POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Special state SENATE elections today — ‘SAFER at HOME’ — POT SHOPS begin curbside pickup — HOYER raising money for KENNEDY

By Stephanie Murray GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. SPECIAL SENATE ELECTION DAY — Candidates vying for two state Senate seats are on the ballot today. Special elections to replace two former Republican state lawmakers were initially planned for March 31, but were postponed until today due to coronavirus. Candidates are running to replace former Sen. Don Humason, now the mayor of Westfield, and former Sen. Vinny deMacedo, who left the legislature to take a job at Bridgewater State University. In the race for Humason's seat, Democratic state Rep. John Velis is running against Republican John Cain. And running to replace deMacedo are Republican Jay McMahon and Democrat Susan Moran, a Falmouth selectman. Because of the pandemic , it's hard to predict voter turnout in the two elections, Secretary of State Bill Galvin's office says. Voters can head to the polls in person today, but more than 10,000 voters have already cast ballots by mail, according to spokesperson Debra O'Malley. As of Monday morning, at least 3,900 voters already cast ballots by mail in the race between Velis and Cain, and at least 6,600 had voted by mail in the race between McMahon and Moran. Those numbers may be higher, O'Malley said, because there can be a lag before election workers enter votes into the state database. Turnout might see a boost in towns like Falmouth and Sandwich, in deMacedo's old district, which are holding their town elections on the same day as the special Senate election. Falmouth has several ballot questions on its local election ballot, including an override, and accounts for half of the mail-in ballots in that Senate district, O'Malley said. The next round of special election voting will happen June 2, when candidates running to fill vacant seats in the House are on the ballot. And after that, the statewide primary is looming on Sept. 1, though it’s not clear whether state lawmakers will act to broaden voting options due to coronavirus safety concerns. IMHO: STENY HOYER IS A DINOSAUR DEMOCRAT WHO SHOULD BE REPLACED. INFORMED VOTERS KNOW THIS DETRACTS FROM KENNEDY'S CREDIBILITY.  NEW: HOYER TO JOIN KENNEDY FUNDRAISER — House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is the special guest at a virtual fundraiser for Rep. Joe Kennedy III today. And a few other members of the Maryland congressional delegation are also on the guest list: Rep. Jamie Raskin, a vice chair of the Progressive Caucus, and Reps. Anthony Brown and David Trone. Kennedy is challenging Sen. Ed Markey in the Sept. 1 Democratic primary, and has raised more money than the incumbent lawmaker for the past several fundraising quarters. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Rep. Jim McGovern hosts a Facebook livestream with Greenfield Mayor Roxann Wedegartner and Auburn Town Manager Julie Jacobson. Sen. Ed Markey visits the Central Massachusetts United States Postal Service Processing and Distribution Center.   JOIN TODAY – HOW DO WE STRATEGICALLY REOPEN THE ECONOMY? Join chief economic correspondent Ben White today at 9 a.m. EDT for a virtual conversation with Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), to discuss his work on the newly launched House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis and whether he believes that the fiscal response so far has been enough. Should there be more transparency on how stimulus dollars are being spent? What more does Congress need to do to keep the economy afloat? Have questions? Submit yours by tweeting it to @POLITICOLive using #AskPOLITICO. REGISTER HERE.     THE LATEST NUMBERS – “Mass. officials announce 65 new coronavirus deaths, 1,042 new cases; virus trends downward as state begins phased reopening of economy,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “The day Gov. Charlie Baker releases the state’s plan to reopen, Massachusetts health officials announce 65 new coronavirus deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 5,862. Officials also confirmed another 1,042 positive cases of the virus, for a total of 87,052 across the state. That’s based on 8,373 new tests reported on Monday.” DATELINE BEACON HILL – “Baker details plan to reopen Massachusetts,” by Matt Stout and Tim Logan, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts can begin tip-toeing out of its pandemic-induced lockdown on Monday under a sweeping reopening plan released by Governor Charlie Baker that envisions a slow — and perhaps halting — return to aspects of normal life over the spring and summer.” – “Massachusetts reopening plan unveils ‘safer at home’ advisory, phased return to a ‘new normal,’” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “Massachusetts will be under a ‘safer at home’ advisory, a modified version of the current advisory for residents. It encourages people to avoid unnecessary travel, except for health