POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Rumor has it

 

View in browser   BY LISA KASHINSKY PROPAGANDA! NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY AVAILABLE!  NOT A SOLUTION! Presented by SITTING, WAITING, WISHING — Elizabeth Warren isn’t running for Senate again. Er, wait, she is  running. But isn't Jake Auchincloss gearing up to challenge her? Oh, sorry, it's actually Ayanna Pressley who's eyeing the seat, right? Midterms, we hardly knew ye. Campaign silly season is already upon us for 2024. But this time it seems a bit more desperate, with the state’s deep bench of Democrats chafing at the possibility of not having an open Senate seat until 2030. All that angst is a bit ironic given that we just had an open governor’s seat that only a handful of Democrats ran for, but I digress. Warren has repeatedly said she’s running for reelection — but not everyone believes her. They either think she’s running for president again or just not running at all. Then there's the group of influential Boston-area women who were rumored to be organizing a fundraiser for Auchincloss — except that’s not true. Yet chatter that Auchincloss is eyeing a run for Warren’s seat has reached some of his colleagues in Congress, who a delegation source says are none too chuffed at the possibility of another contested Senate primary so soon after the brutal bout between former Rep. Joe Kennedy III and Sen. Ed Markey in 2020. Auchincloss and Pressley are waving away higher-office ambitions  … at least for this cycle … so long as the seat’s not open. A Pressley spokesperson said she “enjoys a great relationship” with Warren and Markey, who’s said he’s running again in 2026, and that she’s “focused on continuing her impactful work” in her district. Auchincloss is also focused on his district and his upcoming work on the newly formed House select committee on China : “He has not been considering a statewide run this cycle, nor will he be a statewide candidate,” spokesperson Matt Corridoni told Playbook. Yes, yes, I know, “this cycle.”  Auchincloss and Pressley are both positioning for higher office, even if they don’t take the leap in 2024. Pressley has a national network of progressives at her disposal  and has been building relationships across Massachusetts and beyond through her “Pressley Policy Pledge.” Auchincloss has shown plenty of fundraising prowess in his short time in Congress — his cash on hand dwarfs Pressley’s, for instance — and has been building his name recognition through a lot of TV hits. And they’re far from the only two ambitious Democrats in this deep-blue state. Rep. Seth Moulton, anyone? FWIW, a new MassINC Polling Group survey shows 43 percent of residents want Warren to run for Senate again, 36 percent don't want her to run again and 21 percent don't know. Massachusetts residents are more clear about whether President Joe Biden should seek another term — a majority, 59 percent, don't want him to. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Speaking of politicians eyeing higher office… I’m in D.C. to sit down with New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu as part of POLITICO’s “The Fifty: America’s Governors” live event today. Will Sununu run for the Republican nomination against former President Donald Trump? His new political committee certainly seems like he’s taking a step in that direction. Register here to watch the program , which begins at 9:10 a.m. Catch my conversation with Sununu at 9:35 a.m. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu to participate in "The Fifty: America's Governors" event. | POLITICO TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey returns to D.C. for the National Governors Association’s winter meeting and for a meeting with our congressional delegation hosted by Rep. Richard Neal . She’ll meet with Biden administration officials on Friday and attend the New England Governors Convening and a dinner at the White House with the president and first lady on Saturday. Tips? Scoops? Headed to NGA today or tomorrow? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com . PROPAGANDA! NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY AVAILABLE!                              NOT A SOLUTION!  A message from NextEra Energy: A Beacon Research Poll shows that a majority of Massachusetts voters support clean, low-cost nuclear energy as a tool to fight climate change. Support for nuclear increases beyond 70% as people learn more.   