Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The convention effect

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The convention effect

SHOW ME THE MONEY — Party endorsements don’t always translate to success at the ballot box. But they are giving some statewide candidates a cash bump.

Republican running mates Geoff Diehl and Leah Cole Allen both notched their highest monthly fundraising hauls yet in June after nabbing their party’s endorsements for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively, in May. Diehl raised more than $141,000, according to his campaign, while Allen raised $21,572.

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, who claimed the Democratic endorsement for lieutenant governor at the party’s early June convention, also saw her best month to date with $148,500 raised. For June, she eclipsed the field's leading overall fundraiser, state Sen. Eric Lesser, who brought in $121,475.

Driscoll is also out with 32 new endorsements today, including the mayors of Greenfield, Fall River, Newburyport and state Reps. Mike Moran, Rob Consalvo, Dan Hunt, Gerry Cassidy, Marjorie Decker, Paul McMurtry, Carole Fiola, Joan Meschino, Kate Lipper-Garabedian, Christina Minicucci, Kip Diggs, Christine Barber, Natalie Blais, Tom Stanley and Jim O’Day, who are backing the mayor over their colleague, state Rep. Tami Gouveia.

But Diehl, Allen and Driscoll all trail their rivals in cash on hand with only two months until the September primaries and with some of their competitors already digging into their much larger campaign coffers to go up on the airwaves.

State Attorney General Maura Healey raised $516,737 in June, her third-highest month yet, her campaign said. The sole Democrat running for governor now has more than $5.3 million in her bank account and $4.5 million in television ads reserved through the general election.

GOP governor hopeful Chris Doughty gave his campaign another $980,000 in June, bringing his total loans to more than $2 million as he embarks on a $500,000 summer TV ad blitz. His campaign said Doughty also has $1.5 million in cash on hand.

And Lesser still leads the lieutenant governor race in money raised and banked, with nearly $1.1 million in his war chest.

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. In other money matters:

State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz raised $20,317 in a week for the slate of five “Courage Democrats” she’s supporting in down-ballot races in lieu of continuing her campaign for governor: Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo for Suffolk district attorney, Rahsaan Hall for Plymouth district attorney and state representative candidates Raul Fernandez, Vivian Birchall and Sam Montaño.

TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker launches DCR's "Summer Nights" program at 2:30 p.m. in Springfield. Driscoll makes several stops in Greenfield and Leyden and is on WHMP at 9 a.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu makes a voter-access announcement at 11 a.m. at Mandela Homes in the South End. Wu, U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins and other law enforcement and community leaders host a briefing on “white supremacist activity in the region” at 12:30 p.m. at BPD HQ. Wu speaks at the annual Cape Verdean Independence Day Celebration at City Hall at 3 p.m.

Tips? Scoops? Find a fun new spot to watch the fireworks? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com.

Keith Lockhart, center, conducts during rehearsals for the annual Fourth of July Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, Sunday, July 3, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) | AP

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YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

— ALLEN ON THE RECORD: GOP lieutenant governor hopeful Leah Cole Allen’s decision not to get vaccinated against Covid-19 led to an unusual outdoor episode of WCVB’s “On the Record” on Sunday because host Ed Harding said “WCVB has a policy that requires that everyone inside the building here in Needham has proof of a Covid-19 vaccination.”

Allen said she and other unvaccinated people are being “discriminated against” and “treated as second-class citizens” over their “personal medical choice.” Allen said she does “not plan to get vaccinated” despite losing her nursing job because of her refusal to do so. She also said she won’t vaccinate her children against Covid.

Allen, whose running mate is Donald Trump-endorsed Geoff Diehl, also declined to say whether President Joe Biden was “duly elected” in 2020. “I really can’t answer that. I don’t know, because there are states that are still investigating some irregularities that they saw,” Allen replied before trying to steer the conversation back to state-level issues like suspending the state gas tax.

— BANNER WEEKEND: Cape Cod beach-goers looking up at the sky might have seen a plane flying a “Vote Bill Galvin Sept. 6” banner over the weekend. “Enjoy the summer weather with family and friends, stay safe, and please remember in September to #voteBillGalvin” the secretary of state, who faces a primary challenge from NAACP Boston Branch President Tanisha Sullivan, tweeted along with a photo of the banner.

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Teamsters Local 25 has endorsed Sydney Levin-Epstein for Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester state senator.

— “Republican governor candidates Chris Doughty, Geoff Diehl spar over televised debates,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty blasted his opponent Geoff Diehl for what he characterized as his refusal to participate in a televised [NECN] debate ahead of the September primary. But Diehl’s campaign manager pushed back, saying that the format had nothing to do with the rejection — he had agreed to two pre-primary debates, and they had already been scheduled. … The two debates, according to Diehl campaign manager Amanda Orlando, are scheduled for July 20 on The Howie Carr Show and Aug. 11 on The Kuhner Report, which is hosted by Jeffrey T. Kuhner. Both are radio programs, but Herald columnist Carr’s show can also be watched on his website.”

