Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Ballot battles beget strange bedfellows

Friday, September 15, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Ballot battles beget strange bedfellows

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THE ODD THROUPLE — Diana DiZoglio is turning to two unlikely allies in her quest to audit the Legislature.

As DiZoglio pushes a ballot question to formalize her authority to crack open her former colleagues’ books, the auditor is reaching across the aisle for help clearing the next hurdle: collecting nearly 75,000 signatures by mid-November.

The Democrat called up MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale, who said she’s more than willing to have Republicans pitch in.

“It’s an initiative that we support, and we absolutely would welcome the opportunity to work with her,” Carnevale said of DiZoglio. The party is already planning a webinar for early next week to get GOP activists up to speed on DiZoglio’s initiative.

DiZoglio is also pulling support from the opposite end of the political spectrum. Our Revolution Massachusetts, a progressive group that backed DiZoglio's opponent in last year's Democratic primary for auditor, has endorsed her ballot effort.

ORM members also plan to back the resolution DiZoglio hopes to bring forward at next weekend’s MassDems convention, which asks the party to support not only regular audits of the Legislature but “any necessary legal action against any impediments” to those reviews.

These former foes are uniting in the name of legislative transparency — and to stick it to the Democratic establishment that’s been stonewalling DiZoglio for months. As she pursues her ballot question, DiZoglio is also waiting on Attorney General Andrea Campbell to say whether she can proceed with suing the Legislature into complying with the audit its leaders have so far resisted.

“It’s all hands on deck and this is a nonpartisan, good-government issue,” DiZoglio said. “I am grateful to have folks of all political stripes joining our fight for greater transparency and accountability on Beacon Hill.”

GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. DiZoglio has a different fight on her hands first.

The auditor is the only statewide officeholder not on the list of Democratic convention speakers that was shared with Playbook last night. It’s not clear whether she’ll be able to speak on her audit resolution, either.

MassDems Chair Steve Kerrigan said in an email that’s because the auditor didn’t request a speaking slot, and that he looks “forward to working with her to make this a successful Convention for everyone.” That’s a break from prior conventions, where constitutional officers were offered speaking time without having to ask, according to a person familiar with the planning for past party events.

DiZoglio is accusing party leaders of attempting to censor talk of her legislative review. “I have very clearly requested the same opportunity to speak that every other statewide elected has been given,” DiZoglio told Playbook. “Censorship of my comments or of my ability to speak does not serve the Democratic Party or anyone else.”

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll hold a storm preparedness press conference at 11:30 a.m. at the State House. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends a POW/MIA recognition ceremony at 10 a.m. at City Hall Plaza and speaks at an EMT graduation ceremony at 11 a.m. at Faneuil Hall.

THIS WEEKEND — Boston City Council President Ed Flynn is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Former Acting Gov. Jane Swift is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Tips? Scoops? Resolutions for the MassDems convention? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .

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MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

— PRIMARY PROBLEMS: National Democrats have put off dealing with New Hampshire’s position in the 2024 primary lineup for another month, as expected .

To recap: The Democratic National Committee earlier this year approved a plan pushed by President Joe Biden that would elevate South Carolina, a more diverse state that propelled Biden to the nomination in 2020, to the top of the primary calendar. New Hampshire would be bumped down to a shared second date with Nevada.

But New Hampshire law says the state has to hold its primary a week before any others, and Republicans who control state government there refuse to change it (see: Gov. Chris Sununu posting on X yesterday that “New Hampshire will be going first whether Joe Biden likes it or not.”) The primary date is also set by the secretary of state, not the party.

With no solution in sight, the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to give New Hampshire Democrats until Oct. 14 to comply with the calendar order or get kicked out of the official early state window. If New Hampshire holds an unsanctioned primary, Biden might not put his name on the ballot — though there’s talk of waging a write-in campaign for him — and state Democrats risk losing half their delegates at next year’s nominating convention.

New Hampshire Democrats greeted the extension — the third they’ve been granted, but didn’t seek — with a shrug: “We have done everything in our power to comply with the DNC’s requests with regard to our primary calendar and have every intention of complying with New Hampshire state law from which the primary date is set,” party Chair Ray Buckley said in a statement. “We look forward to putting this unnecessary distraction behind us.”

Democrats don’t have much more time to figure this out. Candidates have to file for the yet-to-be-set 2024 primaries by Oct. 27.

— “Christie’s Big Bet: ‘If I Don’t Do Well in New Hampshire, Then I’ll Leave’,” by Nick Corasaniti, The New York Times.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— TAX TIMELINE: Gov. Maura Healey “absolutely” wants lawmakers to strike a deal on long-languishing tax relief before formal sessions end for the year on Nov. 15. Business groups, including a network of nine chambers of commerce , are also amping up pressure on legislators to get moving. But in a statement to State House News Service yesterday , House Speaker Ron Mariano ’s office said only that negotiators “continue to work through the differences” between the chambers’ proposals. Legislative leaders, including chief House negotiator Aaron Michlewitz , have previously declined to set a deadline for wrapping up their tax talks.

— "UMass Board Bypassed In Abortion Pill Decision," by Sam Doran, State House News Service (paywall): "The president of the University of Massachusetts and chancellor of its Amherst campus appear to have moved unilaterally in April as they agreed to facilitate the state's bulk purchase of abortion pills in response to a federal court decision in Texas."

