Politico Massachusetts Playbook: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: WARREN would accept VP offer — Lawmakers reach deal to BLOCK evictions — Court to hear BALLOT ACCESS suit — Loans are ’NIGHTMARE’ for small biz

By Stephanie Murray

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. THE #MAPOLI MONEY ROUNDUP — Newly-released campaign finance reports offer a glimpse into the financial health of campaigns across the state. Reports cover the first quarter of the year, which began in January and ended March 31. The bulk of fundraising happened before the coronavirus pandemic swept the country, meaning we'll have to wait until next quarter to see how the economic downturn truly impacts campaign fundraising. The Markey-Kennedy match-up: Rep. Joe Kennedy III holds a financial advantage over Sen. Ed Markey in their primary contest. Kennedy has $6.2 million in cash on hand, according to his report. He raised close to $2 million and spent around $1.3 million. Markey spent about as much as Kennedy - $1.3 million - but only took in $1.2 million, according to his FEC filing. Markey has $4.4 million in cash on hand, about $1.8 million less than Kennedy. The Deval Patrick super PAC: The Reason to Believe PAC that spent millions on television ads for former Gov. Deval Patrick's presidential campaign reported raising more than $2.7 million in the first quarter of the year. About $2 million of that total came from Shade Tree Advisors, LLC. Vertex Pharmaceuticals founder Joshua Boger gave $500,000 and Suffolk Construction Company CEO John Fish gave $100,000. The PAC spent $2.3 million on television advertising and around $49,000 on media production. Patrick dropped out of the primary in February after receiving just 1,266 votes in the New Hampshire primary. House incumbents hold an advantage: Primary challengers face a steep climb - incumbent lawmakers packed their campaign accounts in the first three months of 2020. Rep. Richard Neal has a war chest more than 30 times the size of his Democratic challenger, Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse. Neal has $4.5 million in cash on hand, raised $470,000 this quarter and spent $424,000. Morse has $140,000 in cash on hand, raised $179,000 and spent $159,000. Rep. Seth Moulton holds a significant lead over his primary opponents. Moulton raised $105,500 last quarter and has nearly $411,000 in cash on hand. Democratic challenger Jamie Belsito raised $7,600 and reported $17,368 in cash on hand. Challenger Angus McQuilken raised $26,000 and has $31,000 in cash on hand. The same is true for Rep. Stephen Lynch. Dr. Robbie Goldstein, a Democrat challenging Lynch, raised $44,000, spent $84,000 and has $36,500 in cash on hand. Lynch's other Democratic opponent, Brianna Wu, reported raising $55,000 and has $31,000 in cash on hand. By comparison, Lynch reported $1.5 million in his war chest at the end of the first quarter. The race to replace Kennedy: Fundraising numbers for the nearly dozen candidates running to replace Kennedy in the House have been trickling in all month. Collectively, the crowded field of candidates raised roughly $1.56 million this quarter. That figure is based on fundraising data that was available from nine of the 11 candidates in the race. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: DELEGATION WANTS VOTE BY MAIL — Members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation will hold a virtual press conference at 1 p.m. today to urge the legislature to pass a vote by mail bill for the 2020 election. Lawmakers on the Zoom call will include Reps. Joe Kennedy III, Ayanna Pressley, Katherine Clark and Jim McGovern, according to Kennedy's office. The advocacy groups Common Cause, Mass VOTES and Voter Protection Corps will also be part of the press conference. Beacon Hill lawmakers have filed several vote by mail proposals in recent week, and Kennedy wrote a letter to legislators over the weekend. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Sen. Ed Markey and Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi host a livestream. Dr. Ashish Jha of the Harvard Global Health Institute is a guest on tele-town halls hosted by Rep. Lori Trahan and congressional candidate Jake Auchincloss. Rep. Joe Kennedy III hosts a livestream. The Senate Revenue Working Group holds a virtual meeting. The Supreme Judicial Court hears arguments in a ballot access lawsuit brought by several Massachusetts campaigns. Rep. Katherine Clark holds a tele-town hall with Dr. Claire McCarthy of Boston Children's Hospital and Dr. Brent Forester of McClean Hospital's Center of Excellence in Geriatric Psychiatry.

