Wednesday. The proposal, which would update a 2013 law by mandating that vehicle owners and independent repair shops can access telematic data often held by manufacturers, has prompted significant debate about cybersecurity."
- "State Rep. Dan Cullinane of Dorchester won't seek reelection," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "State Rep. Dan Cullinane said Wednesday he will not run for reelection this fall, opening up a seat that represents diverse swaths of Dorchester, Mattapan and Milton. In a statement, the Democrat said that "taking a step back from the demands of public life at the conclusion of this term is the right decision for my young family," but added that the choice to recede from political life was "the hardest decision of my professional career." Cullinane was first elected to the House in a 2013 special election to fill the seat left vacant when Linda Forry won election to the Senate."
- "DiZoglio defends shift on immigrant license bill," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "SEN. DIANA DIZOGLIO is defending her decision to vote in favor of advancing a bill that would make driver's licenses available to undocumented immigrants, leaning on the support of police chiefs in her district in the face of sharp criticism from Republicans who accused her of flip-flopping from her 2014 campaign position. DiZoglio, a moderate Democrat from Methuen, said she was asked by the Major City Chiefs of Police Association to support moving the bill forward "to allow the conversation to continue through what will still be a very lengthy committee process."
- "Attleboro area senators say climate change legislation could empower cities, towns," by Devyani Chhetri, Sun Chronicle: "A majority of Massachusetts residents feel that climate change is a "serious problem" but few believe their region or neighborhood is fully prepared to tackle it, a new MassINC Polling Group survey revealed. Over 50 percent of the residents surveyed considered climate change to be a "high priority" for the state government and 56 percent wanted the state to act ahead of most other states. The results of the survey, conducted between last October and November, come on the heels of Gov. Charlie Baker's call to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and the state Senate's passage of a climate policy package ."
- "Galvin: Paper Ballots Instill Confidence," by Chris Van Buskirk, State House News Service: "Will Massachusetts ever move away from using paper ballots for elections? Maybe after Secretary of State William Galvin is gone. On the heels of embarrassing technical snafus during the Iowa Caucus, Galvin told the News Service that the state will not switch to a high-tech voting system anytime soon. Issues with a smartphone app created to help precincts report the results of the first-in-the-nation primary on Feb. 3 led to delays and confusion."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "Dirty Units, Unwilling Hosts, and Tardy Tours: What Bostonians' Brokers Fees Buy," by Alyssa Vaughn, Boston Magazine: "It's arguably the worst part of the hellish renting-in-Boston process: forking over four months' rent to cover the requisite first month, last month, security deposit, and broker's fee just to stake your claim to the too-old, fluorescent-lit, ugly-carpeted apartment you're hoping to call home. However, cash-strapped renters may soon find some respite—last week, New York ended broker's fees for tenants (though a judge recently put a temporary restraining order on the change), and Mayor Marty Walsh announced shortly afterward that he is assembling a group to study the fees in Boston, featuring "a wide range of stakeholders."
- "Progress Slows In Massachusetts: Death Rates Flat In Opioid Crisis," by Martha Bebinger, WBUR: "Overdose deaths tied to opioids dropped 3% in Massachusetts from 2016 to 2017 and another 2% from 2017 to 2018. But progress slowed last year. The state Department of Public Health says preliminary data shows virtually no change from 2018 to 2019 in the number of residents who overdosed and could not be revived. Examiners found fentanyl in 93% of these men and women, a new high. The slight dip in deaths since 2016 seems to track with the increased availability and use of naloxone, a drug that can reverse an opioid overdose."
- "Education Department opens investigation into foreign ties at Harvard and Yale," by Deirdre Fernandes, Boston Globe: "The US Department of Education has opened investigations into whether Harvard and Yale universities failed to properly report hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign gifts and contracts, signaling a widening probe by federal agencies into whether China, Russia, and other countries have gained inappropriate influence and access into American academia. Harvard and Yale received lengthy letters from the department on Monday requesting information about their foreign ties and funding, along with the safeguards they deploy to meet regulations."
