POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Pro-Israel group looks to target Pressley

 

BY MIA MCCARTHY AND LISA KASHINSKY AIPAC TAKES AIM — A powerful pro-Israel group is positioning to try and take down “Squad” members like Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley in next year's elections over their condemnations of Israel's response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack and their repeated calls for a cease-fire. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is attempting to recruit challengers to some Squad members — the group is looking to back a county executive against Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), for instance — and is expected to spend upwards of $100 million to try and knock out the incumbents. In 2022, AIPAC and an affiliated super PAC, United Democracy Project, spent more than $26 million helping pro-Israel candidates — many of whom won. Patrick Dorton, a spokesperson United Democracy Project, said in an email to Playbook that “all of our research and intel to date indicates voters have serious concerns about anti-Israel candidates like Ayanna … who refused to vote to condemn the Hamas Oct. 7 terrorism on the House floor.” But Dorton didn’t say if the group had specifically polled Pressley’s 7th District. And he said no decisions had been made yet on what races the group will wade into. Pro-Palestinian protests have erupted across the Boston area in recent weeks — many of them taking place in Pressley’s liberal district and echoing her own views on the conflict. Pressley also hasn’t faced a serious challenger from either party since she defeated then-Rep. Mike Capuano in 2018. The pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC is looking to spend upwards of $100 million to unseat members of the "Squad" next year over their views on Israel. | Francis Chung/POLITICO For those reasons and others, finding a viable challenger to Pressley could prove difficult, local Democratic operatives say. Boston Herald columnist Joe Battenfeld posited that Josh Kraft, the son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who heads the Patriots’ philanthropic foundation and recently bought property in the district, could take her on — though Kraft the told CommonWealth Beacon he’s also been approached about taking on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “Pressley is in no way vulnerable in anything I see,” Democratic strategist Scott Ferson told Playbook. She’s been reelected twice “because she's very good and dynamic and all the things you'd be looking for in a member of Congress, but she also reflects her district.” Pressley is using the threat of an AIPAC-backed challenger to draw in donations to her reelection campaign. In a fundraising email sent over the weekend, she asked her supporters to split contributions between her campaign and Bowman's. "We need to keep Jamaal in Congress," Pressley wrote in the email, noting that AIPAC is also "recruiting primary challengers to target me." Harry Shipps, a spokesperson for Pressley’s campaign, said she remains focused on her work in Congress; he did not directly address AIPAC's plans. “Could they find somebody [to run against Pressley]? Sure,” Ferson said. “Could they beat Pressley? I would not bet that on any odds.” GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. The Patriots have been eliminated from playoff contention. That's good news for the presidential hopefuls looking to campaign in New Hampshire during games . PROGRAMMING NOTE: We've reached the last week of Playbooks for the year! Send us all those tips and scoops you've been holding onto: mmccarthy@politico.com , lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com . TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey , Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Senate President Karen Spilka , Auditor Diana DiZoglio and more attend the Massachusetts Gold Star Families tree dedication at 2 p.m. at the State House. Healey and Driscoll host the State House tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. Rep. Richard Neal addresses the New England Council at 8:30 a.m. at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Pressley testifies at a hearing on student debt relief at 3 p.m. ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR Harvard University President Claudine Gay; Liz Magill, then-president of the University of Pennsylvania, and others testified about antisemitism on college campuses earlier this month in Washington, D.C. | Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images FALLOUT CONTINUES FOR GAY — Harvard President Claudine Gay has apologized for her equivocal answers during a congressional hearing last week when pressed by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) about whether calls for the genocide of Jews would violate the university’s policies. University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill stepped down on Saturday amid blowback from the hearing, which also featured testimony from Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth . “One down. Two to go,” Stefanik, a Harvard alum, posted on X , calling on Harvard and MIT to “do the right thing.” The Harvard Crimson’s Miles J. Herszenhorn and Claire Yuan have a deep dive into why Gay’s path forward could be different than Magill’s . Calls for the new Harvard president’s resignation are mixing with calls for her to stay. Hundreds of faculty members signed a letter Sunday urging the administration not to remove Gay from her post. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said on WCVB’s “On the Record” that she’s “glad” to see Gay “clarified this exchange and again expressed support for the security of Jewish students.” But the powerful lawmaker and Harvard alum wouldn’t say whether Gay should lose her job. “I’m not on the [Harvard] board,” Clark said. “But what I can say is we do have to speak with moral clarity, we do have to make sure that yes, we want to encourage free speech and debate. But there are lines. And there are lines that we agree on. And genocide is one of those lines.” — "Former Obama adviser: Don’t let politicians take over Harvard," by Kelly Garrity, POLITICO. — “Boston city councilors ‘blindsided’ by presentation honoring pro-Palestinian student walkout,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “A number of Boston city councilors described being “blindsided” by a controversial resolution put forward by [Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson], honoring two students for organizing a pro-Palestinian walkout at their high school last week.” DATELINE BEACON HILL PORTRAIT OF A GOVERNOR — Former Gov. Charlie Baker will return to the State House on Dec. 21 for his portrait unveiling. But those hoping to catch a glimpse of the painting will have to wait — it’s an “invitation-only event,” per the State House News Service’s Sam Doran . That apparently also means no press, in a break with recent tradition. FROM THE HUB — “Boston schools grudgingly release some sexual misconduct data,” by Colman M. Herman, CommonWealth Beacon: “Newly released data indicate there were 1,633 substantiated cases of sexual misconduct, bullying, and biased-based incidents that occurred at Boston Public Schools over the previous two school years. Another 1,871 cases were investigated but could not be substantiated.” 2024 WATCH CASH DASH — Nikki Haley will return to Boston on Friday for the latest in a string of local fundraisers for her presidential campaign. Tickets are $6,600 apiece for the luncheon hosted by Sandy and Paul Edgerley and Jenny and Spencer Zwick , Mitt Romney ’s former money man , according to an invitation reviewed by Playbook. Co-chairs include New Balance Chair Jim Davis , former MassGOP Chair Jennifer Nassour, Bain Capital’s John P. Connaughton, Michelle and Peter de Silva , Jean Egan, Chartwell’s Ozzie Palomo , Putnam Investments’ Bob Reynolds and state Rep. Hannah Kane . Big donors have increasingly been rallying around Haley as she rises in polls — particularly in New Hampshire, where she sits in second place on average. She returns to the Granite State Tuesday for a multi-day swing. But she’s not alone. Every major GOP candidate is expected to be in our neighbor to the north this week, including Vivek Ramaswamy today, Chris Christie on Wednesday and Trump on Saturday. AS SEEN ON TV — Sen. Elizabeth Warren is running for a third term next year. But will it be the 74-year-old senator’s last? She wouldn’t say on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large.” “What I want to do is the work that’s in front of me right now,” Warren said. “And I have the energy to do that work. I’ve got the fight to make that happen.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES THIS CONSTRUCTION WAS  COMPLETED WHEN CHARLIE BAKER WAS GOVERNOR - WHAT HAPPENED? — “Green Line Extension to celebrate its 1-year anniversary with service disruptions,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “Work to regauge the track, which MBTA officials knew as far back as April 2021 was defective and too narrow, will not be completed by Monday, as initially anticipated under a plan presented by project contractor.” DAY IN COURT — “Healey taps state solicitor, former adviser to fill first open seat on Supreme Judicial Court,” by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: “Governor Maura Healey on Friday nominated state solicitor Elizabeth N. Dewar to the Supreme Judicial Court, tapping a longtime adviser and the youngest SJC nominee in decades to fill her first opening on the state’s highest court. Dewar, 43, has been among the state’s leading appellate attorneys since Healey, then attorney general, appointed her in 2016 as state solicitor. … Dewar, a registered Democrat, also briefly served as the state’s top prosecutor this year after Healey became governor.” — “Former Boston police officer plans to plead guilty to assault charges in Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection,” by Samantha J. Gross, The Boston Globe: “In a federal court filing dated