GO INSIDE THE WORLD’S BIGGEST DIPLOMATIC PLATFORM WITH UNGA PLAYBOOK: The 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly will jam some of the world's most influential leaders into four city blocks in Manhattan. POLITICO's special edition UNGA Playbook will take you inside this important gathering starting Sept. 17 — revealing newsy nuggets throughout the week and insights into the most pressing issues facing global decision-makers today. Sign up for UNGA Playbook .

MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS

— “AG’s office offers grants for immigrant legal services,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: “The state’s Attorney General announced Thursday she will set aside $750,000 to help cover legal costs faced by newly arrived immigrants. The money will be issued as grants to nonprofit legal service organizations and their community partners that are working to assist immigrants navigating the immigration system or hoping to work.”

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

— “Deep-pocketed super PACs showered cash on Boston City Council races,” by Walter Wuthmann, WBUR: “[A] PAC called ‘Enough is Enough’ and a PAC called ‘Forward Boston’ raised and spent tens of thousands of dollars to oppose councilors Kendra Lara and Ricardo Arroyo.”

— WU 2025: The Dorchester Reporter’s takeaway from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’s heavy hand in the District 5 City Council preliminary and her recent overtures to the business community? She’s running for reelection without saying she’s running for reelection. We’ll see if that prediction pans out.

— UNPACKING SPRINGFIELD’S PRELIM: Western Mass Politics & Insight’s Matt Szafranski has six takeaways from the preliminary election that sets Mayor Domenic Sarno against City Councilor Justin Hurst in the November general election, and a look at where the race could go from here .

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “After new safety troubles, federal regulators put T on an even tighter leash,” by Laura Crimaldi and Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: “Federal regulators again on Thursday ordered the MBTA to take immediate actions to prevent further safety failures on its subway and imposed new restrictions on the agency’s access to its own tracks, a move that will likely slow the T’s efforts to make badly needed repairs."

A message from Endicott College:

PARTY POLITICS

MASSGOP DESPERATION!

— BACK IN THE FOLD: In case you needed more evidence that the MassGOP is friendlier to former Gov. Charlie Baker and former Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito under its new leadership, look no further than the fundraiser Polito is headlining for the party later this month. Tickets run from $500 to $1,000 for the Sept. 26 luncheon in Worcester that features a “roundtable discussion on the future of the party,” according to an invitation obtained by Playbook.

— ROMNEY’S EXIT REVIEW: Depending on which Massachusetts Republicans you talk to, former governor, failed presidential candidate and retiring Utah U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney is either being hailed for expanding health care and extending moderate Republicans’ reign in the Bay State or being kicked for being a “Republican In Name Only” on his way out the door. For a fuller portrait of his time leading the Bay State, try this from the Boston Globe's Tal Kopan : "As Mitt Romney announces end of political career, Massachusetts’ influence remains."

BALLOT BATTLES

— SHAPING THE RENT CONTROL DEBATE: More than 60 percent of likely voters would support a ballot question to institute local-option rent control, according to a new poll commissioned by the committee formed by state Rep. Mike Connolly that’s pushing to put that very question before voters next year. Support for local-option rent control in past polls has varied based on how the question is asked.

DAY IN COURT

— “Greenfield man arraigned for storming U.S. Capitol during Jan. 6 riot,” by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican: “Christopher Keniley pleaded innocent to charges in federal court of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds, parading and demonstrating in a Capitol building and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.”

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WARREN REPORT

— “Elizabeth Warren created a federal agency once. Can she do it again?” by Sara Morrison, Vox: “Sen. Elizabeth Warren has an idea for a new federal agency that takes on some of the most powerful and valuable companies in the world, aiming to protect consumers from their abusive business practices. You’d be forgiven for assuming I’m referring to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the federal agency that Warren is largely and deservedly credited with creating. No, this is about a new bill that would create another new agency: the Digital Consumer Protection Commission Act, or DCPC.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Batista pledges police transparency, says reporting hastened chief’s retirement,” by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette: “City Manager Eric D. Batista said he and Interim Police Chief Paul Saucier are committed to transparency in a radio interview Thursday, during which he indicated that reporting regarding the conduct of former Police Chief Steven M. Sargent had hastened Sargent's retirement.”

— “Feared collapse of Leominster dam highlights hundreds more that threaten damage,” by Craig LeMoult, GBH News.

— “To prove cannabis odor won't be a problem for neighbors, the Select Board says a Great Barrington farmer will need to hire an odor specialist,” by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle.

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HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — Elizabeth Warren, Maura Healey and Gabe Amo alum Mindy Myers will helm the polling team for President Joe Biden's reelection campaign.

— Julia Murphy is now special assistant to the deputy secretary of Commerce. She most recently was chief of staff for state Rep. Smitty Pignatelli.

— Former U.S. ambassador Donald L. Heflin has been named ED of Tufts Fletcher School’s Edward R. Murrow Center.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Diane Levin and Anthony Barsamian , co-chair of the Armenian Assembly of America. Happy belated to Victoria Esser of Belle Haven Consulting.

HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Segun Idowu , Boston’s chief of economic opportunity and inclusion, who celebrates Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers MassDems Chair Steve Kerrigan, David Wade and JJ Klein .

NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: SLOW COMMOTION — Hosts Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky break down Boston and Springfield’s preliminary election results. Host Steve Koczela and MassINC Polling Group research director Rich Parr share their latest MBTA polling. 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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