- "Income-based parking tickets? Julia Mejia wants Boston to consider the idea." by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: "Depending on where you park, a parking ticket in Boston could set you back between $15 and $120. And don't forget about late fees. But there may be potential for another factor to determine what exactly a violation will cost you in the city of Boston: how much you make. City Councilor Julia Mejia is slated to introduce a hearing order Wednesday to have her fellow lawmakers discuss the concept of income-adjusted parking tickets."
- "Chinnaswamy, Republican Activist, Announces Write-In Campaign for Republican State Committee in Boston," Jamaica Plain Gazette: "Nicaela Chinnaswamy has announced her write-in campaign for Republican State Committee to represent the Second Suffolk district, including the neighborhoods of Mission Hill, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Mattapan, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Roslindale, and the South End. Nicaela Chinnaswamy, 27, is a Republican activist and homeowner living in Mission Hill. A graduate of Boston College, she is currently working at a Roxbury-based nonprofit dedicated to developing small businesses across the country."
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| PRIMARY SOURCES |
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- "Deval Patrick ends longshot presidential bid," by Caitlin Oprysko, POLITICO: "Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick ended his presidential bid Wednesday, exiting the Democratic primary after his late-start campaign failed to gain traction in New Hampshire's primary. Patrick, who only entered the presidential race last November, failed to crack one percent in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, finishing only ahead of fellow longshot candidate Sen. Michael Bennet. "The vote in New Hampshire last night was not enough for us to create the practical wind at the campaign's back to go on to the next round of voting," Patrick said in an email to supporters."
- "New Hampshire Voted. Now What? Here Are 6 Ideas To Consider," by Rich Parr and Steve Koczela, WBUR: "If the morass in Iowa froze the Democratic field for a week or so, the New Hampshire primary thawed it out a little. A top tier emerged as two Midwesterners surged, a few candidates fell off the back of the pack, and Massachusetts candidates struggled. Before the political world turns to the next states in line, here are a few takeaways from what we've seen so far."
- "The Party's Over: Now It's Time To Clean Up," by Isaiah Thompson, WGBH News: "By 1 am on primary night, the streets of Manchester, New Hampshire, finally began to settle down after a week of political frenzy. As the bars let out, the locals and political reporters made their way down the finally-quiet streets, the former still bearing buttons, their preferred candidate's banners now dangling by their side. One man holding a Bernie Sanders sign occasionally waved it up at traffic and received the occasional hoot in support. Around the corner, jubilant Sanders supporters, presumably ushered out of a closing bar, were singing "Solidarity Forever." But that was about it."
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "Juul Bought Ads On Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, And Other Kids Websites, A New Lawsuit Claims," by Dan Vergano and Stephanie M. Lee, BuzzFeed News: "Juul has long said that its nicotine vaping devices are meant for adult smokers, not adolescents. But internal company documents show that the e-cigarette giant's early advertising campaigns explicitly targeted young people, helping spark the nationwide teen vaping crisis, the Massachusetts attorney general alleged in a lawsuit filed against the company Wednesday. "Juul knew it was selling to kids," Attorney General Maura Healey said at a news conference. "They plastered the internet."
- SHOT: "Judge tosses convictions of two former aides to Mayor Walsh in Boston Calling case," by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: ""A federal judge on Wednesday tossed the criminal convictions of two City Hall aides, a legal vindication for them and a political victory for Mayor Martin J. Walsh in a case that has shadowed the administration for four years. US District Judge Leo T. Sorokin overturned the jury verdicts from August that found former aides Ken Brissette and Tim Sullivan guilty of extorting union jobs from organizers of the Boston Calling music festival, under the threat of losing lucrative permits. The judge, who had signaled misgivings about the case long before it went to trial, instead entered verdicts of not guilty."