Nov. 30, Joseph Robert Fisher’s attorney said he ‘anticipates pleading guilty to the Indictment as charged, without a plea agreement’ at a scheduled hearing on Feb. 1.” WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET — “Massachusetts attorney general backs federal proposal to curb illegal gun trafficking,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell is backing a proposed regulation that would ensure more gun sales are subject to background checks to reduce illegal trafficking of firearms across the country. Campbell, along with New York Attorney General Letitia James, is co-leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general in supporting the rule.” MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS — “How many cannabis businesses have closed in Mass.? It’s unclear, but times are tough,” by Will Katcher, MassLive: “At least 17 businesses have returned or lost a state-issued license to work in the cannabis industry, according to the Cannabis Control Commission, the state’s marijuana regulator. While some of those businesses remain open — selling medical marijuana after surrendering their license to sell recreational pot, for example — the count does not include other companies that have closed up shop but hung on to their license, perhaps hoping to sell it.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Every Army-Navy fan accommodated after hotel shuffle; Senator blasts Biden for ‘failing’ border policies,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “Every fan in need of a hotel room for the big game has been accommodated, state officials and tourism leaders confirmed to the Herald on Friday. … Travel agents told the Herald in October that the arrival of migrant families at area hotels canceled rooms reserved for veterans, students and families, but after reports came out, the state took action.” REGIONAL ROUNDUP — “A postcard from the Lesser-Known Candidate Forum, a New Hampshire primary tradition,” by Tamara Keith, NPR. — “Maine’s congressional delegation calls for Army investigation into Lewiston shooting, ” by Patrick Whittle, The Associated Press. HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Kimberley Connors will be the next executive director of the Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer Health Care. — Michelle Porter has been appointed co-managing director of Goulston & Storrs, effective April 1. SPOTTED — at the Army-Navy game: Govs. Maura Healey and Dan McKee ; Lt. Govs. Kim Driscoll and Sabina Matos ; Rob Gronkowski and Boston City Council President Ed Flynn . HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, Jossie Valentín and MWPC director Kat Cline . Happy belated to Alexander Fleiss , who celebrated Saturday, and to Kristen Halbert , who celebrated Friday. 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 .   Follow us on Twitter Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Chaos could cost Boston councilors on the ballot

View in browser   BY LISA KASHINSKY With help from Kelly Garrity COUNCIL CONTROVERSIES — The Boston City Council is a mess. Soon councilors could face consequences for it. The past few weeks have been … eventful: Ricardo Arroyo paid a $3,000 penalty for violating the conflict of interest law by representing his brother in a sexual harassment lawsuit after becoming a city councilor. Kendra Lara crashed a car into a house and now faces a host of alleged motor vehicle violations , including driving with a revoked license. Councilors warred with each other and with the mayor over a city budget that almost cut spending for police and veterans. The process was complete with walked-back votes , override attempts and hurt feelings that showed the council’s dysfunction didn’t end with its court-prompted redistricting redo. Allegations of racism have swirled within a body that has often divided this term along racial lines. And the sparring is spilling online as members mount their reelection bids — and begin to position for the next mayoral race. Council President Ed Flynn — who’s alternated between acting like a dad trying to quell warring siblings and stoking the division by bankrolling the lawsuit that nixed the city’s first redistricting map — slammed Arroyo and Lara in a statement Wednesday for continuing to “draw negative attention” to the body through their “troubling ethical and legal lapses.” But he stopped short of calling for their resignations, telling the Herald that discipline “is not something I have considered yet.” Hours later, Councilor Michael Flaherty called it quits. The 20-year council veteran and top vote-getter in several at-large contests stunned the Boston political class by withdrawing his name for reelection “after much deliberation and self-reflection.” Flaherty didn’t mention the ongoing drama, but he didn’t need to. “The body is so dysfunctional that it’s driving good people from running or serving,” one City Hall insider lamented to Playbook after Flaherty’s surprise announcement, calling the council a “complete clown show.” Flaherty's