— “In Democratic primary for attorney general, three well-credentialed candidates compete for the spotlight,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “The race took on heightened importance after the Democratic primary for governor effectively ended last month with the exit of state Senator Sonia Chang-Dίaz. Given the likelihood of a Democratic victor in the November general election, September’s primary will almost certainly crown Massachusetts’ next attorney general, and it will serve as a measure of what kind of Democrat voters prefer this cycle. But it remains to be seen how much attention voters will pay to a down-ballot race in a year without a competitive primary for governor or president.”

— “Fewer Mass. voters signing up as a 'D' or 'R', automatic voter law nudges more to become unenrolled,” by Steve Brown, WBUR: “A growing share of Massachusetts voters are signing up as independents, rather than joining a party, according to new data from the secretary of state's office. Since 2020, nearly 77% of new voters in the state chose not to enroll in a party, up from 63% for the two-year period. Of those who did pick a party, 18% registered in the Democratic party and 5% registered as Republicans.”

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— ON THE MOVE: Gov. Charlie Baker’s $700 million tax-relief package is inching forward on Beacon Hill, sans his call to cut the short-term capital gains tax rate. The Legislature’s Revenue Committee, on its Friday deadline, advanced a $600 million version of Baker’s bill offering tax breaks for renters, seniors and low-income workers and raising the estate-tax threshold. But state Rep. Mark Cusack, the committee’s House chair, told State House News Service the bill is still a work in progress.

— REPLACING KELCOURSE: Amesbury state Rep. Jim Kelcourse resigned from the House last week as he starts his new gig as a member of the Massachusetts Parole Board. The Republican will remain on the ballot in the First Essex state House district, since the deadline to remove his name has already passed, Secretary of State Bill Galvin recently told Playbook.

But a race is already forming to replace him: Salisbury Republicans Charles Fitzwater and U.S. Army veteran Samson Racioppi, an organizer with Super Happy Fun America, which organized the 2019 Straight Pride Parade in Boston, who was also outside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot, have both filed paperwork with state campaign finance regulators.

Democrat Dawne Shand, the president of the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus, has also organized a candidate committee.

FROM THE HUB

— “Boston mayor condemns ‘white supremacist’ march through city; civil rights probe launched,” by Flint McColgan and Stuart Cahill, Boston Herald: “A group of about 100 marchers identifying themselves by flyers as belonging to the white nationalist group the Patriot Front, cut through the heart of downtown Saturday sparking a confrontation.”

— More: “Black leaders call for race commissions in wake of violent white supremacist march in Boston,” by Tiana Woodard and Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: “Local Black leaders gathered on the steps of the Boston Public Library in Copley Square Monday to denounce the white supremacists who marched through the city with shields and flags on Saturday and allegedly assaulted a 34-year-old Black activist near the corner of Stuart and Dartmouth streets. Led by the Reverend Kevin Peterson, the community leaders held a press conference to condemn Patriot Front, the white supremacist organization, and called on city and state officials to show their support for antiracist policies and the creation of a city race commission.”

— “Boston councilors propose declaring another public-health crisis: Traffic safety,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Some city councilors are suggesting that Boston’s well-documented traffic-safety issues should be declared a public health crisis or emergency — potentially re-empowering the Boston Public Health Commission, which faced criticism in its unilateral actions during the pandemic. City Council President Ed Flynn and City Councilor Kendra Lara introduced a non-binding resolution asking the city to declare ‘road crash injuries a public health crisis requiring urgent action,’ a move that the council passed in a voice vote.”

— “Black drivers pulled over in Boston at 2.4 times the rate of white drivers, new study finds,” by Ivy Scott, Boston Globe: “Police in Suffolk County stop Black drivers 1.6 times as often as white drivers, a number that nearly doubles when looking exclusively at minor traffic violations, according to a new study by the Vera Institute of Justice that reform advocates cite as evidence that police shouldn’t be responsible for handling the vast majority of vehicle violations.”

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DAY IN COURT

— “Congressional candidate Dean Tran indicted for theft,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Republican congressional candidate and former Fitchburg state senator Dean Tran was indicted Friday on charges that he stole a firearm from an elderly constituent, then misled investigators about the incident. CommonWealth first reported on the allegations in April 2020 and said the attorney general’s office and the Fitchburg police were investigating Tran over an incident involving an elderly Fitchburg woman related to guns belonging to the woman’s late husband.”

