 | BY KELLY GARRITY AND LISA KASHINSKY | | CAN PROGRESSIVES KEEP PROGRESSING? — Election Day poses a major test for the far left in some of the commonwealth’s biggest cities. In Boston, the City Council is at risk of a rightward shift, while progressives could make significant gains in Worcester. Boston progressives were dealt a setback when voters sent two of the City Council’s leftmost members, Ricardo Arroyo (District 5) and Kendra Lara (District 6), packing in September’s preliminary election over ethical and legal troubles. Now they could lose both of those seats if more moderate candidates José Ruiz (D5) and William King (D6) prevail over the progressives who did make it through those preliminaries — Mayor Michelle Wu -backed Enrique Pepén (D5) and Ben Weber (D6). But progressives have hope because Pepén and Weber won the most votes in their respective preliminaries. Candidates on the far left could also lose out in other races. In District 3, Boston Democratic Socialists of America-backed Joel Richards faces an uphill battle against more moderate John FitzGerald , who finished first in the preliminary with 43 percent of the vote and is backed by former mayor and past Labor Secretary Marty Walsh . Political observers believe the open seat in the at-large race will likely come down to Wu-backed progressive Henry Santana and Bridget Nee-Walsh , who describes herself as “right of center but open-minded.” Still, the left would have to lose these open seats and others to cede its council majority that’s currently composed of mainstream and far-left progressives. Smaller ideological shifts within that bloc are more likely. But the outcomes of municipal races with little to no public polling are hard to predict.
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Progressives are trying to keep their ranks on Boston's City Council by backing candidates including Enrique Pepén, pictured here at a Sunday canvass launch with prominent current and former electeds in Mattapan Square. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO | Far-left activist groups are also making plays for three seats on the Cambridge City Council left open by outgoing Councilors Quinton Zondervan, Dennis Carlone and Alanna Mallon , the vice mayor. Both Boston DSA and progressive group Our Revolution Cambridge are backing former Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler , recent Harvard grad Ayah Al-Zubi and former Zondervan aide Dan Totten . Our Revolution Cambridge also threw its weight behind challengers Joe McGuirk and Vernon Walker . Progressives appear poised to dominate in neighboring Somerville, where this year’s council races are sleepier. But the far left is not on track to achieve a majority-socialist council despite inroads that Boston DSA-backed candidates made in 2021. “What we really saw in the last municipal cycle was both voters' reaction to the George Floyd protests and a counter reaction to the ending of the Trump administration,” Evan George , co-chair of Boston DSA, told Playbook. “We had a lot of voters who wanted to show their support and solidarity with people of color, with overall leftist or progressive policies and ideals, and they went to the ballot box to really communicate that.” Years removed from the Floyd protests and Donald Trump ’s presidency, voters in these liberal cities are returning to a “more moderate voting pattern that we normally do see in municipal elections,” George said. Progressives are hoping that’s not true in Worcester , where they’re trying to expand their foothold on the council and topple a long-serving mayor. Etel Haxhiaj and Thu Nguyen grew the number of progressives on the Worcester City Council in 2021. Now another progressive councilor, Khrystian King , is among the four candidates challenging incumbent Mayor Joe Petty . Haxhiaj and Nguyen are defending their seats as several newcomers challenge more moderate incumbents. If they’re successful, Worcester could see its most progressive council in decades, said Cara Berg Powers , chair of the Worcester Working Families PAC that’s supporting several progressive incumbents and challengers. “We just have more people running that are running really good campaigns,” Berg Powers told Playbook, citing District 2, where Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson is facing a challenge from Rob Billotta , as a potential pickup. “It does seem like there's a real opportunity.” GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. T-minus 24 hours until polls open. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll swear in members of the governors’ advisory councils on veterans services and women veterans at 1 p.m. and huddle with legislative leaders at 2 p.m., both at the State House. Wu, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and AG Andrea Campbell attend a student loan forgiveness clinic at 10 a.m. at City Hall. Secretary of State Bill Galvin holds a media availability on Tuesday’s elections at 10:30 a.m. at the State House. Tips? Scoops? Email us: kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com .
