| | |  | BY STEPHANIE MURRAY | Presented by Brilliant | GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. SPECIAL HOUSE ELECTION TODAY — Voters will head to the polls in Winthrop and Revere today, where a primary race to replace former House Speaker Robert DeLeo is on the ballot. The Democratic primary is a four-way contest between Alicia DelVento, Juan Jaramillo, Jeffrey Turco and Valentino Capobianco. Also running are Republican Paul Caruccio and independent candidate Richard Fucillo, Jr. The election is seen as a test of progressive politics in Massachusetts, especially after a number of the progressives who challenged incumbent state lawmakers lost their primary races in September. The winner of the March 30 general election will hold the House seat that was occupied by DeLeo, a powerful moderate, for about three decades. The race is also likely to illustrate another familiar phenomenon: How few votes it takes to become a state lawmaker, especially when the real action occurs in a crowded Democratic primary. The top fundraiser is Turco, a self-proclaimed Reagan Democrat with ties to both cities in the district. Turco opposes an immigration bill called the Safe Communities Act, and has been hit by NARAL Pro-Choice for past anti-abortion comments. DelVento and Capobianco are both former State House aides running to Turco's left. Some big-name players have weighed in for Jaramillo, another former State House aide and union representative. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former presidential candidate Julian Castro recently endorsed Jaramillo. It's not always the norm for candidates to wade into elections outside their own, but Jaramillo has the backing of three candidates running for mayor of Boston. The race had its share of fireworks, especially in the week leading up to the election. The field was scrambled by allegations of sexual misconduct against Capobianco, a member of the Winthrop School Committee, according to a GBH News report. Capobianco denies some of the allegations. He lost endorsements from former Rep. Joe Kennedy III and Attorney General Maura Healey. Here are some statistics to think about: Three of the four Democratic candidates live in Winthrop, though Turco touts his Revere roots. Jaramillo lives in Revere, a larger and more heavily Democratic city that’s only partially in the district. Twenty-nine percent of Winthrop voters are registered Democrats, while 38 percent of Revere's registered voters are Democrats. Winthrop has a larger share of independent voters, while around 7 percent of voters in each city are Republicans. CURTATONE WON'T SEEK ANOTHER TERM — Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone is the latest Massachusetts mayor to announce he's not seeking another term, leaving the race to succeed him wide open for the first time in nearly two decades. When Curtatone announced his plans, speculation quickly swung to the 2022 governor's race. Curtatone is rumored to be a contender in the Democratic primary, though the mayor called that idea "science fiction." But his move is part of another trend: The Somerville mayor is one of a half-dozen Bay State mayors who are leaving office. They include Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, the soon-to-be Labor secretary; Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera, Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz and North Adams Mayor Tom Bernard. 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 New York Rep. Grace Meng speak at an immigrant and refugee integration town hall. Rep. Katherine Clark speaks at a press conference with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats to kick off the 2021 issues conference. Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone is a guest on "Bloomberg Baystate Business.” | |
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| – “Massachusetts reports 30,486 active COVID infections statewide, 26 deaths on Monday,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “State health officials confirmed another 1,248 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, which is based on 53,839 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. Officials also announced another 26 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll from the pandemic to 15,822.” | | VAX-ACHUSETTS |
| – “Johnson & Johnson vaccine deepens concerns over racial and geographic inequities,” by Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Washington Post: “The issue came up on a recent call between governors and Biden administration officials coordinating the country’s coronavirus response. Gov. Charlie Baker, a Massachusetts Republican and former health insurance executive, stressed the need for prominent health officials to communicate clearly about the benefits of the one-shot vaccine, according to three people who heard his remarks.” – “State officials, community leaders try to dissuade residents from vaccine ‘shopping,’” by Robert Weisman, Boston Globe: “With a third COVID-19 vaccine soon to be available in Massachusetts, state officials and community leaders Monday sought to discourage residents from “shopping” for one brand over another, stressing that all are highly protective against serious disease from the coronavirus.” – “Baker Encourages Vaccination Centers in Communities of Color, Touts J&J Effectiveness,” by Mike Deehan, GBH News: “Gov. Charlie Baker appeared at one of Mattapan's largest churches on Monday to tour a new community-focused COVID-19 vaccination center and to assure the public that the new vaccine from Johnson & Johnson will be as effective as the ones already in use.” – “Mass. will start getting limited Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Massachusetts will begin getting a small supply of one-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines next week, but is unlikely to get a significant shipment of the shots until the end of the month, Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday. Over the