Politics

Live blog: Tracking the 2022 Massachusetts elections

Updates on the races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, and Suffolk County District Attorney.

By Christopher Gavin, Susannah Sudborough, Heather Alterisio, Ross Cristantiello, Madeleine Aitken, and Peter Chianca

updated on September 6, 2022

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Massachusetts voters will weigh in on several open statewide races this year, first in the Sept. 6 primary election, and then again at the ballot box on Nov. 8.

Bookmark this page for regular updates on several statewide elections, as well as the race for Suffolk County District Attorney.

Trump slams Doughty, Baker during ‘tele-rally’ for Diehl (Sept. 6)

Donald Trump hasn’t exactly set the electorate on fire in Massachusetts — he was solidly trounced by Joe Biden in 2020, garnering only 32% of the vote here — but GOP gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl is hoping his words still carry weight with local Republican voters.

The Trump-endorsed candidate hosted a “tele-rally” with the former president in front of several dozen supporters in West Roxbury Monday night, during which Trump called in to tout Diehl as a “true conservative,” paint his opponent, Wrentham businessman Chris Doughty, as “a tool” of Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, and slam Baker for good measure: “I thought he was terrible,” Trump said.

“Geoff is a proven fighter who successfully pushes back on the ultra-liberal extremists and who’s driven them a little bit wild because they can’t figure him out,” Trump said, adding Diehl is someone “who’ll rule with an iron fist.”

“The hardworking people of Massachusetts need a true conservative in the governor’s mansion — it’s about time you had one,” Trump said. The remark was presumably a knock on Baker, although it could have also been a commentary on the governor’s lack of suitable digs; Massachusetts famously has no governor’s mansion.

Calling Doughty “an establishment RINO [Republican in Name Only] person” and “a tool of the governor of your state,” Trump also elaborated on his opinion of Baker: “I’m not a fan of his … I thought he represented you terribly in terms of … getting what you needed from Washington. He was not somebody who represented Republicans or the Republicans in your state.”

Doughty has gained steam on the campaign trail in recent weeks, insisting that only a more moderate candidate like himself has a shot against presumptive Democratic candidate Maura Healey, the current attorney general, and he leaned into that when asked about Trump’s remarks.

“We need to work towards the middle, we need to unite people,” Doughty told 7News Monday, also commenting to WCVB, “I think in Massachusetts, [Trump’s endorsement] doesn’t have much weight at all.”

Conservative columnist and radio host Howie Carr, a Trump supporter in the past, seems to agree: He endorsed Doughty last week. 

Diehl, for his part, says he welcomed Trump’s words of support. “When you have the former president in the Republican primary giving you his blessing and letting people know that he trusts my vision to make Massachusetts a stronger state for the people of the commonwealth, that was exciting,” he told reporters afterwards. “So I was really proud to have that.”

Note: This post has been updated to clarify some of Trump’s remarks.

Trump to stump for Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl (Sept. 2)

Former President Donald Trump will be making another pitch to voters for his endorsed candidate, former state Rep. Geoff Diehl, in the Republican primary election for governor.

According to the Diehl campaign, Trump is slated to hop on a “tele-rally” for Diehl and running mate Leah Cole Allen Monday at 7 p.m., just before the primary election. Diehl will face Wrentham businessman Chris Doughty for the party’s nomination.

Voters and Diehl supporters can call 508-691-7880 to hear Trump’s remarks.

“I am honored to have the support of our former President heading into the primary on Tuesday, and I am doubly honored to have President Trump’s help rallying Massachusetts voters,” Diehl said in a statement. “This event will give us an excellent opportunity to reaffirm what’s important to us in this race, particularly issues of freedom, fiscal responsibility, public safety, and empowering parents to protect their kids. I look forward to a lively discussion about our state and what the Diehl-Allen administration plans to accomplish.”

Trump endorsed Diehl in late 2021. But what influence Trump may have in the gubernatorial primary came into question again this week when Boston Herald columnist and conservative talk radio host Howie Carr, typically a steadfast Trump supporter, threw his support behind Doughty on Thursday.

“Howie Carr and Howie Carr Show listeners agree that Maura Healey would rather run against Geoff Diehl,” Carr wrote in a tweet.

He also attempted to get Diehl to agree to one more debate against Doughty on his show, but as he has for most debate offers this cycle, Diehl declined.

But Diehl, seeking to clarify how he has approached debate offers this election cycle, released a statement on Facebook, writing he is “tired of hearing the lies and rhetoric swirling around about debates in this race.

“We have a primary on Tuesday. It’s time to set the record straight,” he wrote. “After the Republican Convention on May 21 and as our party’s endorsed candidate, I challenged Chris Doughty to two debates: one on Howie Carr’s show and one on Jeff Kuhner’s show. I’m a conservative candidate running in a Republican primary, so I wanted primary debates moderated exclusively by conservative voices so my voters could hear what each of us really has to say. My opponent agreed to only one of those debates. Just one.”
Indeed, Doughty and Diehl met in July for only one debate on the Carr show. However, Kuhner has been a supporter of Diehl in previous elections.