departure is “a big loss for the city," former city Councilor John Tobin said. But he told Playbook it’s understandable given the “soap opera” that is the current council: “You just get to a point in your life that’s like, why am I doing this?” The Boston City Council convenes, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, in the council chamber at City Hall. | AP The chaotic council won’t barrel ahead unchecked for much longer. Voters will soon head to the polls for the city’s September and November municipal contests. Flaherty’s exit from the at-large race guarantees at least one new face on the council next year, with now just three incumbents and five challengers running for the four citywide seats. District 3 Councilor Frank Baker’s departure guarantees another new member. And five of the nine district councilors have drawn challengers , according to the city’s elections department (Flynn, Gabriela Coletta and Brian Worrell are so far unopposed). Arroyo has three opponents: Roslindale’s Enrique Pepen, executive director of the mayor's neighborhood services team; Hyde Park police officer Jose Ruiz and Mattapan activist Jean-Claude Sanon. Arroyo has more money banked than any of his challengers, though Pepen and Ruiz outraised him in June, per OCPF. Oddly, Arroyo’s campaign website still says he’s running for district attorney. Lara has two challengers: William King, a past at-large candidate from West Roxbury who could draw votes from the part of the district that Lara is weakest in, and Benjamin Weber, a workers’ rights attorney from Jamaica Plain. Neither Lara nor Arroyo responded to calls for comment. Politicians have rebounded from bad press and personal troubles before. But, as former city councilor Larry DiCara told Playbook, “anything can happen in an off-year election when the turnout is lower and a small number of votes can have a dramatic impact.” GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips? Scoops? Running for city council? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com . TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey remains in Rhode Island through Saturday. Acting Gov. Kim Driscoll boards the Blue Line at 8:30 a.m. at the Orient Heights station to highlight transportation alternatives during the Sumner Tunnel closure. Wu launches the city’s Swim Safe Boston initiative at 10:30 a.m. at the BCYF Paris Street.   JOIN 7/11 FOR A TALK ON THE FAA’S FUTURE: Congress is making moves to pass the FAA Reauthorization Act, laying the groundwork for the FAA’s long-term agenda to modernize the aviation sector to meet the challenges of today and innovate for tomorrow. Join POLITICO on July 11 to discuss what will make it into the final reauthorization bill and examine how reauthorization will reshape FAA’s priorities and authorities. REGISTER HERE .     DATELINE BEACON HILL — OUT OF SIGHT, NOT OUT OF MIND: The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation is calling for the “timely resolution” of tax talks between legislative chambers in a new analysis that says the state can afford to do everything the House and Senate put on the table. That includes cutting the short-term capital gains tax rate and expanding housing tax credits. The one measure the group doesn’t want to see in the final deal: the Senate’s plan to require married couples who file joint federal income tax returns to do the same at the state level. Supporters say the change would close a “loophole” couples could use to avoid paying the new millionaires surtax. But MTF argues it would “run directly counter to the broader goals of addressing high costs and competitiveness.” Oh, and there’s still no budget. Massachusetts is one of just five states that hasn’t passed a fiscal year 2024 spending plan , per the National Association of State Budget Officers. — PUNTING ON RENT CONTROL: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’s rent-control plan likely won’t get a hearing on Beacon Hill until the fall, the State House News Service reports after lawmakers left the city's home-rule petition off the dockets for the housing committee’s June and July meetings. — “Harvard Legacy Admissions Targeted by Massachusetts Lawmakers,” by Janet Lorin, Bloomberg: “A bill in Massachusetts seeks to tax rich colleges that favor families of alumni and donors in admissions policies — namely Harvard University — and give the money to poorer community colleges. The legislation targets Harvard, Williams College and a half-dozen other schools that use preferences for students whose parents attended the college, called legacies, and meet a threshold of current endowment value per student.” — IN MEMORIAM: “State House Mourns Passing Of DCR Ranger [Joanne] Croken,” by Sam Doran, State House News Service (paywall). FROM THE HUB — “Wu wants to deliver police reform via union contracts. With potential arbitration on the horizon, will it happen?” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “It’s shaping up to be a defining question of Michelle Wu’s mayoral tenure: Can she deliver meaningful reform to the nation’s oldest police force? Wu has repeatedly cited collective bargaining as a tool to implement reform within the Police Department, which has been buffeted by scandal in recent years. But as the state takes over protracted contract talks with the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, the city’s largest police union, any changes to the next labor pact could be decided by independent arbitrators.” — "Just What Is Marty Walsh up to, Anyway?" by David Bernstein, Boston Magazine: "By all appearances, Walsh seems to be in the Boston public eye more and more these days after consciously stepping back to avoid detracting from the current mayor, Michelle Wu." — “Hillary Clinton headlines list of speakers for NAACP National Convention in Boston,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald. — ICYMI: “Former Globe president sues over the way he charges he was fired,” by Adam Gaffin, Universal Hub.   SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY .     PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “WRTA appoints Connecticut transit official as new administrator,” by Tréa Lavery, MassLive: “The Worcester Regional Transit Authority has chosen Joshua Rickman, an official with Connecticut’s state transit system, as its new administrator.” — “Repairs that will shut down part of Green Line extension postponed until September,” by Mike Pescaro and Abbey Niezgoda, NBC10 Boston. ROLLINS REPORT — “Rollins could face suspension of law license, disbarment at hands of state disciplinary board,” by Mike Damiano and Shelley Murphy, Boston Globe: “The misconduct that Rachael Rollins is alleged to have committed as US attorney is so unusual and varied that there is little precedent for what discipline she might receive, if any, from the state agency that regulates lawyers, according to legal ethics experts. … It is unclear if the board has begun investigating Rollins. Its general counsel, Joseph Berman, said, ‘We don’t comment on pending cases.’” DATELINE D.C. — "Spending bill targets Kerry’s office, global climate spending," by David Jordan, Roll Call: "House Republican appropriators want to eliminate funding for John Kerry’s position as President Joe Biden’s special envoy and for other international climate efforts." FROM THE 413 — “Here’s what happened when West Springfield police added a mental health clinician,” by Aprell May Munford, Springfield Republican: “On the second floor of the J. Edward Christian Municipal Office Building in West Springfield, Ariana Ploran sits monitoring a police radio — ready to jump into action. She did that the other day, holding an impromptu therapy session with someone on the side of a road. That same week, Ploran, a licensed mental health clinician, gave substance abuse resources to a person in a jail cell. … Since [she started joining police officers on calls in] November, repeat 911 crisis calls in the town have dropped by 20%, Ploran said.” — “Westfield director of public health is charged with allegedly stealing more than $7,000 in union funds,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: “According to a police report obtained by The Republican, Joseph Rouse, the city’s director of public health, cashed checks and did not deposit that money in the union’s account.” — "Controversial Easthampton city council ordinance on crisis pregnancy centers passes," by Juliet Schulman-Hall, MassLive: "At a heated public hearing attended by more than 50 people across the Commonwealth on Wednesday evening, an ordinance — which provides protections for those seeking reproductive and gender-affirming health care services — passed with six councilors supporting the measure despite mayoral apprehension." MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND — “State engineer accuses SouthCoast Wind of lying to RI agencies. What the email says,” by Alex Kuffner, Providence Journal: “A member of the team that reviews offshore wind projects for Rhode Island’s coastal regulatory agency has accused SouthCoast Wind of lying to a separate state board about the company’s $5-billion proposal to install nearly 150 wind turbines south of Martha’s Vineyard.” MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE — “After extended health-related absence, Nashua state lawmaker who sued for remote participation resigns,” by Todd Bookman, New Hampshire Public Radio: “Longtime Nashua state Rep. David Cote, who is part of an ongoing lawsuit seeking remote participation in the New Hampshire Legislature, has resigned. … Cote, who was first elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in the 1980s and has served in Democratic leadership, was never sworn in after winning election in 2022.” HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former state Sen. Richard Ross, state Sen. Jake Oliveira, Dave Eisenstadter and WBUR’s Cloe Axelson. 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 .   Follow us on Twitter Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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