GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Happy Election Day! Polls are open until 8 p.m. After that, tune into POLITICO's Live Chat for election analysis. WHAT THE ELECTION RESULTS COULD MEAN FOR #MAPOLI — There's virtually no doubt Democratic nominee Joe Biden will beat President Donald Trump in deep blue Massachusetts today. But a victory for either candidate will have a profound impact on the Bay State. If Biden wins, the Massachusetts delegation could have some newfound clout, especially if Democrats manage to flip the Senate. The region would have two loud voices on the left in Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Ed Markey. And Massachusetts is already represented in high-ranking House posts, where Democrats are likely to keep their majority. Rep. Katherine Clark is running for assistant House speaker, and House Ways and Means chair Richard Neal and House Rules Committee chair Jim McGovern have influential roles. Plus, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has a close relationship with Biden. And if any Bay State officials are appointed to the Biden administration — Gov. Charlie Baker, Warren and Attorney General Maura Healey come to mind — special elections to fill their seats could create an electoral domino effect over the next year. If Trump wins, members of the House or Senate being promoted to the administration is pretty much out of the question. That means officials would remain where they are, avoiding special elections. Having Trump, who is unpopular among a majority of Massachusetts voters, at the top of the GOP for four more years could further erode the already-shrinking Republican Party in Massachusetts. The winner of the presidential election — and the balance of the Senate — will also play a major role in how Massachusetts recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. Washington lawmakers failed to make a deal on a Covid-19 stimulus package ahead of Election Day, even as town and city budgets took a beating and local leaders pressed for financial assistance. And voters will decide on Question 2, which would change the electoral landscape in Massachusetts. The ballot question would implement ranked-choice voting starting in 2022, the year of the next gubernatorial election. Democrats will have a tough job if the popular Baker seeks a third term, though ranked-choice voting could shift the dynamics of a potential race. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Sen. Elizabeth Warren and her husband Bruce Mann vote in Cambridge. Rep. Seth Moulton votes in Salem and talks to reporters. Sen. Ed Markey greets voters at the Lower Mills Public Library polling location. Republican Senate candidate Kevin O'Connor campaigns in Dover, Wellesley, Billerica, Tewksbury and Saugus, and holds an Election Night party in Boston. Rep. Ayanna Pressley greets voters in Somerville and rallies with supporters of the Yes on 2 ranked choice voting campaign. Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu visits polling locations in Boston. Secretary of State Bill Galvin votes in Brighton. ELECTIONLAND: POLITICO is partnering with Electionland , a ProPublica project that works with newsrooms to track voting issues around the country. The Electionland project covers problems that prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots during the 2020 elections. We’re part of a coalition of newsrooms around the country that are investigating issues related to voter registration, pandemic-related changes to voting, the shift to vote-by-mail, cybersecurity, voter education, misinformation, and more. Tell us here if you’re having trouble voting. |
– “Stay-at-home advisory: Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker sets curfew, requires businesses to close by 9:30 p.m. nightly,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker issued a new stay-at-home advisory Monday asking all residents to be in their homes from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily and ordered restaurants to stop table service at 9:30 p.m. to ensure customers can get home in time.” – RELATED: “Here’s the list of businesses affected by Charlie Baker’s new early closure order,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com. Link. – “Galvin predicts record turnout Tuesday,” by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: “Voters head to the polls Tuesday to pick a president and U.S. Senator, and to decide two ballot questions along with a host of state races, capping off a contentious campaign that has played out against the backdrop of the coronavirus outbreak. Secretary of State William Galvin predicts overall turnout will exceed 3.6 million, upward of 300,000 votes more than were cast in the 2016 presidential election.” – “What does early-vote surge mean for ‘Election Day’?” by Richard Parr, CommonWealth Magazine: “We’re going to have to come up with a better phrase than “Election Day,” given how many Americans have already voted this year. As of Monday, over 95 million votes have already been cast, with another 31 million mail ballots requested but not yet returned. Over two-thirds of the total number of votes cast in 2016 have already been received either by mail or via in-person early voting.” – “Charlie Baker activates 1,000 National Guard members in Massachusetts ahead of election,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “One day ahead of the presidential election, Gov. Charlie Baker has called up 1,000 members of the National Guard as a precaution in the event of ‘large-scale’ protests on election night. … Guardsman will be available to assist local officials in efforts to maintain public safety or protect opportunities to exercise first amendment rights, according to a press release.” – “DeLeo, Spilka promise abortion debate in lame duck session,” by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Karen Spilka announced on Monday that the two branches will take up abortion access legislation during the lame duck session that runs until the end of the year. ‘We are very concerned that Massachusetts’ women’s reproductive rights are under threat at the national level,’ said DeLeo and Spilka in a joint statement.” – “Baker Launches Plan To Expand State Contract Opportunities For Minority-Owned Businesses,” by Paul Singer, GBH News: “Gov. Charlie Baker proposed sweeping changes to the state’s program for contracting with minority-owned businesses, including provisions to directly address criticisms raised in a year-long investigative series by the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting. GBH News reported this year that the value of state contracts won by minority-owned businesses has declined by more that 24% over the past two decades.” – “Gas