weekend, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the Johnson & Johnson shot the third type of inoculation approved for emergency use to prevent COVID-19.” – “With push to resume in-person learning, Massachusetts lawmakers call for teachers to get first Johnson & Johnson vaccines,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “A group of Massachusetts lawmakers are calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to put teachers at the front of the line to take the single-dose COVID-19 vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson. Twenty-one state legislators signed onto a letter requesting the upcoming shipments of the single-dose vaccine go to teachers as the state mandates a return to in-person learning five days a week.” | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Massachusetts State Lottery increases net profit projection from $940 million to $985 million,” by Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe: “The Massachusetts State Lottery announced Monday that it was increasing its net profit projection for the 2021 fiscal year from $940 million to $985 million.” – “As bills pile up for many jobless workers, state’s ‘dinosaur’ benefits system provides only frustration,” by Katie Johnston, Boston Globe: “For many Massachusetts workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic, the stress of being laid off has been magnified by the Sisyphean effort to navigate a balky unemployment system that has been hammered by more than 2.7 million new claims filed since mid-March of last year.” – “If Baker opts not to run, state GOP split on successor,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “A poll commissioned by the conservative Fiscal Alliance Foundation indicates Republican primary voters would be split if Gov. Charlie Baker decides not to seek reelection next year. The poll initially asked 752 voters who have cast ballots in previous Democratic and Republican primaries their stances on a handful of policy issues.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “'We Turn A Blind Eye': Boston's Police Remain Largely White,” by Alanna Durkin Richer, The Associated Press: “For years, Boston city leaders have vowed to diversify the police department so it looks more like the community it serves. Yet the police force is just as white as it was a decade ago, and huge barriers to diversity remain, advocates say. City officials acknowledge more work needs to be done, but insist their efforts to bring in more officers of color are slowly paying off.” – “After downtown worksite deaths, city councilor wants hearing on construction safety,” by Danny McDonald and Charlie McKenna, Boston Globe: “A Boston city councilor is calling for a hearing to examine the city’s construction site safety guidelines, citing the deaths last week of two construction workers, as well as other fatal workplace accidents in recent years.” – “Boston outdoor dining to start April 1 or earlier weather permitting: Marty Walsh,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Outdoor dining for Boston restaurants will start on April 1 — or earlier depending on the weather — amid the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Marty Walsh announced on Monday. Calling the outdoor dining program one of last year’s ‘brightest spots,’ Walsh said the city is bringing it back for 2021, starting on April 1 or as soon as the weather allows it.” – “With St. Pat’s Day coming, Marty Walsh reminds Boston COVID rules still apply at bars, restaurants, and residences,” by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: “March has returned and with the coronavirus pandemic still rolling on, Boston’s longstanding St. Patrick’s Day traditions will, once again, be quite different than years past. To be clear, there will be no exceptions to the city’s COVID-19 rules for shamrock-laden shenanigans, Mayor Marty Walsh affirmed Monday.” – “For breweries, Baker's reopening timeline won't help much,” by Jessica Bartlett, Boston Business Journal: “Businesses throughout the state may be able to bring in more customers as of March 1, and later this month up to 100 people may be allowed at private events, but for local breweries and taprooms, profits will continue to be hard to come by.” – “Mitt Romney got a black eye in Boston this weekend,” by Mark Gartsbeyn, Boston.com: “Utah senator and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney was spotted with a black eye and stitches in Washington D.C. Monday. The cause? A weekend trip visiting one of his five sons and some of his many, many grandchildren in Boston.” | | YOU'VE GOT MAIL |
| – “Galvin: Federal law needed to protect mail-in voting,” by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: “Secretary of State William Galvin wants to see Congress pass a law guaranteeing that every voter can cast a mail-in ballot in federal elections. Massachusetts authorized mail-in voting for last year's elections in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the House this year plans to extend vote-by-mail until June 30 while also working to make it a permanent feature of the elections here.” – “Mashpee Wampanoag tribal members sue over mail-in voting plan,” by Jessica Hill, Cape Cod Times: “With the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s general election only a few weeks away, a few members have raised concerns about the decision to hold the election exclusively through mail-in voting. Tribal members Aaron Tobey Jr., Crystal Asiwe and Steve Helme are suing members of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Election Committee at the tribal court.” | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “'Roaring Kitty' no longer has financial broker license: filing,” by Reuters: “The Massachusetts financial professional who gained notoriety as GameStop bull ‘Roaring Kitty’ is no longer a broker registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, according to the organization’s online records.” | |
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| | | | | WARREN REPORT |