care, permitted work, shopping, and outdoor activities. The advisory also suggests residents do not participate in close contact activities and use remote modes of communication like phone or video instead of visiting friends or family who are at high risk.” – “Scientists say Baker’s reopening plan is sensible, but still concerning,” by Naomi Martin and Dasia Moore, Boston Globe: “As Governor Charlie Baker unveiled his plan Monday to reopen the state’s economy, scientists expressed concern about people’s safety as they start to mingle and travel more freely following the coronavirus shutdown. Baker’s plan calls for tight safety restrictions as houses of worship, construction, and manufacturing re-open first. They will be followed by retail, hair salons, and some lab and office spaces next Monday.” – “On church reopening, a muted ‘amen,’” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday gave houses of worship permission to open immediately, with precautions. But worshippers seeking an in-person service this weekend may have limited options. Many congregational leaders say they plan to wait to resume in-person worship – some for a couple of weeks, others for longer.” – “Massachusetts beaches able to open on Memorial Day, May 25, with restrictions on visitors,” by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com: “Summer is around the corner and for communities on Cape Cod, that normally means it’s time for tourism to drive the economy with over 4 million people visiting each year. Beaches have historically been the draw for people from across the state and country to visit the Cape, the South Shore and North Shore, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.” – “Mass. Restaurants Will Open Back Up In 'Phase 2.' When Is That? No One Knows,” by Beth Healy, WBUR: “Restaurants in Boston and across the state won't be able to open for dine-in customers for at least another three weeks under Gov. Charlie Baker's phased-in reopening announced Monday. Bars will have to wait longer. Restaurants will be a part of the state's ‘phase two’ opening, which has no set date — dashing the hopes of some owners who wanted to open doors sooner.” FROM THE HUB – “NAACP convention planned for Boston will be held online instead,” by Adrian Walker, Boston Globe: “The NAACP National Convention, scheduled to be held in Boston in July, has been recast as a virtual event, Tanisha M. Sullivan, president of the Boston branch of the organization, said Monday. The annual meeting of the nation’s largest civil rights organization has been planned as a showcase that Boston could be an attractive and welcoming destination for thousands of Black activists.” – “Major Boston hospital finds dramatic drop in stroke, heart attack, and cancer patients during coronavirus pandemic,” by Liz Kowalczyk, Boston Globe: “As the pandemic surged, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center saw medical visits for serious conditions such as cancer, heart attacks, and strokes drop by as much as 65 percent, according to an analysis that put numbers to a troubling trend so far described mostly anecdotally.” – “How Mass. Businesses, Industry Groups And Others Are Reacting To Baker's Reopening Plan,” by Lisa Creamer, WBUR: “James Sutherland, director of policy and research for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, issued a statement Monday detailing the group's "initial" response to the Baker's plan. The group thanked the state's reopening advisory board for its work, saying the plan ‘begins to answer many of the questions employers and businesses have’ — but also noted more details were needed on several topics.” PRIMARY SOURCES – “Race For U.S. Senate Turns Sharp, As Kennedy Revives An Old Attack Against Markey,” by Anthony Brooks, WBUR: “The race for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts is getting heated, with Congressman Joe Kennedy III reviving an old charge against the incumbent, Sen. Ed Markey, that he spends too little time in Massachusetts. This remains a puzzling primary race for many Massachusetts Democrats: a contest between two solid progressives who agree on just about every issue. But now, amidst the pandemic, the attacks are getting sharper.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES – “The MBTA Won't Return To Full Service Until Final Phase Of State's Reopening,” by Zeninjor Enwemeka, WBUR: The MBTA will continue to run at reduced service levels, even as a range of businesses begin to reopen under new rules outlined by the Baker administration Monday. Bus service will return more slowly than train service, and the entire system won't return to full service until the final phases of the state's reopening plan.” WARREN REPORT – “Elizabeth Warren’s Path to Becoming VP Is Easier Than It Looks,” by Joshua Green, Bloomberg “The three most buzzed-about candidates to become Joe Biden’s running mate are all U.S. senators: Kamala Harris (California), Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota), and Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts). But