workers call on lawmakers to improve safety,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “A coalition of natural gas workers is calling on lawmakers to pass gas safety proposals that have languished on Beacon Hill during the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to legislative leaders, members of the New England Gas Workers Alliance urge them to include a number of gas safety measures in a pair of climate change bills now being considered by legislative conference committees.” |  | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Here’s what Marty Walsh says to expect on Election Day in Boston,” by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: “A day ahead of what’s expected to be a highly-contentious presidential election, Mayor Marty Walsh affirmed city officials stand poised to combat any effort to intimidate Boston voters, and called for civility and patience once a potentially days-long ballot counting process ensues. With concerns of potential voter intimidation at polling places swirling nationally, Walsh said the city had no information about any local threats to voters.” – “A new model for affordable housing? Tenants and landlord in Mattapan reach a long-term contract on rents,” by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: “With housing advocates fearing a wave of evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and landlords anxious about a growing effort to reinstate formal rent control in Boston, this kind of voluntary agreement can be a model that makes sense for all involved, said Maggie Gribben, an attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services who helped the tenants group negotiate.” – “Dozens Of Prisoners At MCI-Norfolk Have Tested Positive For COVID-19,” by Deborah Becker, WBUR: “Prison officials say coronavirus testing continues at MCI-Norfolk after an outbreak at the prison last week. Prisoners and attorneys say dozens of men held at Norfolk have tested positive for the virus. It's the third outbreak at a state correctional facility since the end of September.” – “Business leaders must wait out election uncertainty,” By Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: “Forget about Trump vs. Biden for a moment, if you can. There’s a third potential outcome from the presidential election, and it’s one no business leader wants, regardless of political affiliation: that the final outcome might not be known for many weeks to come.” | | BALLOT WARS |
| – “Amid auto industry battle, Question 1 is the most expensive ballot initiative in Massachusetts history,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “With nearly $43 million spent so far, the battle over expanding the state’s ‘Right to Repair’ law has become the most expensive ballot initiative in Massachusetts history, stoking concerns that moneyed interests are overtaking a system designed to give everyday citizens a more direct voice in lawmaking. That historic level of spending, combined with the expensive effort to bring ranked-choice voting to Massachusetts through Question 2, could push the amount of money being wielded for initiative petitions to unprecedented levels this year.” | | IN THE VOTING BOOTH |
| – “'I Moved Because Of The Election': Mass. Expats Relish Chance To Vote In Swing States,” by Callum Borchers, WBUR: “Rohan Vahalia was job hunting in 2016 and, as a data scientist, he had two obvious location choices: Greater Boston, where he grew up, and Silicon Valley, where he worked at the time. But when Donald Trump won, the progressive Vahalia took a pass on those deep blue tech hubs. He wanted to live, instead, in a place where his vote in 2020 would feel more impactful.” | ON THE STUMP |
| – “2020 Massachusetts election results: 8th District Rep. Stephen Lynch faces challenger Jon Lott,” by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com: “U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, who previously served in the Massachusetts House and State Senate, has served in Congress since 2001. A former ironworker and union leader, Lynch later became a labor and employment attorney from Boston College Law School and is facing a challenge by Independent candidate and educator Jon Lott.” | | WARREN REPORT |
| – “‘Vote Like Your Life Depends On It’: Elizabeth Warren On Protecting Roe, Expanding The Court & Losing Her Brother To COVID,” by Natalie Gontcharova, Refinery29: “Sen. Elizabeth Warren has been laser-focused on reaching as many voters as possible over the last few months — but she’s been especially active in the final stretch before Election Day .” | | TRUMPACHUSETTS |
| – “Worcester medical director urges voting against Trump,” by Elaine Thompson, Telegram & Gazette: “A day before the election, the city’s medical director urged people to vote against President Donald Trump because of his blatant disregard for the opinion of medical experts when it comes to addressing the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Michael P. Hirsh, in a Monday morning interview with Hank Stolz on the radio program ‘Talk of the Commonwealth,’ said that baseless and false anti-science comments Trump has made are undermining the credibility of medical doctors.” | | THE PRESSLEY PARTY |
| – “Rep. Ayanna Pressley: 'This is the Moment'” by Aidan Connelly, GBH News: “In a Monday interview on Boston Public Radio, Rep. Ayanna Pressley said lives, livelihoods and American democracy are all on the line ahead of Tuesday’s presidential election. ‘And we need to vote like it,’ the congresswoman added.” | | ABOVE THE FOLD |
| — Herald: “HERE WE GO," "STAY HOME,” — Globe : “A day of decision – and anxiety," "Democrats up in both polls, nerves," "Rivals make final pitches; voters set for historic tally," "In Wis., virus looms over tight contest.” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “Yes, We Liked the Berkshires Shows. Here’s $2 Million.” by Michael Paulson, The New York Times: “The calls came in late August. A couple who had moved up to the Berkshires during the pandemic had seen the first two union-approved theatrical productions of the summer, and were impressed. Now they had a question: What would it cost to keep those theaters intact for another six months?” – “Springfield to consider reopening schools for in-person instruction after hearing, COVID-19 assessment,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “The School Committee will consider reopening schools after a planned virtual Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and an ongoing evaluation of the coronavirus pandemic, city officials said Monday. The reopening of the schools was discussed Monday during the weekly coronavirus update at City Hall involving city and school officials and representatives of local hospitals.”
