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It's all about the money
SPENDING SPREE — The Boston mayoral race is quickly becoming all about the money: Who has it, who is donating it and just how much super PACs, which don’t face the same donor limits as individual candidates, are spending on it.
More money has been flowing into the race lately; A PAC backing Josh Kraft last month put hundreds of thousands of dollars behind an ad criticizing Mayor Michelle Wu, while Kraft poured $2 million of his own money into his campaign account.
Now, the “Bold Boston” independent expenditure PAC, which backed candidates Wu supported in 2023 city council races, is out with a new ad boosting the incumbent, while taking a shot at Kraft’s donors.
The ad, titled “Stand up,” looks to yoke Kraft to President Donald Trump while highlighting the mayor’s congressional testimony over Boston’s “sanctuary city” status earlier this year. “Hey Boston, Trump donors gave big to Kraft's Super PAC,” the ad’s narrator says, before adding that “Kraft and his MAGA friends are attacking Michelle Wu to try to buy the election.”
The attack seems to be an allusion to donors like New Balance Chair Jim Davis, who donated to Trump’s 2016 campaign and funneled $1 million to the “Your City, Your Future” independent expenditure PAC that’s backing Kraft.
Kraft — the son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft — the latter of whom formerly publicly supported the president and recently reportedly helped broker a deal between the White House and the law firm Paul, Weiss — has repeatedly emphasized that he doesn’t support Trump, and hasn’t voted for or donated to the president.
"I love my dad, alright," Kraft said during a radio interview earlier this year. "We agree on many things. One of the things we disagree on is Donald Trump, and we've disagreed on that since 2016."
PACs can’t coordinate with campaigns, but the message builds on some of Wu’s key campaign themes. The mayor has tried to tie Kraft to the president, and has posited that Kraft, a first-time candidate, lacks the experience to lead the city.
The Bold Boston PAC is putting up $250,000 to run the 30-second spot for 10 days on TV and streaming services.
GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips, scoops, new ads dropping? Let me know: kgarrity@politico.com.
TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey announces new tax incentives for the life sciences industry at 10 a.m. in Cambridge. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at a MassHire State Workforce board meeting at 10 a.m. in Lowell, gives remarks at a Metro South Chamber of Commerce luncheon at 11:45 a.m. in Brockton and CHAPA’s 58th annual dinner event at 6 p.m. in Boston. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu hosts a coffee hour at 10 a.m. in Hyde Park.
DATELINE BEACON HILL
DATELINE: TAXACHUSETTS — Gov. Maura Healey on Wednesday clarified comments she made earlier in the week that seemed to indicate she wouldn’t immediately fight efforts to repeal the surtax on high-earners in the state.
WHAT SHE SAID, per The Boston Globe: “Asked whether she would oppose efforts to overturn the tax, Healey demurred: ‘No, I think we need to evaluate what’s going on, and I want to see the numbers. I just want to see what’s happening in terms of any potential outmigration.’”
WHAT SHE MEANT: “[What] I said and what I meant by all of that is — first of all, nobody [has] made more effective use of the revenues from the surtax than our administration — investments in transportation and education that are transformational, that are really important for our economy, that are supported by business, and that make us a stronger, more affordable, more competitive state," Healey told reporters Wednesday.
Hard to argue there: Healey is the first governor to have access to surtax revenue since the ballot question passed in 2022.
— Healey blasts Trump for ‘outrageous’ deployment of California National Guard by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “President Donald Trump’s decision to federalize the California National Guard in response to protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Los Angeles is ‘wrong,’ Gov. Maura Healey said Wednesday. After an unrelated event outside the State House, Healey bashed the Trump administration for an ‘outrageous’ deployment of National Guard and military personnel that ‘makes communities less safe.’”
BOSTON HERALD PROPAGANDA RAG PAY WALL!
RELATED — Massachusetts governor’s race intensifies as GOP candidates seize on L.A. protests by John L. Micek, MassLive.
excerpt:
MAGA Kennealy, who served as Baker’s housing and economic development czar, was first out of the gate at little after 4 p.m., arguing that, by opposing the federal response, the Democratic incumbent was “legitimizing criminal behavior under the guise of protest.”
— Local leaders count on $1 billion boost from next year’s World Cup by Esteban Bustillos, GBH News: “With just one year to go until the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, Governor Maura Healey is touting the economic boost Massachusetts expects to get from hosting seven matches at Gillette Stadium. Or, as it will be known during the international tournament, Boston Stadium. Speaking at Boston University’s Nickerson Field on Wednesday, Healey said the matches are expected to draw 2 million visitors to the region.”