 Diehl also repeatedly declined challenges and invitations from Doughty for televised debates.

Doughty fired back at Diehl on Twitter: “Fact check: @RepGeoffDiehl

turned down every televised debate. He lost every debate against @ewarren. We need to nominate a courageous candidate.”

Pre-primary poll shows tight races for Mass. A.G., state auditor (Sept. 2)

A new poll just days out from the Sept. 6 primary election shows incredibly tight races in the Democratic primaries for attorney general and state auditor.

With the race for the party’s nomination for attorney general now narrowed to former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell and labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan, the recent WCVB/UMass Amherst poll of 500 voters found Liss-Riordan leads Campbell by just one percentage point, 29 to 28 percent, WCVB reports.

Notably, however, about a third of voters, or 31 percent, remain undecided in the contentious race, according to the results of the poll, which was taken before the third Democrat, Quentin Palfrey, ended his campaign this week.

The poll also revealed another close race in the Democratic primary for state auditor, with Chris Dempsey, director of Transportation for Massachusetts, and state Sen. Diana DiZoglio both tied at 26 percent. Another 48 percent of respondents indicated they were still undecided between the two candidates.

In the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, the poll found Kim Driscoll had a hearty lead, with 31 percent of respondents backing the Salem mayor over state Sen. Eric Lesser, who garnered 17 percent of poll participants, and state Rep, Tami Gouveia, who carried 15 percent of respondents.

For secretary of state, longtime incumbent Bill Galvin led the poll with 49 percent of the vote to 30 percent for Tanisha Sullivan, the president of the NAACP’s Boston branch. Another 20 percent of respondents were undecided on who to vote for in the race.

The poll focused on the Democratic primary elections. Attorney General Maura Healey is running unopposed for the party nomination for governor.

Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, Mayor Michelle Wu rescind endorsements of Ricardo Arroyo for D.A. (Aug. 31)

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and U.S. senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey on Wednesday all rescinded their endorsements of Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo in the Democratic primary for Suffolk County district attorney.

The moves are perhaps the largest political losses for Arroyo’s campaign, as the 34-year-old candidate tries to weather controversy spurred by a Boston Globe report that found he was investigated twice — though never charged — for two possible sexual assaults as a teenager.

Arroyo has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has said he was unaware of the investigations until he was approached by the Globe this month.

The wave of rescinded support Wednesday came after the woman involved in the first case in 2005 stood spoke out and stood by her allegations in another Globe story published on Tuesday evening.

Read what Warren, Markey, and Wu said.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu sticks with endorsement of Ricardo Arroyo for Suffolk D.A. (Aug. 29)

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu says she is standing by her endorsement of her former Boston City Council colleague, Ricardo Arroyo, in the Democratic primary for Suffolk County district attorney.

Wu told Politico “in light of the news coverage that’s unfolded, I am not withdrawing my endorsement.” 

“As documented in the news, these cases were closed after investigation by the Boston Police Department and the DA’s office,” she added.

Wu had said last week she was “troubled” after a Boston Globe report found Arroyo, 34, had been investigated — but not charged — twice as a teenager for potential sexual assaults.

Wu indicated she would wait to “see how this story evolves” before reconsidering her endorsement. Arroyo, meanwhile, has denied any wrongdoing and has maintained he was unaware he was ever a suspect, despite conflicting information in one of the police reports reviewed by the Globe.

Mass. progressives offer dueling endorsements in A.G.’s race (Aug. 29)

Endorsements are still rolling in for the Democratic primary for attorney general.

And the state’s progressive lawmakers appear to be split on who to support in the Sept. 6 primary.

On Friday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and former acting Mayor Kim Janey all backed Shannon Liss-Riordan, a labor attorney, Politico reports.

“Boston needs an Attorney General who’ll always stand with working families,” Wu said in a tweet. “That’s why I’m excited to announce my endorsement of @ShannonforAG.”

But their endorsements contrast with the support garnered by former Boston city councilor Andrea Campbell, whose list of backers includes Sen. Ed Markey, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and sitting Attorney General Maura Healey, the presumptive Democratic candidate for governor.

“I’ve been attorney general for eight years. I’ve worked in that office for 15 … I know what an AG needs to do and be able to provide, and that’s why I’m with Andrea Campbell,” Healey said on Saturday.

Warren justified her support for Liss-Riordan to reporters on Saturday, stating that she has worked with and sought advice from Liss-Riordan on how to take on large corporations.

Politico also notes, however, that Campbell was a supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris — one of Warren’s rivals — in the 2020 presidential primary.

And Wu and Janey, although former council colleagues with Campbell, also ran against Campbell in the primary for mayor last year.

Poll shows Mass. voters undecided on many races ahead of primary (Aug. 25)

A new, statewide poll of Massachusetts primary voters released Thursday indicated that a large swath of voters on both sides of the aisle are still undecided as to who to vote for in many primary races.

The poll, which was conducted on Aug. 22 and 23 by the Fiscal Alliance Foundation, found that the majority of Democrats hadn’t chosen a favorite candidate in the attorney general’s race, the lieutenant governor’s race, and the state auditor’s race.