DATELINE BEACON HILL — SURVEY SAYS: Massachusetts residents say the economy is the most important issue Gov. Maura Healey should focus on, followed by housing costs and inflation, according to the new MassINC Polling Group survey. Healey starts her term with a 42 percent favorability rating, while 21 percent of residents view her unfavorably. And more than a third either aren't sure how to feel about the new governor or have never heard of her. It's early, but remember this as a benchmark for later in her term. — NEW CAUCUS ALERT: Speaking of prioritizing housing issues, Sen. Lydia Edwards and Rep. Mike Connolly are launching a Housing for All caucus. The 61 members are focused on homelessness prevention, tenant protections, support for first-time homebuyers, affordable housing production, zoning reform and ending housing discrimination. Beyond pushing legislation and budget priorities, the lawmakers say they’re hoping to work across branches with Gov. Maura Healey ’s eventual housing secretary to advance their aims. — “Senate poised to pass measure eliminating Senate president’s term limits, Democrats say,” by Matt Stout and Samantha J. Gross, Boston Globe: “A surprise proposal to abolish term limits for the Massachusetts Senate’s president, and extend Karen E. Spilka’s current tenure indefinitely, has enough support to easily pass the chamber, according to four Democrats familiar with internal discussions. The Senate meets Thursday to vote on its rules package, to which lawmakers are expected to attach the term-limit amendment. … Support, however, is not universal." — “GOP lawmakers, advocates, seek more transparency,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr and other GOP lawmakers have filed three dozen amendments to the proposed rules package seeking to provide more time for lawmakers, the public and press to review legislative proposals. Tarr says would result in increased transparency and better civic engagement.” — “Long overlooked, child care industry may finally get a permanent lifeline from Beacon Hill,” by Samantha J. Gross, Boston Globe: “For the first time in recent memory, all three key decision makers on Beacon Hill — Governor Maura Healey, Senate President Karen E. Spilka, and House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano — have explicitly said they want to tackle the issue, expressing support for legislation that would infuse the child care sector with public funding, much like K-12 schools already receive. It aims to create a five-year blueprint to provide child care and preschool for all families, and bump up the value of child care subsidies awarded to the state’s neediest families.” — “Even after 28 years in office, secretary of state has comprehensive to-do list,” by Kinga Borondy, Telegram & Gazette: “On his agenda for the coming four-year term, [Secretary of State Bill] Galvin plans to advocate for Election Day registration, a measure he has endorsed since 2018, and also wants to see the state tackle the problem of domestic violence and referenced the growing incidents of murder/suicide.”   JOIN POLITICO ON 2/9 TO HEAR FROM AMERICA’S GOVERNORS: In a divided Congress, more legislative and policy enforcement will shift to the states, meaning governors will take a leading role in setting the agenda for the nation. Join POLITICO on Thursday, Feb. 9 at World Wide Technology's D.C. Innovation Center for The Fifty: America's Governors, presented by Cisco, where we will examine where innovations are taking shape and new regulatory red lines, the future of reproductive health, and how climate change is being addressed across a series of one-on-one interviews. REGISTER HERE .     FROM THE HUB — “When it comes to rent control, Wu’s plan aims for a delicate balance,” by Emma Platoff and Catherine Carlock, Boston Globe: “Experts say [Boston Mayor Michelle] Wu’s proposal, far from the existential threat landlords had feared, is modest — more like the compromise state laws negotiated in California and Oregon than the stringent caps in the nation’s other most expensive cities. Wu says her approach strikes a balance: strict enough to prevent predatory rent hikes, flexible enough to keep the housing market growing.” — “Boston City Council absences weigh down participatory budgeting vote, which fails,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “City residents approved a ballot question in 2021 to start [the participatory budgeting] process, which now will be built out for future use amid the rough framework laid out by the city. But now, through an odd twist of dueling city-rules esoterica, in these opening stages it will be governed by a board of nine unpaid members, as Mayor Michelle Wu proposed, and not the 11 paid people that the councilors had up for a vote.” DAY IN COURT — “State expands court text messaging system,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “The state is expanding a program that sends texts and emails to criminal defendants reminding them of court dates, claiming it is saving money and helping reduce a mountain of warrants for people who fail to show up.” PROPAGANDA! NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY AVAILABLE!  