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “Woman arrested during Plymouth’s dueling political rallies,” by Jenna Manto, The Patriot Ledger: “A woman was arrested at Plymouth Rock on Oct. 31 and charged with assault and battery and disturbing the peace after a police officer saw her swing her fist and hit another woman in the face during opposing Black Lives Matter and Trump rallies, according to Plymouth police. The woman who was arrested, Dianna Ploss, has been involved in previous rallies as a supporter of President Trump.” – “Brookline Educators Union vote to strike starting Tuesday after school committee no longer requires social distancing,” by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: “The Brookline Educators Union voted to strike beginning Tuesday, the union announced on Monday. The vote came as the Brookline School Committee altered its support for maintaining six feet of social distancing within public schools, the union said.” – “Framingham and Marlborough police are among the area departments increasing their staffing during election week in case there is unrest on or after Election Day,” by Jeanette Hinkle, MetroWest Daily News: “In 40 years of work in law enforcement, Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Executive Director Mark Leahy has never planned for violence stemming from a presidential election. But for more than a month, that’s exactly what his organization has done, in partnership with agencies including local police departments, the Massachusetts State Police, the National Guard and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.” | |
| | SPEND ELECTION NIGHT WITH POLITICO FOUR SQUARE: People have been voting for weeks, but Election Day is finally upon us! Join us for a special election night episode of POLITICO “Four Square,” where host Eugene Daniels will break down the latest developments from across the country with Chief Political Correspondent Tim Alberta, Chief Washington Correspondent Ryan Lizza, and one of our top political reporters and CNN contributor Laura Barrón-López. Joined by colleagues from across the newsroom throughout the show, expect the group to share the latest exit poll readouts, analyze the closing Trump and Biden campaign strategies, and to share their favorite moments of this long and winding election. Tune in at 9:00 p.m. EST here. | | | | | | | HOW YOU'RE WATCHING ON ELECTION NIGHT |
| PLAYBOOKERS SHARE THEIR ELECTION NIGHT PLANS — Today’s election will look quite different due to the coronavirus pandemic. Election parties will be replaced by Zoom gatherings and endless Twitter scrolling in front of the television. Here's how Massachusetts Playbook readers will watch (or avoid) tonight's election results. Rosemary J. Powers, president at Cristo Rey Boston High School and a former member of Gov. Deval Patrick's administration, who lives in Dorchester: “I have organized a zoom 'watch party' with friends and family. I can’t bear to watch these results alone!” Patrick Reynolds, a former legislative candidate from North Attleboro: “I will be in Philadelphia at the Teamsters Union Hall, watching the results after voter protection efforts in the city.” Paul Ivanovskis, a retired actuary from Foxboro: “Too much stress from this for me and my son, so assuming the theater stays as empty as it is now, we're taking in the 7:30 showing of TENET.” Katie Kalugin, who works for the MBTA and lives in Dorchester: “The plan is to order takeout from Coreanos, bust out the new projector and screen for the first time to broadcast CNN election coverage, drink hard kombucha, and bake apple cider donuts.” Ed Lyons, a Republican activist who lives in Swampscott: “My plan for election night is to track the results of MasssGOP state legislative races and post them on Twitter as they come in. Since I don’t have TV, I will keep NPR on in the background to keep tabs on the presidential election. It is going to be a no-alcohol night, and I will be drinking a different flavor of Polar Seltzer every hour from the polls closing until 2 a.m.” Melissa Curran, an administrative assistant who lives in Boston: “I won't be able to take my eyes off the TV on election night — except to check the news online as well. I hope a winner is projected sooner rather than later because it will be hard to step away to sleep.” Faith Simon and Tim Cronin, legislative aide and partnership manager for Climate XChange, respectively, who live in Weymouth: "Pizza and doom scrolling." Sarah Perno, a Boston University law student who lives in Cambridge: “I’ll be watching the results come in tomorrow night on MSNBC with my roommate. I plan to drink a bottle of rosé and eat a tube of raw cookie dough.” ICYMI – I was a guest on GBH’s “Greater Boston” last night. Link. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to former Gov. Mike Dukakis, who is 87; Martine David, Medford City Councilor Zac Bears, Business Insider’s Jake Lahut, Barbara Zheutlin, Rowan Morris, managing director at Guggenheim Partners, who is 35; and David Case. NEW EPISODE: END TIMES INSIGHT – On this week’s Horse Race podcast, hosts Steve Koczela and Stephanie Murray discuss ranked choice voting and a new Massachusetts poll, and the Boston Globe’s Victoria McGrane breaks down the fight for the Senate. 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. | |
|
| | Follow us on Twitter | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family |
|  | POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA |
|
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.