In the attorney general’s race, former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell is still leading, but not by a wide margin. Campbell garnered 25 points, while class action lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan received 20 points, and former assistant attorney general Quentin Palfrey trailed with only five points.

The poll found that 49% of Democratic primary voters were undecided between the three candidates.

The percentage of undecided voters was even higher for the state auditor and lieutenant governor races, with 75% and 72% of voters saying they hadn’t chosen a candidate, respectively.

In the state auditor race, former Assistant Transportation Sec. Chris Dempsey leads with 15 points with State Sen. Diana DiZoglio following with 10 points.

In the lieutenant governor’s race, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll leads with 13 points, followed by State Sen. Eric Lesser with nine points and State Rep. Tami Goveia with six points.

On the other side of the aisle, 42% of Republicans say they’d vote for former state Rep. Geoff Diehl in the governor’s race and 27% say they’d vote for businessman Chris Doughty. 31% said they were undecided.

In regards to the lieutenant governor’s race, 68% of Republicans said they hadn’t chosen a candidate.

Those who had made up their minds slightly favored former state Rep. Kate Campanale, who garnered 19 points over former state Rep. Leah Allen.

The only candidate on either side of the aisle to get more than 50 points in the poll was incumbent Secretary of State Bill Galvin.

Galvin received 55 points in the poll, while his opponent, Boston NAACP President Tanisha Sullivan received only 14, and 31% of voters said they were undecided.

Galvin has historically received enthusiastic support from Massachusetts voters. Were Galvin to defeat Sullivan on Sept. 6, it would be his fourth time defeating a primary challenger who was endorsed by the Massachusetts Democratic Party over him.

Among Democrats, the top issues were climate change and health care, while Republicans named inflation, jobs and the economy, and law enforcement and rule of law.

MassGOP surpasses signature threshold in step towards securing ballot question to repeal law for licenses for undocumented drivers (Aug. 25)

MassGOP leaders say they were successful in their effort to collect the required number of signatures to get a question on the ballot this fall to ask voters to repeal a recently-passed state law that allows undocumented immigrants to receive driver’s licenses.

In a news release, the party said it received over 100,000 signatures – well more than double the required threshold of 41,000. 

City and town clerks are now in the process of certifying signatures through Sept. 2, according to the GOP. Certified petitions for the Secretary of State’s office must be completed by 5 p.m. on Sept. 7.

“What we’re seeing today is the culmination of an effort of volunteers across the state, what we’re seeing is democracy in action,” Lyons told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday. “They’ve spent the last eight weeks all over the state gathering over 100,000 signatures.”

The Legislature passed the law in June after overriding a veto from Republican Gov. Charlie Baker.

Supporters have argued the law will bolster public safety by requiring all drivers to demonstrate they can safely operate a motor vehicle and that they have insurance, if needed.

But speakers at Wednesday’s press conference raised concern the law will also allow undocumented immigrants to be able to register to vote.

Proponents, in the past, have said, however, that noncitizens who attempt to use the license to vote could be deported.

Geoff Diehl turns down invite for debate against fellow GOP gubernatorial hopeful (Aug. 17)

Republican Geoff Diehl has declined an invitation to face off against his gubernatorial primary opponent Chris Doughty in a televised debate hosted by WCVB, WBUR, and The Boston Globe, WBUR reports.

Diehl has consistently said he would only appear in two radio debates. Each were to be moderated by conservative talk radio hosts Howie Carr and Jeff Kuhner.

Diehl and Doughty debated on Carr’s show last month in what could wind up being the only debate ahead of the Sept. 6 party primary.

A Doughty campaign spokesperson told WBUR the campaign does not consider an invite to Kuhner’s show “a legitimate offer to debate.”

Kuhner has supported Diehl before, having, at least, appeared with Diehl for a campaign fundraiser during Diehl’s unsuccessful U.S. Senate run in 2018 and having endorsed him in 2020 for the Republican State Committee. Although Diehl rejected the latest debate invitation, his running mate, former state Rep. Leah Cole Allen, did participate in a lieutenant governor debate hosted by the three outlets earlier this week.

Lydia Edwards endorses Kevin Hayden for full term as Suffolk DA (Aug. 15)

State Sen. Lydia Edwards has endorsed acting Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden for a full term.

Edwards chose Hayden over her former Boston City Council colleague Ricardo Arroyo, who is facing off against Hayden in the Sept. 6 Democratic primary.

Arroyo has the support of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, one of Edwards’s frequent political allies.

Politico first reported the endorsement on Monday. “What matters most to me is Kevin’s vision and heart, backed up by over two decades of public service work,” Edwards said in a statement to Politico. “Kevin has a strong record of trial experience, a commitment to just outcomes, and a fair and ethical approach to prosecution that the residents of Suffolk County need and deserve from their district attorney.”

Healey endorsed by slew of Lawrence politicians (Aug. 11)

Democratic candidate for governor and current Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey visited Lawrence Thursday, picking up endorsements from the city’s mayor, city councilors, and state representatives.