FROM THE HUB
— Boston City Hall initiates new review into allegations of misconduct against top official by Segun Idowu and Niki Griswold, The Boston Globe: “Boston City Hall has launched a new investigation into recent allegations of misconduct by a top Cabinet chief, the head of the city of Boston’s Human Resources Department confirmed in a letter to the City Council Wednesday. External employment lawyers are helping with the review, Boston’s Chief People Officer Alex Lawrence wrote in the letter, in which she urged the council to not take up an emergency resolution filed by Councilors Erin Murphy and Ed Flynn, calling for the city to conduct an independent investigation into the matter during its regular weekly meeting Wednesday. The city has hired external law firm Stoneman, Chandler & Miller LLP to assist with the new review, a spokesperson confirmed to the Globe Wednesday.”
— ICE director says feds will comply with Wu’s order, readily share info on ‘illegal aliens’ Boston is ‘harboring’ by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said the feds are happy to comply with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s executive order that seeks greater transparency around its immigration enforcement, in order to show Wu how her ‘lack of cooperation hurts’ her city. ‘We look forward to showing the great work of ICE and the criminal illegal aliens that the city is harboring,’ Lyons said Wednesday in a statement to the Herald.”
BOSTON HERALD PROPAGANDA RAG PAYWALL
THE RACE FOR CITY HALL
— Kraft cites housing inspection ‘failures’ under Wu administration in federal audit by Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald: “Mayoral candidate Josh Kraft criticized the Wu administration’s handling of what he called ‘deplorable conditions’ found by a federal audit of Boston Housing Authority homes Wednesday — to which the Wu campaign responded he should be ‘ashamed of misleading the public.’”
BOSTON HERALD PROPAGANDA RAG PAYWALL
PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES
— MassDOT taps Irish firm Applegreen to redevelop 18 highway service plazas by Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe: “Big changes are coming down the Pike for the state’s service plazas now that a new store operator has been tapped to redevelop them. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation board’s Capital Programs Committee on Wednesday approved a staff recommendation to award a 35-year lease to Irish convenience store giant Applegreen to rebuild and operate 18 highway plazas, including the 11 on the Massachusetts Turnpike. The lease, which goes to the full board for approval next Wednesday, would bring about the biggest changes for the turnpike plazas since the toll highway was built in the 1950s.”
— Green Line riders already deal with the slowest speeds. Now service will be less frequent this summer, too. by Shannon Larson, The Boston Globe: “Green Line riders will be forced to wait even longer for trains this summer. Starting this Sunday, the frequency of service on the subway line will drop as the temperatures heat up and tourists pour in.”
FROM THE DELEGATION
****MAGA GOP TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY & ENDLESS DEFICITS WHILE SLASHING GOVERNMENT! THE NATIONAL DEBT IS APPROACHING $37 TRILLION! *****
— Warren, Markey call for answers on federal funding cuts to Massachusetts museums and libraries by Maddie Browning, WBUR: “Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey sent a letter Tuesday evening to the Institute of Museum and Library Services Acting Director Keith E. Sonderling demanding answers on funding cuts to museums and libraries across the country. Sen. Warren's office shared the letter exclusively with WBUR on Monday. In the document, Warren and Markey asked for further information on the future of certain programs and IMLS’s plan to act in accordance with laws that require minimum funding by state.”
TRUMPACHUSETTS
— Former Marines in Massachusetts politics split on response to Trump's L.A. deployments by Walter Wuthmann, WBUR: “President Trump's controversial move to deploy active-duty military to Los Angeles in response to immigration protests is dividing some high-profile Massachusetts politicians who've served in the Marines. There are now about 700 Marines in the Los Angeles area, alongside more than 2,000 National Guard troops. Their orders are to protect federal property and personnel. In many ways, the views of local veterans in the political class break down along party lines.”
excerpt:
There are now about 700 Marines in the Los Angeles area, alongside more than 2,000 National Guard troops. Their orders are to protect federal property and personnel. In many ways, the views of local veterans in the political class break down along party lines.
"The danger is, he's politicizing the military, which is exactly what dictators do," said Rep. Seth Moulton, who served four tours of duty in Iraq.
SLOW ZONE SHORTSLEEVE IS LYING! TOO LAZY TO RESEARCH THE LEGALITIES!
"Rioting protesters waving foreign flags are violently attacking American law enforcement officers who are doing the job the law commands," Shortsleeve said in a statement.
Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss called the domestic deployment of Marines "inappropriate" and "unnecessary."
Auchincloss led missions in Afghanistan and Panama as a Marine Corps officer before being elected to federal office. He was stationed at Twentynine Palms — the same base from which Trump has called up the 700 Marines to deploy to Los Angeles.
"They are training in Twentynine Palms for urban combat against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syrian provinces. They are training for Indo-Pacific Island hopping warfare against the Chinese Communist Party," Auchincloss said. "They are not training to deescalate stressful, tense situations with fellow citizens."
Auchincloss and other Democrats fear the presence of active military at protests could lead to lethal violence. In 1992, in response to the deadly Rodney King riots in Los Angeles, a miscommunication between police and a contingent of Marines led to soldiers firing about 200 bullets into a house with three children inside.
Auchincloss said Congress should move to reign in the Posse Comitatus Act, the 147-year-old law that allows a president to use the military to suppress "rebellions" and enforce federal civil rights laws.
"We have to tighten up the laws that grant the president way too much authority over the application of the military to police power," Auchincloss said. " Next term, if and when House Democrats regain control, I could see us doing a series of reforms to an out-of-control presidency."
MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS
— Cannabis commission unveils new structure, as lawmakers pursue overhaul via WBUR: “The Cannabis Control Commission has rolled out a new governance charter — three years after starting the process and a week after state lawmakers pushed forward on a bill to significantly restructure the agency. The 16-page document was created to clearly delineate the duties of commissioners, the executive director and staff at the agency, following months of mediation sessions. The charter was approved by commissioners at their May meeting, and appears to have been posted to the commission's website earlier this month.”
FROM THE 413
— Greenfield Human Rights Commission pauses resolution in support of single-payer health care by Anthony Cammalleri, Greenfield Recorder: “Despite thorough debate over a proposed resolution to support a statewide single-payer health care system this week, the Human Rights Commission tabled the idea for now, with some expressing hesitancy to prioritize the idea over other efforts, such as supporting the city’s homeless population.”
— Former Easthampton councilor testifies about local antisemitism by Scott Merzbach Daily Hampshire Gazette: “While nearby communities, like Northampton, Amherst and Belchertown, dealt with antisemitic incidents in public ways and with appropriate strategies, Owen Zaret, a four-term councilor who resigned in February after facing censure, contended at Monday’s hearing in Boston that Easthampton leaders instead pursued a different approach, what he called a ‘trifecta of antisemitism.’”
THE LOCAL ANGLE
— ICE protesters bring Worcester City Council meeting to a halt by Toni Caushi, Telegram & Gazette: “The City Council session came to an abrupt end after protesters filled the Esther Howland Chamber with chants of ‘ICE out of Worcester now’ to protest against actions of federal agents in Worcester and beyond. The persisting chants of dozens of people, which started during the public-comments portion of the meeting, forced the session into a recess. The meeting never returned.”
— Andover School Committee accused of violating open meeting law for the third time in less than two months by Angelina Berube, The Eagle-Tribune.
— City Councilor Khrystian King agrees to pay $390 to resolve late campaign finance reporting by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette.
— Lynnfield town employee resigns after racist comments heard at graduation by Ryan Mancini, MassLive.
MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND
— Taylor Swift is about to owe Rhode Island an extra $136,000 by Dan McGowan, The Boston Globe: “Rhode Island’s wealthiest residents won’t see higher income taxes — but state leaders have found a new way to tap the rich for extra revenue in the $14.3 billion budget unveiled Tuesday night by House Speaker Joe Shekarchi. Call it Taylor’s version. The $14.3 billion budget proposal that was approved by the House Finance Committee includes what in recent years has been labeled the ‘Taylor Swift Tax,’ charging an extra $2.50 for every $500 of the assessed value in excess of $1 million on non-owner-occupied houses.”
HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH
TRANSITIONS — Survivors Say, a nonprofit that helps survivors of high-profile trauma tell their stories, is announcing its inaugural Board of Directors: Jason Lefferts as vice chair, Amanda Munger as treasurer, Heidi Guarino as secretary and Nicole Bresnahan, Adrian Durbin, Andrew Gully, Nancy Rodriguez, Alejandra St. Guillen and Melanie Winklosky as directors.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Tri Tran, Campbell Curry-Ledbetter, Brianna Millor, Allison DeAngelis and Peter Francis. Happy belated birthday to Brian Senier, who celebrated Tuesday.
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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