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| | A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts: Delta Dental of Massachusetts is a strong advocate for brushing and flossing daily, visiting your dentist, and expressing your health. Daily oral health habits can make a huge difference in your overall health and well-being. Additionally, by maintaining good oral hygiene, you are helping your future self avoid problems such as diabetes, heart disease and dementia. Speak with your dentist or learn more information at ExpressYourHealthMA.org. | | | |  | MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS |
| NOT THERE YET — The state’s emergency family shelter system is still hovering under Gov. Maura Healey ’s self-imposed capacity limit of 7,500 families, her office said Sunday. But when it does cross that threshold, Healey said on WCVB’s “On the Record” it’s “certainly my hope” that families don’t end up sleeping in emergency rooms or at Logan Airport. Healey made clear the $250 million she wants from the Legislature to help bolster the shelter system “doesn’t actually fund additional capacity. What we need to do is continue to work on exiting people out of shelter by getting them working.” The Biden administration is partnering with Healey on a work-permit clinic next week. But Healey called for even more help on what she again cast as a broader federal immigration issue. “There are a lot of places in the country where people can go once they cross into the United States,” Healey said. “The federal government is allowing people into the United States and my position has been if you are going to allow people in, then work with us states on getting people working.” REWIND — Lisa joined GBH’s Adam Reilly and Katie Lannan on “Talking Politics” to break down what we do and don’t know about the next phase of the state’s shelter program and migrant response. — “In [L. Scott] Rice, state turns to National Guard vet to oversee Massachusetts’ strained shelter system,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “A 40-year veteran of the US Air Force and National Guard, Rice brings a resume steeped in coordinating emergency responses — to debilitating nor’easters, floods, even a terrorist attack. The 65-year-old is a methodical, hands-on organizer, according to former colleagues, friends, and neighbors, with an even-keeled demeanor that perhaps belies his decorated military background.” — “Venezuelan national convicted of homicide found at Joint Base Cape Cod emergency shelter,” by Zane Razzaq, Cape Cod Times: “The Venezuelan national, 38, did not disclose his previous homicide conviction to U.S. Border Patrol officials when they arrested him after entering the country in Texas on July 31. … ‘When the JBCC shelter provider discovered this federal oversight while assessing the individual for Emergency Assistance eligibility, they immediately notified law enforcement, who took action,’ said [a state] spokesperson."
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| | GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here. | | | | | | | YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS |
| FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — The Barbara Lee Family Foundation plans to distribute $2.5 million between a dozen charitable and educational organizations focused on advancing women’s leadership, as its namesake prepares to wind down her work electing women. Recipients include the Higher Heights Leadership Fund that supports Black women in politics, She Should Run and the Women Mayors Network . Lee plans to wind down her foundation and its political arm by the end of 2024, the Boston Globe first reported Saturday . By her count, Lee has helped elect more than 200 women in 37 states over 25 years. She was an early champion of Massachusetts politicians ranging from Gov. Maura Healey, to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, to House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark . CAMPAIGN MODE — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll isn’t on the ballot this year, but that didn’t stop the former Salem mayor from hitting the campaign trail over the weekend for some fellow Democrats. Driscoll was spotted campaigning with Acting Mayor Patrick Keefe in Revere and Melrose City Councilor Jen Grigoraitis , who’s running for mayor. Driscoll also headed out to Gardner to support Mayor Michael Nicholson and state Rep. Jon Zlotnik , who’s running against GOP state Rep. Peter Durant in tomorrow’s special state Senate election. Healey has also endorsed all four Democrats. — “Opposing groups with same name cause confusion in Newton housing debate,” by Tréa Lavery, MassLive: “The Newton for Everyone Coalition, a partnership of eight local groups and organizations, formed in early October to advocate for the Village Center Overlay District, a proposed zoning change that would allow for more and larger housing production in certain areas of the city. ... However, last week, the coalition learned of the newly-formed Newton for Everyone PAC, whose stated goal is to support local candidates who oppose the zoning change.” — “Amherst’s long division: Have town’s politics become too charged?” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Addressing political polarization and healing divisions in Amherst has been a theme for some of those running for office in Amherst’s municipal election on Tuesday, which comes after a turbulent period over the summer when the school superintendent departed and three members of the Amherst School Committee resigned, saying they had faced increasingly hostile behavior and vitriol from some in the community.”