Healey was endorsed by Mayor Brian De Peña, State Reps. Frank Moran and Marcos Devers, and City Councilors Celina Reyes, Estella Reyes, Pavel Payano, Jeovanny Rodriguez, Gregory Del Rosario, Ana Levy, Maria De La Cruz, and Stephanie Infante.

“I’m proud to endorse Maura Healey for Governor because I know that she will be a strong partner for the city of Lawrence,” De Peña said in a news release.

“Her commitment to making Massachusetts more affordable, lowering the cost of housing, and supporting our small businesses will make a real difference in the lives of Lawrence residents and will open up economic opportunities for all.”

While in the city, Healey toured the 608 Broadway housing development in the former Mariner Mill building, which will include 87 units of mixed-income rental housing, the release said.

“Lawrence represents the promise of our gateway cities and the ways in which they can contribute to a thriving economy in Massachusetts,” Healey said in the release.

“The 608 Broadway project is a prime example of how we can renovate existing buildings to create more housing for people of all income levels. As governor, I’ll support projects like this in every region of our state.”

Healey also toured the Five Star Plating factory — an immigrant-owned business that produces metal coating and plating services.

“Our manufacturing industry provides good paying jobs, supports local economies and produces essential goods,” Healey said.

“As governor, I will be a partner in supporting and further cultivating the industry, as well as expanding job programs across the state to provide workers with the skills that are most in demand by employers like Five Star.”

Healey launches statewide community basketball tour ahead of primary (Aug. 10)

Democratic candidate for governor and state District Attorney Maura Healey launched a statewide community basketball tour as part of her campaign Wednesday.

Calling it “Healey Hoops,” Healey plans to play basketball with young people and community members over the next few months, her campaign said in a news release.

“There is no better way to bring people together than a game of basketball,” Healey said in the release. “I love it, and I can’t wait to see people out on the court.”

Despite being only five-foot-four, Healey is a former professional basketball player who played for Harvard University during her college years and then played in Austria in the 1990s. She used to play the position of point guard.

“For us, the most important statistic is the assist. It’s about team success over individual success,” she said in the release. “That’s the style of leadership I want to bring to the Governor’s Office to move our state forward together.”

The first stop on the tour will be in Lawrence at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11 at O’Connell South Common with the Suenos Basketball program, the release said.

The week after, Healey will play a game with state Sen. John Velis and other elected officials in Holyoke on Wednesday, Aug. 17.

More details about additional stops will be announced soon, the release said.

Healey has used basketball as a way to engage with people throughout her political career. In 2016, she memorably threw on her old jersey during an event for Hilary Clinton at her old high school in New Hampshire.

Suffolk DA hopeful says incumbent should resign after report of alleged cover-up case (Aug. 9)

Boston City Councilor and Suffolk County district attorney candidate Ricardo Arroyo called on his primary opponent, acting District Attorney Kevin Hayden, to resign in light of how Hayden’s office has handled a case of an alleged police cover-up.

The Boston Globe on Saturday reported how in April 2021, an off-duty transit police officer allegedly pulled a gun on 33-year-old Jason Leonor during a road rage incident in Mattapan, before having another officer pull Leonor over, and then writing him up for a traffic violation.

The transit officer, Jacob Green, filed a report and called on fellow officer, Kevin Davis, following the incident. Davis then filed a report supporting Green’s account in which Davis claimed to have witnessed the dispute, according to the newspaper.

The district attorney’s office, under Rachael Rollins’s leadership at the time, began investigating the alleged cover-up, before Rollins left to become U.S. attorney and Hayden became the county’s top prosecutor.

Under Hayden’s leadership however, prosecutors appeared to be less eager to probe the case, according to the Globe. In response to questions from the newspaper, Hayden’s office provided contradictory responses for how it has handled the investigation.

On Monday, Arroyo accused Hayden of trying to cover up the incident and called on him to step down.

“Interim District Attorney Hayden and his administration’s attempt to cover up and not prosecute this case of police misconduct reinforces the fears that cause victims like Mr. Leonor to remain in the shadows,” Arroyo said in a statement. “Accepting money from the officer under investigation and his attorney after doing so is deeply unethical and offering ‘a series of shifting and contradictory explanations’ to cover up his actions is a betrayal of the public trust. Most importantly, today Mr. Leonor ‘is scared of this world’ and ‘running out of hope’ due to the actions, and inactions, of Kevin Hayden and his staff.

“Faith in the integrity and fairness of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office is essential to its ability to serve the public and solve crimes; Mr. Hayden has irreparably damaged that faith and should resign,” Arroyo added.

Hayden, however, has refuted the notion that he closed or sought to close the investigation into the two officers.

“This case has always remained opened because I’m the one who makes that decision, and I never determined to close the case,” Hayden said Monday, according to WBUR. “It will continue to remain open until we come to its conclusion.”

Hayden also noted that his campaign has returned $225 it received in contributions from Green and Green’s attorney.

“Since I’ve arrived here, there are other instances of misconduct and criminality involving police officers that we have charged and will continue to do so,” Hayden said. “We’re always going to continue to do our job to the best of our ability, and I’m certainly not going to let politics and gamesmanship play into how we how we do things.”