— More: “Tran calls gun theft indictment politically motivated,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “After congressional candidate Dean Tran was indicted on charges that he stole a gun from an elderly constituent, Tran defiantly issued a statement slamming Attorney General Maura Healey for ‘partisan corruption’ and indicating that he will remain in the race.”

BALLOT BATTLES

— “The debate over gig workers didn't start over flexibility or benefits. It was about money,” by Lucia Maffei, Boston Business Journal: “In the two years since the state attorney general's office sued major ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft over the classification of drivers, advocates on both sides of the issue have sought to frame the debate around two main issues: the benefits such drivers should receive and the flexibility of their schedules. … A Business Journal analysis of the complaints that spurred the AG's office to file the lawsuit in the first place tell a very different story than the one being told publicly: Most drivers mention neither benefits nor flexible hours in the original complaints. Rather, most workers who contacted the AG office before the lawsuit was filed sought little more than for the companies to pay them what they thought they were owed.”

WARREN REPORT

— “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren, and other progressives are pushing a common, poll-tested refrain: the Supreme Court faces a 'legitimacy crisis',” by Nicole Gaudiano, Yahoo News: “Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and dozens of other progressive leaders, candidates and groups are hammering a common, poll-tested refrain on the Supreme Court, arguing that it increasingly faces a ‘legitimacy crisis’ as justices' decisions upend abortion rights, the EPA's ability to fight climate change, and expand gun rights. … The message is being encouraged by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and other left-leaning groups who say it polls well nationally and in battleground states.”

FROM THE 413

— “Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno criticizes state courthouse renovation plan as too expensive,” by Dave Canton, Springfield Republican: “Mayor Domenic J. Sarno on Saturday criticized the state’s seven-year plan to lease a 172,000 square-foot facility as it renovates the ailing Roderick L. Ireland courthouse, calling it mind-boggling.”

— “7 candidates ballot for vacant Springfield City Council seat,” by Patrick Johnson, Springfield Republican: “[City Clerk Gladys] Oyola-Lopez said the number of candidates is considerable. ‘I have never seen seven candidates for one ward seat,’ she said.”

— “Union election date set for Trader Joe’s employees in Hadley,” by Brian Steele, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Employees of the Trader Joe’s on Route 9 will hold the first vote to unionize in the grocery store chain’s history after the National Labor Relations Board approved their request for an election. The NLRB agreed that enough employees — at least 30% — submitted signed cards stating they are represented by a union and allowed for a vote to take place on July 27 and 28.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Keller @ Large: How recent Supreme Court decisions could impact Massachusetts,” by Jon Keller, WBZ: “[U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael] Rollins said that from a federal perspective, her office is monitoring to make sure there are no violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. The FACE Act is put into place to stop anyone from blocking entrances to abortion clinics."

— “Maura Healey issues new gun guidance, ‘good reason’ provisions no longer enforceable,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: “A recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court overturning a New York law restricting access to concealed carry firearm’s permits is already having an effect in Massachusetts. ‘Following the Bruen decision, licensing authorities can no longer enforce the ‘good reason’ provision of the Massachusetts law, which allowed license restrictions or denials if an applicant lacked a sufficiently good reason to fear injury to person or property,’ Attorney General Maura Healey’s office said in a release late last week.”

— More: “Big gap between Mass., NH gun laws,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “In Massachusetts, which already has some of the toughest gun control laws in the nation, Democratic lawmakers want to close what some describe as ‘loopholes’ in current firearms laws, such as a ban on ‘ghost guns’ that can be assembled using parts manufactured on 3-D printers. In neighboring New Hampshire, which has some of the loosest gun control regulations in the nation, the state’s Republican state leaders are resisting calls from Democrats for tighter restrictions and pushing back against federal legislation to restrict Second Amendment rights.”

— “In its second season, Polar Park has helped transform Worcester’s Canal District, but it’s also introduced new challenges,” by Tréa Lavery, MassLive: “It’s a late spring weeknight and Polar Park is packed and boisterous. The Worcester Red Sox are playing a home game and there’s an energy in the air. Outside the park, the streets are quieter. As the fans enter the gates, the streets in Worcester’s Canal District begin to empty. Stragglers stay for dinner in one of the neighborhood’s restaurants, but the majority of visitors are there for the main event.”

— "Gas prices continue dropping in Massachusetts, down to $4.85 a gallon," by CBS Boston.

MEDIA MATTERS

— “Miss Massachusetts 2022 winner is WBZ-TV reporter Katrina Kincaide, first Muslim woman to wear the crown,” by Noah R. Bombard, MassLive.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Pat Beaudry, Christian Greve and Boston.com alum Chris Caesar. Happy belated to Ryan Williams of Targeted Victory, who celebrated Monday.

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