NOT A SOLUTION!   A message from NextEra Energy:     WARREN REPORT — “Drowning in Day Care Costs? Under This New Bill, Many Families Would Pay $10 a Day,” by Abby Vesoulis, Mother Jones: “On Thursday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) [introduced] a bill that would create a mandatory federal investment to create a network of locally-run child care centers that ensure families pay no more than 7 percent of their income on childcare and that lower-income families making less than 75 percent of their state median income pay nothing.” MARKEYCHUSETTS — STATEMENT ACCESSORY: Sen. Ed Markey is hitting back at Republicans and antiabortion activists who criticized him for wearing a pin supporting abortion access to the president's State of the Union address. The gold "abortion" pin , with a heart in one of the letters, was given to Markey by Planned Parenthood. "I’ll tell you what’s actually disgusting and vile: Republicans who will stop at nothing to control the bodies of pregnant people," Markey said in an email to supporters Wednesday. MAHTY MONITOR — ALL QUIET ON THE WALSH FRONT: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre didn’t have much to say Wednesday about Labor Secretary Marty Walsh ’s pending departure from the Biden administration. “He is still, today, the Department of Labor secretary,” she told reporters. “I just don't have anything to share on any personnel.” TODAY'S SPECIAL (ELECTION) — “It's a race: 6 return papers for mayor, setting up preliminary in special election,” by Dustin Luca, Salem News: “The city will now hold a preliminary on Tuesday, March 28, in the special mayoral election, leaving city voters to narrow the field down to two candidates for a final election in May.”   DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID .     FROM THE 413 — “Is Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer running for reelection?” by Meg Britton-Mehlisch, Berkshire Eagle: “There’s still two months until nomination papers for this year’s municipal elections are available, but already the mayor’s race has generated multiple candidates. Noticeably absent from the list of names of potential city leaders is current Mayor Linda Tyer.” — "Records obtained under new Mass. law show Holyoke police dismiss nearly all civilian complaints," by Dusty Christensen, NEPM. THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Encore allowed to expand its gaming footprint,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted 4-1 on Wednesday to allow Encore Boston Harbor to expand its gambling operations in Everett to a new property under development across the street from the company’s existing casino. The commission bent over backwards to accommodate the expansion, interpreting a 2013 vote by Everett voters as a mandate for extending gambling beyond the company’s original footprint.” — “Woburn teachers turn to community support for hefty strike fines,” by Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald: “Facing a mountain of debt after their week-long strike, the Woburn Teachers Association is reaching out to the community for help — and hearing back. ‘Any help would be immensely appreciated!! We have some fines to pay and unfortunately the (bake) sale couldn’t cover it all!!’ the Woburn Teachers Association tweeted Wednesday, linking a GoFundMe page.” — “Worcester police union, seeking delay, says body cameras a contract issue,” by Cyrus Moulton, Telegram & Gazette: “The police union began Tuesday's City Council meeting by requesting that the body camera program be delayed until the completion of contract negotiations. … But while councilors later had suggestions and a lot of questions regarding a proposed body camera policy, the councilors’ overall message to City Manager Eric D. Batista was clear: Get it done.” PROPAGANDA! NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY AVAILABLE!  NOT A SOLUTION!   A message from NextEra Energy: Registered voters in Massachusetts show a clear interest in leveraging nuclear energy in the fight against climate change, according to a recent Beacon Research survey. The survey focused on the state’s energy resources, specifically how nuclear energy can be incorporated to reach long-term clean energy goals.   HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Gail Huff Brown, Geoff Young, Jessica Ross and Audrey Scagnelli. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: TERM LIMITS OF ENDEARMENT — Hosts Steve Koczela and Jennifer Smith discuss MassINC Polling Group's new survey and the pending demise of term limits for the Senate president. 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 Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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