Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Clash of the MassGOP caucuses

Friday, April 7, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Clash of the MassGOP caucuses

BY SOPHIE GARDNER , LISA KASHINSKY AND KELLY GARRITY

STATE COMMITTEE STRIFE — Jim Lyons is out, but the MassGOP's internal power struggle rages on.

The latest battleground: state committee vacancies. New Chair Amy Carnevale is calling caucuses to fill the handful of state committee seats left open by Lyons in the run-up to January’s party leadership election. And Lyons’ allies are running conservative candidates against people who they perceive as supporting Carnevale, in an apparent bid to regain the control they narrowly lost.

Both sides have some wins already. Caucuses have already been held for four of the seven open seats, which correspond with state Senate districts. In the First Suffolk, establishment-backed candidates Timothy J. Smyth Jr. and Elizabeth Hinds-Ferrick won both vacant spots. But Lyons ally Todd Taylor already told Playbook he’s planning on challenging the results over a last-minute venue change and a voter-registration disagreement.

Lyons-aligned candidates won two other caucuses — Maria Collins in the First Plymouth & Bristol, and Aaron Packard in the Worcester & Middlesex — earning them congratulatory social media posts from the former chair. That leaves three more caucuses, including for a seat that just opened up yesterday.

Rumors abound as to why Lyons never called the caucuses, though many people chalk it up to the political calculus of trying to stay in power. Lyons didn’t respond to Playbook’s request for comment. But Smyth said Lyons had asked him to run for state committee in 2021 — before losing interest in holding his caucus once he learned Smyth wouldn’t move to kick former Gov. Charlie Baker off the party’s executive committee . That “was the big sticking point,” Smyth said.

Taylor insists the caucus competition isn’t about reinstalling Lyons as chair, but is instead part of a larger fight over the party's direction. Lyons and his allies view the MassGOP as a corrupt party long on the decline that was ultimately run into the ground by Baker and his supporters — despite the fact Lyons appears to have bankrupted the party and is now suing for back pay. They’re also distrustful of Carnevale, who courted the Baker crowd to become chair.

“Lyons is one person in a movement” to “rebuild this party” in a more conservative image, Taylor said.

The caucus iteration of the GOP’s intraparty feud will come to a head at the June state committee meeting, when new members are likely to be ratified and get the chance to weigh in on whether to continue the lawsuit Lyons started against treasurer Pat Crowley over the party’s finances.

But the new members only get a vote if they’re seated before the lawsuit comes up on the agenda — which is set by Carnevale, who’s advising the committee to drop the lawsuit. Usually caucus winners are ratified first, and Carnevale told Playbook that she doesn’t “expect at this point” to depart from that.

If this all seems like more MassGOP minutiae, think of the bigger picture. Republican infighting has already led to messy primaries that have further divided the party and distracted from what’s supposed to be their common goal — defeating Democrats. If they can’t put aside their differences now, Republicans have little hope of winning back state legislative seats next year, let alone fielding a serious challenge to Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Watch out for stray antelopes today — one escaped from a Ludlow zoo this week and is reportedly still wandering around near Wilbraham .

TODAY — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu holds a press availability following a violence reduction workshop at 10:30 a.m. at BPL’s Roxbury branch. Rep. Jim McGovern visits the Grafton Senior Center at 10:30 a.m. Rep. Richard Neal announces federal funding at 11:30 a.m. at Nichols College. Carnevale is on GBH’s “Talking Politics” at 7 p.m.

THIS WEEKEND — Lisa joins State House News Service’s Craig Sandler for a Beacon Hill rundown on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Tips? Scoops? Antelope sightings? Send them to sgardner@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com . And get in touch with Lisa for Monday's edition: lkashinsky@politico.com .

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FROM THE DELEGATION

— RAISING ISSUE: Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are now speaking up in support of ActBlue workers fighting layoffs at the Somerville-based online fundraising platform for Democrats.

Warren and Markey had stayed silent in the days following ActBlue’s decision to slash its workforce to control costs , even as Playbook reported other Democrats were starting to back the affected employees and their union. But Warren posted a message Thursday urging the company and the union to “reach a resolution that is fair and equitable for the workers” while Markey called to “find alternatives” to the layoffs .

— “Mass. representatives call on First Citizens to continue SVB’s affordable housing initiatives here,” by Dana Gerber, Boston Globe: “In a letter sent Thursday to Frank Holding Jr., the CEO of First Citizens Bank, the elected officials asked that the North Carolina-based lender reaffirm its commitment to the construction projects, mortgage programs, and other affordable housing initiatives that SVB agreed to fund prior to its March meltdown.”

THE LATEST NUMBERS

— “Massachusetts updates how COVID deaths are counted, state virus cases drop 9%,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "State health officials have updated how COVID-19 deaths are counted, limiting COVID-associated deaths to those with COVID listed on the death certificate. ... On Thursday, the state Department of Public Health reported 1,845 virus cases over the last week. The daily average of 264 COVID cases from the last week was a 9% decrease from the daily rate of 289 virus infections during the previous week.”