| – “Warren Revives Wealth Tax, Citing Pandemic Inequalities,” by Jim Tankersley, The New York Times: “Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, plans to introduce legislation on Monday that would tax the net worth of the wealthiest people in America, a proposal aimed at persuading President Biden and other Democrats to fund sweeping new federal spending programs by taxing the richest Americans.” | | FROM THE DELEGATION |
| – “Massachusetts’ Progressive Lawmakers Push Congress To Abolish Qualified Immunity,” by Akela Lacy, The Intercept: “Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, Democrats of Massachusetts, are introducing a bill to fully end qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that protects police and law enforcement officials from civil liability in cases where they are accused of violating someone’s constitutional rights.” | | DATELINE D.C. |
| – “‘Please hear me clearly’: Walensky reiterates concerns about easing restrictions, direction of COVID-19 pandemic in US,” by Amanda Kaufman, Boston Globe: “Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on Monday expressed concerns about the direction of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and said she is worried states that are rolling back restrictions threaten to erase the progress they’ve made in reducing key metrics.” | | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
| – “In Wake of Texas Crisis, Advocates Say State Must Require Utilities Prepare For Climate Change,” by Miriam Wasser, WBUR: “Though the exact scenario that played out in Texas is probably unique to Texas — we don’t frack natural gas here, our pipelines and wind turbines are weatherized, we pay power generators to be ready for unexpected peaks in demand, and we are part of an electric grid that spans the entire eastern half of the country — the infrastructure we rely on to bring us electricity, gas and water is ill-prepared for the coming decades.” | | ABOVE THE FOLD |
| — Herald: “DINING OUT," "CUT THE RED TAPE,” — Globe: “Don’t shop for specific vaccine, officials say,” “Giving them a shot.” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “Vaccination appointments canceled at Northampton regional site because of supply shortage,” by Greta Jochem, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “City resident Joan Rutstein just turned 73 and was thrilled to have her first COVID-19 vaccination appointment scheduled for March 1 at the regional clinic in Northampton. Getting the appointment, she said, was like ‘hitting the lottery.’” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “DCU COVID-19 field hospital numbers low as UMass Memorial begins to ramp down operations,” by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette: “Thirteen COVID-19 patients are receiving care at the DCU Field Center Hospital — a slight increase from last week — as UMass Memorial prepares to ramp down the site. UMass Memorial spokesman Tony Berry said Monday that 13 patients were at the field hospital, which recorded nine patients last week.” – “Worcester PD Signed Deal To Use Crime Forecast Tool In December,” by Neal McNamara, Patch: “Worcester police in December agreed to adopt a controversial new crime forecasting tool, nearly three weeks before the idea was presented to the public. The full adoption of the ShotSpotter Connect program is on hold pending City Council approval, but emails obtained by Patch show police pushed to close the deal before the end of 2020.” – “Lowell Superintendent Joel Boyd: Bigotry in city not isolated incident,” by Alana Melanson, The Lowell Sun: “Bob Hoey may have left the School Committee, but bigoted language and actions are far more widespread in the city than just one person, Superintendent of Schools Joel Boyd said.” | | MEDIA MATTERS |
| – “‘This is no joke’: WBZ’s Kate Merrill shares she has been sick with COVID-19,” by Dialynn Dwyer, Boston.com: “WBZ news anchor Kate Merrill shared Monday that she tested positive for COVID-19 last week. The Emmy award-winning journalist wrote in a note to viewers on Twitter that she is home and recovering in isolation.” TRANSITIONS – Malia Lazu is the new board chair of Chica Project, a youth leadership program. Previous board chair Nurys Camargo recently joined the state’s Cannabis Control Commission. – Todd Wallack is the new deputy managing editor at WBUR. Tweet. – Mariangely Solis Cervera joins Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu’s campaign for mayor as constituency director, and Sarah Anders is Wu’s new communications director. WELCOME TO THE WORLD – Chuck Nadd, a major in the U.S. Army and a student at Harvard Business School, and Shannon Nadd recently welcomed John Henry Scott Nadd, who joins Mary Margaret (4) and Peter (3). Pic ... Another pic. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to former Rep. Brian Donnelly, Kevin Madden, Joseph Gravellese and John Krol. NEW EPISODE: SOCIAL DISTANCING STUDIES – On this week’s Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray discuss the state’s push for in-person learning, and discuss the House race to fill former Speaker Bob DeLeo’s seat with GBH’s Tori Bedford and the Boston Herald’s Lisa Kashinsky. 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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| | JOIN WEDNESDAY FOR A PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW WITH NRCC CHAIR TOM EMMER : House Republicans surprised many observers in November flipping 15 seats and defeating several Democratic freshmen who delivered the House majority in 2018. Then the Jan. 6 insurrection set off an internal battle within the GOP, including among top House leaders. Join Playbook co-author Rachael Bade for a conversation with Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, to discuss his strategy for the 2022 midterm elections, President Donald Trump's role in the party, and the continued fallout from the assault on the Capitol. REGISTER HERE | | | | | | |
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