POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: New Hampshire's predictable primary

 

BY KELLY GARRITY , LISA KASHINSKY AND MIA MCCARTHY

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THANK YOU, NEXT — It was an unremarkable conclusion to a New Hampshire presidential primary that never quite reached its usual fever pitch. Granite State voters delivered Donald Trump a decisive win in the state where Nikki Haley stood her best, and likely last, chance of toppling the former president. Trump's allies — including a growing group of his former rivals — stood onstage at a watch party in Nashua and declared the GOP primary over. Trump was more focused on grousing about Haley.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during his primary night event at the Sheraton hotel in Nashua, N.H., on Jan. 23, 2024. | Jamie Kelter Davis for POLITICO

The former South Carolina governor vowed to fight on after notching the “strong second place” her top surrogate in the state, GOP Gov. Chris Sununu, said she needed to show strength against a seemingly unstoppable opponent. “New Hampshire is first in the nation, it is not the last in the nation,” Haley told her supporters in Concord. “This race is far from over. There are dozens of states left to go.” The problem for Haley: Many of those states favor Trump — much more so than New Hampshire’s independent-heavy voter base did. Next up is Nevada, where Haley isn’t competing for delegates. And her home state of South Carolina is Trump country: He has the backing of both of the state's U.S. senators and other top elected officials, plus a roughly 30-point lead in the polls, according to the latest FiveThirtyEight average . Pressure on Haley to drop out is mounting from other Republicans who have rallied around Trump in recent days. But Haley’s most ardent supporters are emboldened even in her defeat, telling Playbook that coming within 10 points of the effective incumbent shows he’s “vulnerable” and arguing that Haley has a path through Super Tuesday states with open primaries — like Massachusetts. Jennifer Nassour, a former Massachusetts GOP chair who leads the state’s Women for Nikki coalition, said the Bay State — where more than 60 percent of voters are unenrolled — presents an “opportunity” for Haley.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley delivers remarks at her primary night rally at the Grappone Conference Center on Jan. 23, 2024 in Concord, New Hampshire. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Plus, the effort to remove the former president from the ballot is still alive here after the coalition challenging Trump’s eligibility filed an emergency appeal with the state’s highest court. But a tight timeline for the state-level appeal and a pending U.S. Supreme Court case means it’s likely voters will be able to fill in the oval next to Trump’s name on March 5. And the nation took another step closer to a (largely unwanted) 2020 redux on the Democratic side of the ballot last night, too. President Joe Biden sailed to a solid victory over his long-shot challengers, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) and self-help author Marianne Williamson, despite not being on the ballot. The Democratic National Committee doesn’t plan to count the contest toward this summer's convention. But the results reinforced that Biden is running headlong toward a rematch with Trump — and that for all of the hand-wringing about his weak approval ratings and polls showing him trailing Trump in a general election, Democrats are still willing to rally behind Biden when it matters. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Dive into the full results and key takeaways from Tuesday night. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speak at “Creative Sector Day” at 10:30 a.m. at the State House. Healey and Driscoll unveil the administration’s fiscal year 2025 budget with members of their Cabinet at 1 p.m. at the State House. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and faith leaders hold a vigil for those killed in Gaza and Israel at 5 p.m. at the Boston Public Library. Rep Lori Trahan and state and local leaders host a clinic to assist residents with casework at 10 a.m. in Lawrence.

A message from Equinor: The energy transition is the defining opportunity of our time and Massachusetts is helping lead the way. At Equinor, we are determined to use our competence, skills, and innovative spirit to continually search for solutions that will advance the energy transition. Our ambition is to break new ground, create lasting value, and supply energy to a thriving world while achieving net zero by 2050. Discover more about Equinor at www.equinor.com/USA.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

DOLLAR SIGNS — Gov. Maura Healey laid out ambitious plans to funnel more funding to the MBTA, overhaul the state’s literacy curriculum and begin making multiyear investments in climate tech in her State of the Commonwealth speech last week, even as the state contends with cuts to its current budget amid lackluster revenue hauls. Today, we’ll learn more about how exactly her administration plans to fund those and other programs in the coming fiscal year. Some of what we can expect to see when Healey reveals her budget at 1 p.m.: nearly $590 million in additional funding to expand access to child care , $10 million for mental health services and $8.7 billion in local aid . — “Is this the year Massachusetts declares itself a sanctuary state?,” by Kinga Borondy, Telegram & Gazette.

BALLOT BATTLES

DON'T MAKE YOUR DECISION BASED ON ADS! Gather your information based on FACTS! — “Out-of-state contributors shuttled millions to Massachusetts ballot question campaigns,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: " A group backing a potential ballot question in Massachusetts that would classify app-based drivers as independent contractors rather than employees raised more than $6.8 million last year exclusively from the companies that have a large stake in the proposal." — “Donors to DiZoglio ballot campaign mostly hail from business sector,” by Gintautas Dumcius, CommonWealth Beacon.

DAY IN COURT

— “Mass. top court says defense attorneys should have gotten more information from Hampden DA,” by Greta Jochem, MassLive: “Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s office failed to fully disclose and investigate potentially exculpatory evidence in criminal cases that may have been affected by Springfield Police misconduct, the state Supreme Judicial Court decided in an opinion Tuesday. …The court decision issued Tuesday ordered the district attorney’s office to obtain all documents that the Department of Justice reviewed in its investigation and turn them over to the lawsuit’s plaintiffs.”