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| | A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts:  
| | | | | 2024 WATCH |
| NOT SURE WHO THEY'RE CALLING, BUT RESULTS SHOW LOTS OF UNINFORMED VOTERS!
ONE YEAR OUT — A CommonWealth Beacon poll released last week showed troubling signs for President Joe Biden in deep-blue Massachusetts, where 46 percent of residents approve of how he’s doing his job and an equal percentage disapprove. Now a New York Times/Siena poll shows Donald Trump leading or tying Biden in five of six swing states surveyed (the poll didn’t include New Hampshire).
| | FROM THE DELEGATION |
| HELLO DARKNESS OUR OLD FRIEND — If Sen. Ed Markey had his way, the sun would still be setting after 5 p.m. But the “Sunshine Protection Act” that passed the Senate in a surprise vote last year has yet to see the light of day (read: make it to the floor) this session. The Senate and House versions of the bill that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent stand at just 44 cosponsors combined. ISRAEL-HAMAS — Markey and Sen. Elizabeth Warren continue to push for “humanitarian pauses” in Gaza to let more aid in and more people — including a Plymouth family — out. They also called, in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken late last week, for the Biden administration to “do everything possible” to secure the release of hostages being held by Hamas. But the letter notably doesn’t mention a ceasefire — something progressives and former staffers of Warren’s 2020 presidential campaign have been pushing the state’s senior senator, in particular, to call for.
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| | PLAYBOOK IS GOING GLOBAL! We’re excited to introduce Global Playbook, POLITICO’s premier newsletter that brings you inside the most important conversations at the most influential events in the world. From the buzzy echoes emanating from the snowy peaks at the WEF in Davos to the discussions and personalities at Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to the heart of diplomacy at UNGA in New York City – author Suzanne Lynch brings it all to your fingertips. Experience the elite. Witness the influential. And never miss a global beat. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. SUBSCRIBE NOW . | | | | | | | WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING |
| — “Truro voter registration hearings set to begin Tuesday in the community center,” by Walker Armstrong, Cape Cod Times: “The Truro Board of Registrars will hold hearings on 66 voter registration challenges at the Truro Community Center at 4 p.m. on Tuesday and continue for two days afterward, according to documents obtained by the Times. The hearings come three months after the Truro Part-time Resident Taxpayers Association emailed its members in August encouraging them to change their voter registration to Truro so they could vote in the since-rescheduled Oct. 21 special town meeting.” — “Extended hunt for SJC justice,” by Gintautas Dumcius, CommonWealth Beacon. — “Everett appoints interim school superintendent with deep experience and deep ties,” by Liz Neisloss, GBH News. — “The Emancipator prepares to relaunch with focus on video essays,” by Bhaamati Borkhetaria, CommonWealth Beacon. MEANWHILE, IN MAINE — "'We know what it’s like to lose a piece of our soul.’ Biden, first lady visit Lewiston to honor victims of Oct. 25 shootings," by Steve Collins, Lewiston Sun Journal.
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| | A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts: A healthy smile is a powerful thing, so it’s never too early to start practicing good oral hygiene. Although baby teeth are only around for part of your child’s life, they play a significant role in how their smile will develop. Baby teeth assist with eating, influence speech development, and hold space for permanent teeth to grow in later. Therefore, it is imperative that parents help take good care of their child’s smile. If baby teeth are not properly cared for, they can potentially damage permanent teeth and/or cause neighboring teeth to shift, which would require orthodontic treatment later in life. When the first tooth shows up, begin brushing it in soft, gentle circles twice a day. Continue helping your child and take them to regular dental appointments in order to keep their smile healthy. Speak with your dentist and learn more tips and tricks at ExpressYourHealthMA.org. | | | | | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH |
| HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Matt Kraunelis and Angelica Peebles. 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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