DON'T MISS TOMORROW'S VIRTUAL CONVERSATION FEATURING RON KLAIN: Join POLITICO chief Washington correspondent Ryan Lizza tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. for a virtual conversation with Ron Klain, an adviser to Joe Biden's presidential campaign and former Ebola Czar in the Obama administration. Klain will unpack the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic, and discuss whether lessons learned from the fight against Ebola have been applied to the Covid-19 crisis. Were warnings ignored? What do we need to prepare for in the weeks and months ahead? Join to find out. Have a question? Tweet it to @POLITICOLive using #AskPOLITICO. REGISTER HERE TO PARTICIPATE.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

- "Mass. coronavirus deaths pass 1,000," by Martin Finucane, Travis Andersen and Jaclyn Reiss, Boston Globe: "Surging past a grim milestone, the total number of coronavirus deaths in Massachusetts climbed over 1,000 on Wednesday, less than four weeks after the first death was reported. The state reported 151 new fatalities, bringing the total death count to 1,108. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases climbed by 1,755 to 29,918."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

- "Mass. lawmakers reach deal to block nearly all evictions during coronavirus crisis," by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: "Lawmakers on Beacon Hill have agreed to a measure that would block nearly all evictions in Massachusetts during the coronavirus crisis, and could vote on it as soon as Thursday. A committee of House and Senate lawmakers said Wednesday that it has come to terms on a compromise version of the bill, which would prohibit landlords from filing eviction cases against renters or small businesses, and banks from foreclosing on mortgage-holders, as long as Massachusetts remains in a state of emergency." - RELATED: "Lawmakers seek possible protections for landlords," by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Daily Times: With lawmakers offering protections for homeowners and renters facing foreclosure and eviction during the COVID-19 outbreak, some are also looking to throw a lifeline to landlords whose tenants can't pay the rent. A bipartisan proposal, filed by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, would allow landlords to request temporary relief from their mortgage obligations if tenants fall behind on the rent." - "Healey Takes Aim At Unlawful Eviction Practices In Mass." by Simón Rios, WBUR: "Attorney General Maura Healey is warning Massachusetts landlords and their attorneys not to start evictions proceedings against tenants protected by the federal CARES Act, which limits evictions of people including residents of federally-subsidized housing until late July. Healey's office said prosecutors know of some 50 evictions filed in Greater Boston against protected tenants ." - "Massachusetts to start reporting city and town-by-town data on COVID-19 cases," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts will start reporting city and town-by-town data on COVID-19 cases, Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said Wednesday. Since the state started releasing data on COVID-19 data, the cases have been broken down by county, not town. For weeks, lawmakers and health officials have called for more granular details about the cases to help determine if there are hotspots within particular towns and if resources should be re-directed to those communities." - "Nursing home funding boosted, but is it enough?" by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "Amid ominous reports on COVID-19 tests and deaths, the Baker administration on Wednesday promised to boost funding and support for the state's struggling long-term care facilities, but a spokeswoman for the industry said the investment isn't enough. State figures released on Wednesday indicate the 530 COVID-19 deaths at long-term care facilities now represent nearly half (48 percent) of all COVID-19 fatalities in the state. The 86 new deaths at long-term care facilities reported Wednesday represented 57 percent of the 151 new deaths in the state." - "State, local experts push back on university's bleaker COVID-19 forecast," by Mark Arsenault, Boston Globe: "An influential University of Washington group forecasting the spread of coronavirus worldwide is now anticipating a much gloomier outcome for Massachusetts, with far more deaths than its original models, based in part on how residents may interpret state guidance on social distancing to slow the spread of the virus. But local officials and experts on Wednesday pushed back against the group's model, saying it conflicts with in-state forecasts and does not accurately account for the social distancing taking place in Massachusetts." - "Maura Healey launches website for frontline workers," by Andrew Stanton, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey rolled out a new website Wednesday morning to provide support and resources to front-line workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The website, FrontlineMA.org, was created in collaboration with HubSpot and IDEO and offers many resources to help workers get protective gear, priority testing, meals, safe housing, self care advice, and child care, Healey said."

