POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Lynch passed over for Oversight

 

Lynch passed over for Oversight

By KELLY GARRITY 

 

06/24/2025

PASSING THE TORCH — Rep. Stephen Lynch faced his first generational challenge Monday night and came up short in a race that could signal a shift in how Democrats are dealing with questions about age and seniority in the post-Biden era.

The 70-year-old South Boston Democrat didn’t win the approval of a key panel in the battle for the top Democratic spot on the powerful House Oversight Committee. It was 47-year-old Rep. Robert Garcia of California who came away with the support from the Steering and Policy Committee. Lynch notched 15 votes, behind Garcia’s 33, and ahead of Rep. Kweisi Mfume of Maryland, 76, who earned 8 votes and 44-year-old Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, who won 6, according to Axios.

It’s not a done deal yet. The full Democratic Caucus will vote today on the Oversight post, though members typically follow the recommendation from the Steering and Policy Committee.

Lynch, a long-time member of the panel, was running with the endorsement of his predecessor, the late Rep. Gerry Connolly, whose role he’s been temporarily filling.

Garcia’s victory — after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 35, unsuccessfully challenged Connolly for the role last year — is the latest sign Democrats might be starting to move away from the seniority-based system in the wake of age-related setbacks last cycle.

For Lynch, it’s also a warning shot ahead of next year’s midterm election. The moderate Democrat is facing a challenge from Patrick Roath, a 38-year-old lawyer who’s running to Lynch’s left.

Roath’s message extends beyond Lynch’s long tenure, though he noted in a recent Substack post that he was 7 years old when Lynch first entered public office. He’s also taken aim at Lynch’s record, including votes against the Affordable Care Act and in favor of the Laken Riley Act, a controversial immigration bill named 22-year-old woman killed by an undocumented immigrant in Georgia last year.

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips, scoops, thoughts on the Jrue Holiday trade? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com.

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll unveil a bill on disaster preparedness and infrastructure permitting at 10:30 a.m. in Braintree. Healey signs the supplemental surtax budget at 1:30 p.m. at the State House. Rep. Ayanna Pressley joins a press conference marking three years since the Dobbs decision at noon in D.C. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at the opening of the Frog Pond spray pool at 11 a.m. on Boston Common and gives remarks at the launch of the MassHire Boston ABCD Career Center at 11:30 a.m. in Roxbury.

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

TRANSPARENCY RULES — For the first time since 2019, the state House and Senate have an agreement on joint rules for the session.

The new rules, Senate President Karen Spilka told reporters after huddling with House Speaker Ron Mariano, Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll Monday, are “a win for the public,” and will “increase access for the public and tremendously increase transparency” in the legislative process.

Is it a sign of detente between the House and Senate after a bit of a bumpy start to the session? Maybe, if you want to read into the (literal) post-leadership meeting back-slapping between Spilka and Mariano Monday.

But the new rules also make it easier for each chamber to avoid working together. One provision allows House members on joint committees to vote solely on bills filed in their respective branches (with a few exceptions), which means we could see a flurry of floor votes on separate House and Senate bills without a lot of compromises hitting the governor’s desk.

“[The] first step is getting to the floor," Mariano said Monday, "And getting the vote, the bill moved off the floor. So right away, you're picking up speed.”

What else is in the compromise? Lawmakers are moving up the bill-reporting deadline, so-called Joint Rule 10 day, to the first Wednesday of December of the first year of the two-year session. They’re allowing for some action after the long-standing July 31 deadline of the second year of the two-year session that they worked passed last session. And they’re requiring at least 10 days notice for joint committee hearings. More from GBH News and the State House News Service.

BUDGET WATCH — Legislative leaders struck an optimistic note about passing an FY26 budget on time this year. Mariano told reporters he’s “hopeful that there’s a chance” they get a compromise spending bill to Healey before the end of the month — and ahead of the July 1 start to the new fiscal year.

FROM THE HUB

— How Boston’s homeless are navigating the summer swelter by Nathan Metcalf and Ava Berger, The Boston Globe.

— Boston now has late-night food trucks by Will Katcher, MassLive.

WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET

— AG Campbell testifies before Dems in Congress about fighting the Trump administration in court by Julian E.J. Sorapuru, The Boston Globe: “Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell was among four blue state attorneys general who testified before a group of Democratic members of Congress Monday about the role they have played in combatting the Trump administration’s policy agenda in court. Lacking control of either the House or Senate, Democrats from both chambers have united to hold a series of forums highlighting areas of disagreement with the Trump administration and giving a platform to experts Republicans are unlikely to invite for official congressional hearings.”

FROM HARVARD YARD

AN ASK FROM THE ALUMNI — A coalition of Harvard alumni is urging administrators and Harvard President Alan Garber to hold their ground after President Donald Trump indicated on Friday that the feud between his administration and the university may end in a deal “over the next week or so.” The letter is here.