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FROM THE DELEGATION

STEWARD invested heavily in EMERGENCY ROOMS! If you have an auto accident, they don't require pre-approval to run expensive tests and exhaust your PIP Coverage and they do! The better doctors have mostly left and gone elsewhere. STEWARD laid off older, highly qualified workers and hired newer, inexperienced, lower paid employees. STEWARD made MORTON the COVID hospital for the $$$ and ignored appropriate COVID protocols. It's time for a serious evaluation of the POOR CARE from these FOR PROFIT HOSPITALS! — “Mass. congressional delegation demands update on Steward Health Care crisis,” by Jessica Bartlett, The Boston Globe: “Members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation are demanding updates from Steward Health Care system about how it plans to stabilize its teetering business before it creates a public health crisis. The request, from the state’s two U.S. senators and all nine of its U.S. House members, cited recent reporting by The Boston Globe that detailed the depths of Steward’s financial distress. The system, which operates nine hospitals in Massachusetts, has been in conversations with the state about what it might do next.”

DATELINE D.C.

— “Former R.I. U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy becoming lobbyist for mental health and addiction policies,” by Mark Arsenault, The Boston Globe: “More than a dozen years after walking away from one of the safest seats in Congress, former Rhode Island U.S. Representative Patrick J. Kennedy is heading back to Washington, D.C., as a consultant and lobbyist, aiming to influence federal policy on matters related to mental health and addiction.”

A message from Equinor:

"R" voters are conspicuously uninformed.... and MASS GOP continues to support extremists. Review their history, their actions before supporting them. MASS GOP is heading for electoral extinction for the EXTREMISTS they have supported. REPUBLICAN EXTREMIST Mathew Muratore REPUBLICAN EXTREMIST Kari MacRae: This CLOWN for SENATE? You have to be kidding! Using the EXTREMIST PETER DURANT as a success indicates how Whacky MASS GOP has become. ABOUT TIME — After teasing a possible bid for weeks, state Rep. Mathew Muratore officially jumped in the race to succeed Democratic state Sen. Susan Moran , who is foregoing reelection to seek a county post. In a statement announcing his bid, Muratore pointed to an “affordability crisis” in Massachusetts, and knocked the state’s “right-to-shelter” law — a move GOP state Sen. Peter Durant leaned on in his successful bid to flip former Sen. Anne Gobi ’s seat. Two candidates are already in the running for the Plymouth and Barnstable seat — Democratic state Rep. Dylan Fernandes (who has the backing of Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll ) and Bourne School Committee member Kari MacRae , a Republican. FROM THE 413 — “City, town leaders cheer Healey proposal for local tax options; harder sell on Beacon Hill,” by James Pentland, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Local leaders are reacting favorably to legislation filed this week by Gov. Maura Healey that would give municipalities the authority to increase local option taxes on meals, lodging and motor vehicles. The state’s Democratic legislative leaders, however, are taking a more cautious approach to the governor’s so-called Municipal Empowerment Act, while Republicans are firmly against it.” — “Easthampton Mayor LaChapelle tapped to lead state Mayors’ Association,” by Maddie Fabian, Daily Hampshire Gazette.   YOUR GUIDE TO EMPIRE STATE POLITICS : From the newsroom that doesn’t sleep, POLITICO's New York Playbook is the ultimate guide for power players navigating the intricate landscape of Empire State politics. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest and most important stories from Albany, New York City and around the state, with in-depth, original reporting to stay ahead of policy trends and political developments. Subscribe now to keep up with the daily hustle and bustle of NY politics.      THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Federal vouchers could help halve homelessness among former Mass. foster children. Why isn’t the state using them?,” by Jason Laughlin, The Boston Globe. — “In Worcester, a special sendoff for National Guard unit on its way to Middle East,” by Craig S. Semon, Telegram & Gazette. — “Ex-Chicopee schools superintendent pleads guilty to lying to FBI during shakedown inquiry,” by Stephanie Barry, MassLive. — “No school in Newton Wednesday as teachers strike continues,” by Dakota Antelman, Sabrina Silva and Grant Hermes, 7 News Boston: “There will be no school in Newton again Wednesday after negotiators failed to reach a deal on a new contract — and as fines imposed by a judge in connection with an ongoing teacher strike continue to grow. Teachers have been on strike since Thursday evening. Schools have been closed since Friday.” — “‘Ultimate example of the sacrifice:’ Navy SEAL who died in Arabian Sea rescue attempt identified as Westfield native,” by Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald.   A message from Equinor: The energy transition is the defining opportunity of our time and Massachusetts is helping lead the way. Our world needs energy to keep moving forward — but it must be affordable reliable, and sustainable. We all have a role to play. At Equinor, we’re using our competence, skills, and innovative spirit to continually search for solutions that will advance the energy transition. Our ambition is to break new ground, create lasting value, and supply energy to a thriving world while achieving net zero by 2050. We're delivering safe, secure, and reliable energy while creating jobs and investing in a more sustainable US energy system. But this is only the beginning. Discover more about Equinor at www.equinor.com/USA.   HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Roberto Jiménez-Rivera, DJ Napolitano, principal at Dewey Square Group, and Andrew Friendly.  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. 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