FROM THE HUB

- "Church bells toll for Marathon victims on anniversary; Mayor Walsh asks residents to stand as 'one Boston unified forever,'" by Travis Andersen and Matthew Berg, Boston Globe: "Church bells tolled at 2:49 p.m. Wednesday to honor the victims killed in the April 15, 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, hours after Mayor Martin J. Walsh urged residents to mark One Boston Day, the annual observance of the tragedy, with acts of kindness and reflection while remaining apart amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The city's social-distancing efforts were apparent as bells rang out from the Old South Church located near the marathon finish line on Boylston Street." - "Coronavirus in Massachusetts: Chelsea, Brockton hammered by high infection rates," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "Coronavirus is running rampant in Massachusetts, hitting cities like Chelsea and Brockton hard while small towns — including Williamstown and Longmeadow — post high rates of infection as they battle outbreaks in nursing homes. Massachusetts public health officials released a breakdown of coronavirus cases by city and town for the first time Wednesday. The data confirms what Chelsea leaders already knew — that the densely packed city of 40,000 has the highest rate of COVID-19 infection in the state, 1,890 per 100,000 residents, with 712 cases as of April 14, according to a public health ranking." - "City councilors want health authorities to consider systemic racism when it comes to medical resources," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "Boston city councilors are calling for local hospitals and health authorities to consider how systemic racism causes public health disparities, a reality that has taken on added urgency as officials draft and enact policies about how to distribute life-saving medical resources amid a COVID-19 surge." - "More Than 150 Positive COVID-19 Cases Reported Among Prisoners, Staff Inside Mass. Jails And Prisons," by Deborah Becker, WBUR: "The coronavirus appears to be spreading quickly in Massachusetts jails and prisons, with more than 150 positive cases reported among prisoners and staff. The hardest hit facility has been the Massachusetts Treatment Center (MTC) in Bridgewater, where four prisoners have died from COVID-19. They're the only prisoner deaths reported in the state." - "Casino gaming revenues take nosedive amid shutdowns of Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: "The three casinos in Massachusetts reported a nosedive in gross gaming revenues in March thanks to the mid-month closing prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. But the worst is still yet to come. Gross gaming revenues dramatically dropped at the MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor and Plainridge Park casinos directly tied to the shutdown of all three facilities that began on March 15, as ordered by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and Gov. Charlie Baker." PRIMARY SOURCES - FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: "Mass Retirees, the Largest State Organization Representing Retired Public Employees, Endorses Becky Grossman for Congress," from the Grossman campaign: " Today, Becky Grossman's campaign announced that the Retired State, County, and Municipal Employees Association of Massachusetts (Mass Retirees) has endorsed her candidacy for Congress. The most prominent organization representing retired public sector employees in the state, Mass Retirees has 52,000 members within its ranks." DAY IN COURT - "Embattled judge Shelley Joseph accuses U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling of political bias," by Andrew Martinez, Boston Herald: "Embattled judge Shelley Joseph is accusing U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling of political bias in her obstruction of justice case, slamming "leaks" to the media and alleging the government's star witness was bought off with an immunity deal. Joseph, suspended from her $184,000-a-year post as a Newton District Court judge, and retired court officer Wesley MacGregor are accused of helping an illegal immigrant escape a courthouse to avoid an ICE agent in April of 2018." - "Court hearing to delay firing of Holyoke Soldiers' Home Superintendent Bennett Walsh postponed," by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican: "A Hampden Superior Court hearing to delay discussions about presumably firing the superintendent of the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke has been rescheduled to late April. Bennett Walsh was placed on paid administrative leave on March 30 after officials from the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services visited the home to address complaints about multiple residents being infected with the coronavirus." WARREN REPORT - "Progressive movement wary of Warren for VP after bitter clash with Sanders," by Alex Thompson and Holly Otterbein, POLITICO: "Over the past week, the progressive group Roots Action quietly began circulating a letter to other left-wing organizations, calling on Joe Biden to nominate Elizabeth Warren as his vice presidential pick. The reception was divisive, as bad blood between Warren and Bernie Sanders' camps continues to roil a demoralized left." - "Elizabeth Warren says she'd serve as Biden's vice president if he asked," by Daniella Diaz, CNN: "Elizabeth Warren isn't done with the 2020 presidential election yet. Asked Wednesday night if she would accept a position as Joe Biden's running mate if offered, the Massachusetts senator didn't hesitate, telling MSNBC's Rachel Maddow that she would. Warren was posed the question just hours after she officially endorsed Biden for the Democratic Party's nomination." - "Elizabeth Warren is good at many things. But her Biden endorsement shows timing isn't one of them," by James Pindell, Boston Globe: "Senator Elizabeth Warren is very good at a great number of things. She is likely always the smartest person in the room. When it comes to policy, she is very thorough. She is loyal. She works hard, is disciplined, takes advice well and acts on it. And she can be bold — at times shockingly so. But her endorsement of Joe Biden's presidential campaign on Wednesday demonstrated, once again, something she is bad at as a politician: timing." ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: " HARDEST HIT," — Globe: "A daunting toll across the state," "Long after first signs, Chelsea 'on fire.'" FROM THE 413 - "Two more Holyoke Soldiers' Home veterans have died, 65% of residents test positive," by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican: "A total of 65% of the veterans at the Holyoke Soldiers Home have now contracted the coronavirus and at least 38 have died of the virus in the past three weeks. Two more veterans who were confirmed to have suffered from COVID-19 have died in the past day and test results are pending for another resident who died overnight. Eight additional veterans have died in the same time period from other causes, said officials for the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services." - "Springfield calls for spending freeze due to projected local, state, federal revenue declines," by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican: "The city has implemented a spending freeze due to the coronavirus pandemic where every expense will be scrutinized and no employee vacancies will be filled. The decision was made due to projected revenue shortfalls for the city as well as the state and federal governments, which provide a substantial amount of financial assistance to the community every year, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said ." - "Northampton orders use of face coverings at essential businesses," by Bera Dunau, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "The city has issued a new order mandating that customers and employees of businesses that provide essential services wear face coverings to stop the spread of COVID-19. 'It's part of our ongoing efforts to keep our residents safe,' said Mayor David Narkewicz. The order from Public Health Director Merridith O'Leary will go into effect Thursday." THE LOCAL ANGLE - "ICU beds filling up; St. Vincent Hospital gets ventilator shipment," by Steven H. Foskett Jr., Telegram & Gazette: "Echoing remarks made earlier in the day by Gov. Charlie Baker, city officials said Wednesday that local hospitals are realizing the area's expected spike of COVID-19 cases has arrived. 'They're recognizing that the surge is here," Dr. Michael P. Hirsh, the city's medical director, said at City Hall. Hirsh said the percentage of available intensive care unit beds is going down at local medical centers, but noted that St. Vincent Hospital received a shipment Wednesday of 10 ventilators to help the hospital keep up with cases of the virus." - "Barnstable County receives $1M to address coastal resilience," by Geoff Spillane, Cape Cod Times: "The U.S. Department of Commerce has quietly announced the award of a $1 million grant to Barnstable County to alleviate effects of extreme weather on the region and address coastal resiliency. The money, to be administered by the Cape Cod Commission, will be used to assess the impact of coastal storms and flooding on Cape Cod and enhance local economic planning and response efforts." - "Federal loans have been 'a nightmare' for small businesses offering more hurdles than funding," by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: "More than two weeks after the passage of a multi-trillion dollar stimulus package, small businesses in Worcester have yet to see any relief from the federal government. None of the Worcester small businesses MassLive spoke to have received any financial assistance from the federal government amid the coronavirus pandemic." - "Westfield seeking COVID-19 death data," by Manon L. Mirabelli, Springfield Republican: "City officials have been unable to confirm the number of deaths here due to COVID-19, but confirmed cases of illness have risen to 216 with more expected as the peak has not yet been reached. 'We're hearing that we're about to enter the toughest time,' Mayor Donald F. Humason Jr., said during a telephone press conference on Wednesday. Public Health Director Joseph Rouse said the state Department of Public Health's tracking system does not provide the number of deaths by city. Instead, it reports the number of deaths by county." MEDIA MATTERS - "MassLive staff faces furloughs, wage cuts," by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: "The owner of Springfield-based MassLive notified employees on Wednesday that many of them will be furloughed and have their wages cut. Caroline Harrison, CEO of Advance Local Media LLC, which owns MassLive, sent an email to staff outlining plans to implement wage reductions from May through December and require most employees to take two-week furloughs over the next few months." TRANSITIONS - Natashia Tidwell joins Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr in the firm's litigation group. HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to former Massachusetts First Lady Ann Romney , who is 71; Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Jane Oates, a former Kennedy staffer now with Working Nation; and Doug Elmendorf. NEW EPISODE: THE 'STAY AT HOME' STRETCH - On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray speak with George Cronin of Rasky Partners about the fate of ballot question campaigns during the coronavirus pandemic. 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. 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