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “Exodus of wealthy residents called non-existent,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The left-leaning Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center tossed a provocative analysis into the tax reform debate on Beacon Hill on Thursday, issuing a short but pointed brief suggesting the business community narrative that millionaires are fleeing the state is unfounded. The Budget and Policy Center said Internal Revenue Service data from 2011 to 2020 indicate out-migration of high-income households is low in Massachusetts compared to other states.”

— “Should prisoners be allowed to vote? Two Massachusetts politicians say yes,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: “A pair of state lawmakers are pushing to allow prisoners with felony convictions to vote — undoing a constitutional amendment approved decades ago. If approved, it would set back the clock two decades to when voters backed the prisoner voting ban.”

— “Boston Marathon betting prohibited after Boston Athletic Association raises concerns,” by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive: “Gaming regulators threw cold water Thursday on a request from DraftKings to offer wagering on the upcoming Boston Marathon, citing concerns raised by the Boston Athletic Association about lack of notice and potential issues with the integrity of the race.”

— “To lower drug costs, report says let doctors dispense,” by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Magazine: “In Massachusetts, a doctor who diagnoses someone with pneumonia has to send the patient off to a pharmacy to fill a prescription for antibiotics. In most other states, the doctor can dispense the prescription right in the office, saving the patient time and money. … [GOP state Rep. Nicholas Boldyga has refiled] a bill to allow direct physician dispensing in Massachusetts.”

— “Boston police officer, former Tyngsborough officer suspended by POST Commission,” by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive.

GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World , will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat .

FROM THE HUB

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: 10th Suffolk state representative candidate Bill MacGregor has been endorsed by several unions: IBEW Local 103, Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen Local 3, Sprinkler Fitters Local 550 and OPEIU Local 6. MacGregor has raised the most money of the three Democrats running for the seat, according to state campaign finance reports through the end of March. But Celia Segel had the most cash on hand to start the month, fueled by donations from Harvard President Larry Bacow and former Gov. Mike Dukakis .

— “Housing at the library? It may be coming to your Boston neighborhood,” by Andrew Brinker, Boston Globe.

KENNEDY COMPOUND

— 2024 WATCH: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to launch his presidential campaign on April 19 at the Boston Park Plaza, according to his campaign. The former environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist joins Marianne Williamson in long-shot bids challenging President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination.

Kennedy’s sister Kerry Kennedy is distancing herself and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the nonprofit named for their father that she runs, from her brother and his presidential ambitions.

“I love my brother Bobby, but I do not share or endorse his opinions on many issues, including the COVID pandemic, vaccinations, and the role of social media platforms in policing false information,” she said in a Thursday statement. “It is also important to note that Bobby's views are not reflected in or influence the mission or work of our organization.”

DATELINE D.C.

— “John Kerry’s Gmail account ‘discouraged’ but still defended by State Department, sort of,” by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: “The U.S. State Department argues Climate czar John Kerry can use a personal Gmail account for government business — despite the risky practice being ‘discouraged’ in the very manual they cite.”

FROM THE 413

— “School committee chair details ‘alarm bells’ over superintendent candidate,” by Emily Thurlow, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “A week after the School Committee’s decision to rescind a job offer to superintendent finalist Vito Perrone because he used the salutation ‘Ladies’ in an email, Chairperson Cynthia Kwiecinski spoke out for the first time on Thursday, saying that there’s more to the story. ‘The general feeling was that there were too many concerns before we had even begun negotiating the rest of the contract and alarm bells were going off,’ Kwiecinski said Thursday in an emailed statement to the Gazette.”

— “Chicopee adopts flag ordinance nearly a year after flap over Sikh flag,” by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican.

— “UMass rally calls for end to campus police, ensuring housing for 900 students without it,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “New report finds former Methuen police chief should face criminal charges in a ‘textbook case of public corruption’,” by Andrea Estes, Boston Globe: “Joseph Solomon ran the Methuen Police Department like the ‘don of an organized crime family,’ relying on ‘humiliation, fear, intimidation, and retaliation,’ according to a new city-funded investigation that found the former chief repeatedly broke the law during his 15-year tenure.”

— “Danvers Select Board frowns on Town Meeting recall article,” by Caroline Enos, Salem News: “The Select Board voted unfavorably on a warrant article that would implement a recall process for elected officials if approved during this spring’s Annual Town Meeting, partially because one member feared it would target him.”

— “Can Gov. Healey's supplemental SNAP help the overwhelming nutritional need on Cape?” by Rachael Devaney, Cape Cod Times.

— “Bristol County Sheriff Increases Training Requirements for Corrections Officers,” by Marcus Ferro, WBSM.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to POLITICO’s Daniel Lippman , a Great Barrington native; Helice Rubin Picheny, NGP VAN’s Jeremiah Thompson and Joe Nigro.

HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Melissa Olesen of Sen. Ed Markey’s office, Maddie Beecher and Jackie Kessel , who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-er former state Rep. Dan Cullinane .

NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: IT'S FUN TO WORK AT THE M-B-T-A — Boston Herald alum Sean Philip Cotter joins hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky to break down Boston’s court fight over redistricting. MassLive’s Chris Van Buskirk helps the hosts unpack the MBTA’s hiring woes. 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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