Michelle Wu endorses Chris Dempsey for state auditor (Aug. 9)

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has endorsed fellow Democrat Chris Dempsey for state auditor.

“Chris will use the State Auditor’s office to lead on critical issues, like climate change, public transit, transparency, and reproductive rights,” Wu said in a statement shared in a fundraising email from the Dempsey campaign on Tuesday. “I look forward to continuing our partnership on these and other challenges when Chris is on Beacon Hill.”

Dempsey, a transit advocate and a former leader of No Boston Olympics, is running against Diana DiZoglio, a state senator for the First Essex District, for the Democratic nomination in the Sept. 6 primary.

Anthony Amore, director of security and chief investigator at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, is the lone Republican candidate.

GOP gubernatorial candidate Doughty, continuing to ignore primary opponent Diehl, launches StopMauraHealey.com (Aug. 5)

Chris Doughty, a Republican candidate in the race for governor, has launched a website aimed at Maura Healey, who will likely be his opponent if he secures the GOP nomination. 

“The commonwealth can’t afford Maura Healey as governor,” the site, StopMauraHealy.com, declares.

Under a “Corruption” header, the site decries that Healey — whose lone Democratic primary opponent, Sonia Chang-Diaz, ended her campaign in June —  has “completely failed to prosecute elected officials for political corruption.”

It also alleges Healey has “solicited and received campaign contributions from a developer who admitted to making illegal campaign contributions to Democrat politicians.”

Healey’s campaign denies the veracity of Doughty’s claims.

“While the Republicans continue to run their primary based on anger and false attacks, Maura is focused on delivering for people and small businesses,” said Karissa Hand, press secretary of Maura Healey for Governor. “That’s why she’s saved ratepayers billions of dollars and, as governor, will deliver tax relief and make Massachusetts more affordable for all.”

Doughty — president of metal gear manufacturer Capstan Atlantic in Wrentham and a first-time candidate — has focused on Healey throughout his campaign, rather than the Republican opponent he has to beat in the primary to even be in the running against Healey come November.

Doughty’s opponent is former State Rep. Geoff Diehl, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Gubernatorial candidates blast Legislature for inaction over tax relief package (Aug. 3)

Gubernatorial candidates on both sides of the aisle are frustrated with state lawmaker’s inaction on a tax relief and economic development package that languished as the legislative session came to an end early this week.

The proposed $1 billion proposal would have provided, among other relief, rebates of $250 to middle-income taxpayers.

But the package stalled over affordability concerns from legislative leaders, who are considering the state may have to provide tax credits to taxpayers this fall, should the state’s hefty revenue surplus trigger an obscure law requiring the state to give back some tax dollars. It remains unclear, however, whether that will indeed come to pass.

But gubernatorial hopefuls are nonetheless not pleased with lawmakers over the decision to hold back the rebates, WCVB reports.

“People need relief now, so I really urge the Legislature to come back and get this done and get this tax relief provided to families,” said Attorney General Maura Healey, the lone Democratic candidate in the Sept. 6 primary election.

Republican hopeful and former state Rep. Geoff Diehl noted that at least the tax cap law may provide taxpayers with some relief.

“People have been overtaxed. They should return the money to people ASAP,” he said. “Beacon Hill had the opportunity to return money back to the people on their own terms. They chose not to. I’m really glad this trigger is in place.”

Chris Doughty, a Republican businessman from Wrentham, said the state could afford to provide the rebates.

“It seems like there’s such a reluctance to give tax relief,” he said. “There are 35 states that have gone ahead of us that have already given tax relief.”

Here’s who Attorney General Maura Healey said she plans to vote for to be the next A.G. (Aug.1)

Attorney General Maura Healey on Monday said she plans to vote for former Boston city councilor Andrea Campbell to be her successor in next month’s Democratic primary.

“I have a pretty good sense of what’s required to lead that office,” Healey said on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio.” “Andrea brings the combination of judgment, skill, compassion, and really will center the work, as I’ve tried to do, on the people of the state.”

Campbell is one of three Democrats vying for the seat Healey will vacate as she runs for governor this fall. Labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan and Quentin Palfrey, a former attorney for the Obama and Biden administrations and state prosecutor, are also running for the party nomination in the Sept. 6 primary.

All three were set to participate in their first televised debate on Monday night on GBH, with a radio broadcast of the pre-recorded debate airing at 6:30 p.m. and the video recording airing on the GBH-2 television channel at 7 p.m.

Jay McMahon, a trial attorney, is the sole Republican running in next month’s primary.

“To say I’m grateful for Maura’s vote and support is an understatement,” Campbell said in a statement released later on Monday afternoon. “As your next attorney general, I will build on her legacy as the people’s lawyer. Working hand-in-hand with Maura as our next governor, I’ll hold the powerful accountable and protect the rights of residents across the state, no matter where you live or where you come from.”

According to her campaign, Campbell has also received endorsements from former attorneys general Frank Bellotti, Jim Shannon, Martha Coakley, and Scott Harshbarger.