DAY IN COURT

— Jury says former Boston employee did not defame Felix G. Arroyo amid sexual harassment allegations by Niki Griswold, The Boston Globe: “A jury on Friday found that former City of Boston employee Hilani Morales did not defame former city health chief Felix G. Arroyo after she claimed he sexually harassed her while she worked for him in the Department of Health and Human Services, attorneys for both parties confirmed to the Globe Monday. The jury issued its verdict after 4 p.m. on Friday following three hours of deliberations, Morales’ attorney John Tocci told the Globe. Tocci said the decision came after an eight-day-long trial, which included six days of testimony.” 

FROM THE DELEGATION

— Moulton: Trump Administration ‘outright lying’ about Iran outcome by Adam Reilly, GBH News: “Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton is offering a harsh assessment of the Trump Administration’s description of recent U.S. attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, saying in an interview on GBH’s ‘Boston Public Radio’ that Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are not telling the truth when they state that U.S. bombing operations obliterated key Iranian nuclear-enrichment facilities.”

— Rep. Auchincloss: 'world is safer' after Iran strikes, but Trump must be reined in by Sharon Brody and Rob Lane, WBUR: “Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss is tentatively optimistic that President Trump's strikes on Iranian nuclear sites could bring Iran to the negotiating table. But, he argues, the bombings should spur Congress to shrink the president's war powers.”

— On Dobbs anniversary, Massachusetts pols warn of attack on abortion rights in Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ by John L. Micek, MassLive: “It’s been three years since the U.S. Supreme Court toppled Roe v. Wade in a ruling that sent the fight over abortion rights back to the states, resulting in laws that restricted or banned access to the procedure for millions of people nationwide. And just in time for Tuesday’s anniversary of the high court’s ruling in a case formally known as Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Republicans on Capitol Hill are launching another assault that would result in a de facto nationwide ban on abortion even in states where the procedure remains safe and legal. The four women members of the Bay State’s Capitol Hill delegation — U.S. Reps. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District. Katherine Clark, D-5th District, and Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District, along with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., gathered at Planned Parenthood’s offices on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston on Monday to deliver that message.”

THE NATIONAL TAKE

*****TRUMP LIED!****

— Trump announces Israel-Iran ceasefire by Megan Messerly, Eli Stokols and Eric Bazail-Eimil, POLITICO: “President Donald Trump on Monday announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran after a nearly two-week war between the two countries. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said that the ceasefire will take effect just after midnight on the East Coast of the United States, with the war slated to officially end 12 hours later. … Neither Israel nor Iran immediately confirmed Trump’s announcement that they had agreed to a ceasefire.”

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FROM THE 413

— What’s at stake as Pittsfield prepares for key middle school restructuring vote by Greg Sukiennik, The Berkshire Eagle: “It’s been a school year full of big decisions for the Pittsfield School Committee. But Wednesday’s meeting presents perhaps the biggest decision they'll make this year: Should the district commit to fundamentally changing the way it has delivered middle-grade education since the 1980s?”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— Massachusetts health commissioner worries CDC vaccine panel won't allow open discussion by Mark Herz and Diego Lopez, GBH News: “Massachusetts’ top public health official says he’ll be watching the first meeting of the newly assembled CDC vaccine advisory panel this week. Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, who was once a senior policy advisor for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says he’s skeptical about their recommendations.”

— The price to dispose of Fall River's trash is going up by Emily Scherny, The Herald News: “In a city that relies on waste haulers to be punctual in their trash and recycling pick-ups, week after week, residents who cart their trash to the curb expect it to be taken care of. But what appears as a steady public service may be a delicate balancing act of keeping contractors and companies hitched. Regular trash pick-ups by EZ Disposal are tied into Fall River’s Department of Community Maintenance, and if they threaten to abandon their contract with the city, explained DCM Director Al Oliveira to the June 10 City Council Committee on Finance meeting, a ‘public safety emergency’ could — and almost did — happen.”

— Salem school board backs off ban of religious orgs renting school buildings by Michael McHugh, The Salem News: “Elected Salem school officials are now backing away from a proposed ban on religious organizations renting school facilities, following the threat of legal action from a religious liberty organization if the School Committee were to approve the prohibition.”

— Peabody tasked with pinching its purse strings over upcoming budgets by Caroline Enos, The Salem News: “The city is looking to approve a $208 million budget for fiscal 2026 and is bracing for especially tough budget seasons over the next few years. ‘Although significant challenges remain, including skyrocketing costs for equipment and supplies and ever rising increases to non-discretionary budget items, I am happy to report that our progress continues and that the city’s financial picture remains strong,’ Mayor Ted Bettencourt said at the City Council’s first budget meeting on June 17.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Jon Latino, Peter Cutrumbes, former MassGOP Chair Kirsten Hughes, Henry Santoro, Roger Fisk, Thomas Doane Perry III, Jonathan Yuan, Ed Palleschi, Baker administration alum John Alvarez, Katherine Marie Kulik and Morgan Smith.

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