oddsmakers put Warren at a disadvantage because Massachusetts—unlike California and Minnesota—has a Republican governor who would probably fill her Senate seat with a fellow Republican, if given the opportunity.” HEALTH CHECK – “Government-backed coronavirus vaccine shows promise in first human trials,” by Sarah Owermohle, POLITICO: “Moderna Therapeutics' potential coronavirus vaccine showed promise in its first round of human trials, fueling executives' hopes that it could be ready this year. All eight patients in a Phase One safety trial developed antibodies for the virus after two doses of mRNA-1273, the vaccine that the biotech is developing with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the agency run by infectious-disease expert Tony Fauci.” MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS – “'We’ll prove that we are essential’: Massachusetts recreational marijuana allowed to offer curbside on May 25,” by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: “CommCan Inc. lost about $2 million in roughly two months. NETA saw sales drop by 85% due to the shutdown of recreational marijuana amid the coronavirus pandemic. Good Remedies experienced similar drops while laying off about 70 employees. While other small businesses could apply for Paycheck Protection Program loans, the marijuana industry was shut out because it’s still illegal on the federal level.” ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: “Not on the menu,” — Globe: “Baker details plan to reopen state.” FROM THE 413 – “'Still a lot of work to do': Berkshire leaders weigh in on state reopening plan,” by Amanda Burke, The Berkshire Eagle: “After the state crawled into the first phase of its tentative reopening plan Monday, members of the local delegation say questions linger as some employees prepare to return to work at revenue-starved Berkshires business. .. ‘The reality is there's still a lot of work to do,’ said Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, who was one of two legislative observers to the Reopening Advisory Board.” – “Applications, apologies and all-nighters: How local banks, businesses are navigating the PPP,” by Greta Jochem, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “A crashed online portal, millions in loans going to large companies, and confusion about program rules. These are some of the issues that nationwide have wracked the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which offers loans, backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), to help businesses with payroll during the pandemic.” – “Lawyer, activist Anita Hill to speak at Mount Holyoke College 2020 commencement,” by Jacquelyn Voghel, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Mount Holyoke College has announced that lawyer and activist Anita Hill will address the Class of 2020 at the college’s in-person commencement ceremony at a date to be determined.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “Local Leaders Offer Mixed Reaction To Mass. Reopening Plan,” by Lisa Creamer and Simón Rios, WBUR: “Massachusetts Municipal Association Executive Director Geoff Beckwith said the plan places a burden on cities and towns. He said local governments may want to impose their own regulations and may need to update their operations.” – “As businesses in Massachusetts reopen, Worcester expects to decommission DCU Center as a field hospital this week,” by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: “Officials in Worcester plan to decommission the DCU Center as a field hospital as trends continue to show positive signs associated with the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. said plans are being discussed for ways to best transition away from using the DCU Center as a field hospital.” – “City good with state’s timeline for reopening,” by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette: “Saying that the city continues to see progress in key areas, City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. on Monday said he’s comfortable with the state’s timeline for reopening the economy. ‘I think they’ve done a very good job of laying out a framework,’ Augustus said at the city’s daily COVID-19 briefing, adding that city administrators will be absorbing the details of the plan — which Gov. Charlie Baker laid out earlier in the day — to help tailor local enforcement efforts.” HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to NBC10/NECN's dynamic duo Alison King and Sean Colahan, and Stephanie Nigro. NEW EPISODE: H-O-R-S-E – On this week’s Horse Race podcast, hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith, Maeve Duggan and Stephanie Murray discuss the state’s plans to reopen, and a recent poll of Massachusetts nurses. Special guest Enes Kanter of the Boston Celtics talks about the future of the NBA. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud, or watch on Facebook. Want to make an impact? 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