Poll shows Maura Healey could carry general gubernatorial election at similar margin against either Republican (Aug.1)

While voters have yet to decide who the Republican nominee for Massachusetts governor will be, a new poll suggests both primary candidates, Geoff Diehl and Chris Doughty, would lose by roughly the same margin against presumed Democratic nominee Maura Healey in the November general election.

A Suffolk University/Boston Globe survey of 600 Massachusetts residents over the age of 18 conducted late last month found that if the general election for governor were held now, in a Healey-Diehl match-up, 53.96 percent of respondents would vote for Healey, the attorney general, while 23.33 percent would back Diehl, a former state representative. Another 21.91 percent were undecided.

Similarly, in a Healey-Doughty match up, participants in the survey favored Healey, at 54.16 percent, over Doughty, at 21.91 percent. An additional 22.52 residents were undecided.

Of the respondents, 569 are registered voters, and the vast majority of those voters, 45.87 percent, are not enrolled with a political party. Over 80 percent said they are likely to vote in November’s general election.

The survey’s margin of error was 4.5 percent.

Diehl, who has his party’s endorsement, has led Doughty in various polls. 

Healey is the sole Democratic candidate in the Sept. 6 primary.

Here’s how AG candidate Quentin Palfrey would tackle climate change if elected (July 26)

Democratic candidate for Massachusetts attorney general Quentin Palfrey released a plan Tuesday describing how he would tackle climate change if elected to the position.

Palfrey’s plan includes suing polluters for harm done to the environment, greater oversight of the Department of Public Utilities — which he says is “too cozy with the industry it regulates,” and working with the Massachusetts Legislature to pass more green legislation.

Palfrey wrote in a news release that he believes we are at a critical moment in history that will determine the future of our environment.

“What we do, or fail to do, right now will determine what kind of life our grandchildren and great-grandchildren live. Every level of government – from the international community to the broken U.S. Congress to the Baker Administration – is failing to meet the urgency of the moment,” he wrote.

Palfrey highlighted that the impacts of climate change are already being felt in Massachusetts. He gave examples such as frequent heat waves, Chelsea’s poor air quality, disappearing fishing jobs, and the rapid erosion on Cape Cod.

“As the climate crisis progresses, Massachusetts will be particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, flooding, and rising sea levels,” he wrote.

Palfrey’s climate plan:

• Implement a day 1 office-wide climate imperative. This would mandate that every unit in the Attorney General’s Office develop a plan for how their unit’s work will contribute to fighting climate change.
• Sue polluters for harm done to the environment. Palfrey said he would “vigorously enforce” the state’s environmental laws, similar to AG Healey’s suing of Exxon Mobil for lying to consumers about climate change. He said he would also add new regulations that penalize large companies that lie about greenhouse gas emissions and provide more resources to the Environmental Crimes Strike Force to investigate and prosecute environmental law violations.
• Stand against environmentally harmful initiatives. Palfrey said he opposes energy industry equipment supplier Holtec’s “plan to dump radioactive water into Cape Cod Bay” and Joint Base Cape Cod’s plan to put a machine gun range next to “fragile natural resources,” which he said could pollute drinking water. He said he also supports initiatives to get rid of the Peabody Peaker Plant, the Eversource Springfield Pipeline, and the Enbridge Weymouth Compressor station.
• Support new green legislation. Palfrey said he will work with the Legislature to incentivize investments in renewable energy sources, create a carbon tax, and create fare-free public transit.
• Use the AG’s Office to protect vulnerable communities from pollution and the worst effects of climate change.
• Advocate for environmental justice communities having more of a voice in local and state decision-making.
• Increase oversight of utilities and the energy sector. Palfrey said that as attorney general, he would increase oversight of the Department of Public Utilities, which he says is “too cozy with the industry it regulates.” He said he would also use the Office of Ratepayer Advocacy within the AG’s Office to ensure that energy rate increases include a carbon offset and the introduction of new, carbon-free renewable power into the grid. Additionally, he said, he would maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date account of gas leaks, would set firm deadlines for gas leak repairs, and would hold utility companies accountable if they don’t comply.

Palfrey added that he has pledged not to take donations from fossil fuel companies, and that he’s urging other candidates to sign the “People’s Pledge” and keep outside money out of the attorney general’s race.

“The People’s Lawyer must be independent so that the Attorney General’s Office can stand up to corporate influence and tackle the climate crisis and the other big challenges of our lifetime,” he wrote.

Andrea Campbell gets support in AG’s race from major labor group (July 20)

Democratic attorney general hopeful Andrea Campbell on Wednesday received the endorsement of the SEIU Massachusetts State Council, which represents over 115,000 health care, higher education, public sector, and building service workers across the Bay State.

The council consists of SEIU Locals 32BJ, 1199, 509, and 1957 CIR.

“Andrea will bring crucial life and legal experience to the Attorney General’s Office – experiences that deeply resonate with many residents in Massachusetts,” Executive Vice President of 1199 SEIU Tim Foley said in a statement. “Like Andrea, we see that distinct lens as a new opportunity to expand the conversation and uplift those who are often invisible to government.” 