- CHASER: "A 'slap in the face' to federal prosecutors? Specialists weigh in on Boston Calling decision," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: ""Some legal experts said a federal judge's order vacating a jury's decision that found two former City Hall aides guilty of conspiring to extort organizers of the Boston Calling music festival is an unusual development that represents a repudiation of the prosecution's handling of the case. Martin G. Weinberg, a Boston-based defense attorney who was not connected to the case, said judges typically find it "difficult to vacate jury verdicts after trial, but the evidence was conclusively determined to be outside the scope of the federal extortion statute." He called federal Judge Leo T. Sorokin's order "a principled and courageous decision."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "Can Warren count on Massachusetts on Super Tuesday?" by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Senator Elizabeth Warren has been elected twice statewide here. Local committee leaders have rallied in support of her presidential run. No campaign, Massachusetts party officials say, has a bigger presence in her home state. But Massachusetts Democrats are still bracing for drama on Super Tuesday, when voters in 14 states — including Warren's own — will distribute one-third of the total delegates to a still-nebulous field of candidates."
- "Warren's campaign at a crossroads as once-rising star confronts disappointing finishes," by Annie Linskey, Washington Post: "Sen. Elizabeth Warren started her campaign with a big gamble: She'd build a huge organization in Iowa that would power her to victory there, propelling her to a win in New Hampshire and giving her unstoppable momentum to the Democratic nomination. Disappointing finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire now suggest the gamble has failed. And the rapidly shifting landscape has left the reeling Warren campaign with one more last-ditch bet: that in a party increasingly divided between democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders and centrists like Pete Buttigieg, she can pitch herself as the one person to bring the sides together."
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| TWEET OF THE DAY |
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| IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
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- "Massachusetts has 3rd highest number of deaths from out-of-state air pollution, study finds," by Caroline Enos, Boston Globe: "Pollution from other states causes more air quality-related deaths in Massachusetts than almost any other state in the country, according to a new study from researchers at MIT. The study tracked emissions of air-polluting compounds in all 48 contiguous states, researchers said. They found that half of the air pollution generated inside a state is carried by wind into other states. Researchers said this increased the risk of early death for people no matter how clean their own state is."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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— Herald: "NO LEFT TURN," — Globe: "Judge tosses aides' convictions"; "Dems face long, twisted path to nominee"; "No home-state path expected for Warren." |
| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "'Planets have aligned' for Worcester: How city's economic growth can combat inequality, highlight education," by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: "For more than an hour at an economic forum in Worcester, graphs with jagged lines mimicked EKGs depicting the current life of the economy nationally and at a state level. Percentage points absorbed every aspect of the discussion. Projections for 2020 and beyond carried the conversation. Among all the statistics and data points, two numbers created pause within the Worcester Business Journal's Economic Forecast forum at the Beechwood Hotel."
TRANSITIONS - Brian J. MacDonough was appointed chair of the employment department at Sherin and Lodgen LLP.
SPOTTED: Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Katherine Clark and Lori Trahan at Emilie's in Washington, D.C. Pic.
ALSO SPOTTED: Gov. Charlie Baker on the White House Instagram account. Insta pic.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Joshua Solomon and Jamie Cushman.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Bruins beat the Canadiens 4-1.
FOR YOUR COMMUTE: NEIGHBORING STATES - On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Steve Koczela and Stephanie Murray break down the New Hampshire primary results. Eugenia Gibbons, Policy Director for the Green Energy Consumers Alliance, talks about the state's net-zero energy goals. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.
Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
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A message from Transportation for Massachusetts:
In every corner of the Commonwealth, people are frustrated with our transportation system. From potholed and congested roads, to delayed trains, to regional transit buses that don't run on the weekends, transportation is holding back our economy, hurting our quality of life, and polluting our air. The gas tax must be part of the solution. Each one-penny increase in the gas tax raises $30 million per year for transportation improvements statewide, including an increase to Chapter 90 local road repairs, dedicated funding for Regional Transit Authorities, and upgrades to the MBTA. Learn more. |
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