Peter MacKinnon, president of the Massachusetts State Council and SEIU 509, in a statement, said, “As a champion of racial and economic justice, Andrea Campbell has centered her work in the values of our movement.

“Even in Massachusetts, we face fierce inequity,” Mackinnon added. “With Andrea as Attorney General, we know everyone – from our seniors, to our immigrant populations, to our LGBTQIA+ siblings – will have a seat at the table.”

Campbell, who recently rolled out her “Standing Up for Workers” policy platform, said workers represented by the council “keep our hospitals, buildings and businesses operating smoothly, often behind the scenes and without the respect and gratitude they deserve.

“This is just the beginning of our partnership,” Campbell said in her own statement. “I look forward to working together leading up to the primary to mobilize voters across the state, and as your next Attorney General to deliver greater opportunity and equity in the workplace.”

Campbell is facing off against Shannon Liss-Riordan and Quentin Palfrey in the September primary.

Two Democrats in races for attorney general, lieutenant governor get public funding (July 19)

Quentin Palfrey, a Democrat running for attorney general, and state Rep. Tami Gouveia, a Democrat running for lieutenant governor, have received funding for their campaigns through the state’s public financing program.

Palfrey received $165,412 and Gouveia received $143,994, the Office of Campaign and Political Finance told The Boston Globe on Monday.

The system offers public funds for candidates running for statewide offices who agree on spending limits, according to the newspaper. The funding is provided by taxpayers who opt into giving $1 to the program from their state income taxes.

In sum, there’s approximately $1 million available that could be evenly split between candidates in the Sept. 6 primary election and the November election.

Three other candidates had indicated they would partake in the program, including Repiublican gubernatorial hopeful Geoff Diehl and his running mate, Leah Allen, but they later clarified that they will not take public money.

The third, Jay McMahon, a Republican running for attorney general, meanwhile, cannot receive public funds because he has no opponent in the primary, according to the Globe.

A spokesperson for Palfrey said the funding “coupled with our strong fund-raising well positions our campaign to communicate with primary voters.”

“Our campaign is fueled by a grassroots effort that reaches every corner of the Commonwealth,” Joe Caiazzo, a Palfrey spokesman, told the newspaper in a statement.

Gouveia told the Globe the funding “allows candidates like me, a social worker and organizer, to spread our message further.”

“Elections should not be about who has the most corporate donations or who knows the most max donors, but instead about who will fight for everyday people every single day,” Gouveia said in a statement. “Public financing is good for democracy and good for Massachusetts.”

Read the full Boston Globe report.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu backs Maura Healey for governor (July 15)

The mayor of the Bay State’s largest city has thrown her support behind Attorney General Maura Healey for governor.

“I’m proud to endorse Maura Healey for Governor because I know that she will be a strong partner in our mission to build a Boston – and a Massachusetts – that works for everyone,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement on Friday. “I’m looking forward to working alongside Maura to make housing more affordable, improve our public transit system, invest in public education, and deliver on a Boston Green New Deal with our communities.”

Wu will be on the campaign trail for her fellow Democrat on Saturday when she attends a canvas kick-off with Healey in Boston.

“Mayor Wu is an inspiring leader with a track record of bringing people together to make Boston a better place to live and work for everyone,” Healey said in a statement. “As Governor, I look forward to partnering with her to move Boston and Massachusetts forward. I’m honored to have her endorsement in this race.”

Essential workers unions SEIU 509 and 1199SEIU endorse Tanisha Sullivan for secretary of the state (July 14)

Two unions collectively representing almost 100,000 health care, home care, human service, child care, and other essential workers have endorsed Tanisha Sullivan for secretary of state.

Sullivan, president of the Boston branch of the NAACP, is seeking the Democratic nomination against longtime Secretary of the State William Galvin.

On Thursday, SEIU Local 509 and 1199SEIU announced their support for Sullivan, citing her plans to update the state’s voting systems, such as same-day voter registration and expanded mail-in voting options.

“SEIU 509 is proud to endorse Tanisha Sullivan to be the next Secretary of State. Our movement is strongest when we exercise our power at the ballot box to elect leaders who share our values. For far too long, many of our neighbors have been left out of the voting process because of outdated and inequitable policies,” Peter MacKinnon, president of the SEIU Massachusetts State Council and SEIU Local 509, said in a statement. “Tanisha Sullivan is committed to removing the barriers to voting that hold our communities back from making their voices heard.”

In a statement, Filaine Deronnette, 1199SEIU vice president at large, said: “The healthcare workers of 1199SEIU are proud to stand with Tanisha Sullivan for secretary of state. At a time when we must protect the integrity of our elections, it is also an opportunity to reimagine how we create a more engaged and representative electorate that elevates the voices of working people and people of color. Just as she has done throughout her career, Tanisha is that champion who will help create a Massachusetts that works for all.”

‘She has put in the work’: Kim Driscoll, lieutenant gov. hopeful, throws support behind Maura Healey in video (July 14)

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, the Democrat-endorsed candidate for lieutenant governor, is throwing her support behind fellow Dremocrat Maura Healey for governor.

In a new video released Thursday, Driscoll called it an honor to work with Healey, the current attorney general.

“I’m with her 100 percent and would be honored to serve with her as lieutenant governor,” she said.

Healey has not endorsed any candidates in the Sept. 6 lieutenant governor primary.

Still, Driscoll praised Healey in the video: “She has put in the work, has been a tremendous attorney general, and shown her chops as an executive. Whether you’re talking about the climate crisis, housing costs, or early ed, she understands there is more to do to move Massachusetts forward for everyone.”

Driscoll also urged voters to stay engaged in the governor’s race and not to take Healey’s frontrunner standing in the polls for granted.

“I’m worried that some people think the race for governor is over,” Driscoll said. “We can’t afford that kind of thinking. … Media pundits may think the governor’s race is over. But you and I know the Republican Party, the party of Trump, is not just going to roll over.”

Republican candidates former state Rep. Geoff Diehl and Wrentham businessman Chris Doughty are each seeking their party’s nomination in the primary.

Healey endorsed by Worcester officials, meets with Massachusetts Teachers Association (July 12)

Massachusetts Attorney General and Democratic candidate for governor Maura Healey made a campaign stop in Worcester Tuesday, picking up over a dozen endorsements from Worcester officials.

Healey received endorsements from Mayor Joseph Petty; City Councilors Khrystian King, Kate Toomey, Moe Bergman, Sarai Rivera, George Russell, Candy Carlson, Etel Haxhiaj, and Sean Rose; and School Committee members Susan Mailman, Jermaine Johnson, Laura Clancey, and Molly McCullough.

“Maura Healey will be a governor who shows up for our gateway cities,” Mayor Petty said in a news release. “She has been a strong partner to Central Massachusetts and she will prioritize investments in public education, transportation infrastructure, and economic development in the city.”

During her time in Worcester, Healey met with local educators and leaders of the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) to discuss the importance of paraprofessionals and support staff in providing well-rounded public education, the release said.

In a statement about her meeting, Healey promised to hire more paraeducators to ensure schools are meeting the needs of English language learning students and students with disabilities.

She also said that as governor, she would increase investments in and expand access to vocational tech programs across the state.

“[Healey] will be a governor who centers the needs of our students and prioritizes investments in student mental health, wraparound services, and equity,” MTA President Merrie Najimy said in the release.

GOP contender for governor Chris Doughty challenges Geoff Diehl to TV debate, but Diehl’s campaign rejects (July 8)

Chris Doughty, a businessman contending for the Republican nomination for governor, on Friday, called on his opponent, former state Rep. Geoff Diehl, to agree to a televised debate, but the Diehl campaign said it will continue to honor only its previous agreements to two radio debates slated for before the September primary.

Doughty’s campaign said that if Diehl commits to an on-screen discussion, Doughty will agree to appear in one of the radio debates, specifically the one on Jeff Kuhner’s “The Kuhner Report” on WRKO.

Kuhner has supported Diehl before, having, at least, appeared with Diehl for a campaign fundraiser during Diehl’s unsuccessful U.S. Senate run in 2018 and having endorsed him in 2020 for the Republican State Committee.

“Jeff Kuhner has endorsed Diehl several times on his talk radio show and held an event, so it is extremely unusual to debate under those circumstances. We don’t consider it neutral territory,” Holly Robichaud, a Doughty campaign strategist, said in a news release. “However, Chris Doughty is willing to accept the invitation if Diehl will agree to debate in a televised format whether it is with Jon Keller or NECN or WCVB or WGBH. It is more than a fair proposal.”

Doughty plans to accept every debate where the moderator has not endorsed a candidate, Robichaud said.

“We hope that Diehl will have the courage to accept all offers to debate,” she said.

But Peggy Rose, a spokesperson for Diehl’s campaign, told Boston.com Friday afternoon Diehl remains committed to only the two radio debates his campaign offered in April, when both Kuhner’s and Boston Herald columnist Howie Carr’s radio shows agreed to each host one-hour debates in July or August.

According to the Doughty campaign, Doughty has accepted debates hosted by Carr, the Norfolk County GOP, and NECN and anticipates more invitations will follow.

“We strongly believe that voters should have the right to hear the differences between the candidates,” Robichaud said. “If Diehl cannot answer the questions now, he is clearly not prepared to be governor.”

Diehl secured the MassGOP endorsement at the party’s convention in May. 

He previously responded to Doughty’s debate calls in the spring by offering the candidates debate after the convention but ahead of the Sept. 6 primary election.

AG candidate Andrea Campbell calls for step-up of assault weapons ban, targets ‘ghost’ guns (July 1)

Andrea Campbell, a Democrat seeking her party’s nomination for attorney general, released a gun violence prevention policy plan on Thursday that seeks to crack down on assault weapons that currently evade the state’s ban and to enforce federal regulations that restrict the sale of so-called untraceable “ghost” guns.

The plan arrived at the tail end of Gun Violence Awareness month, and on the heels of a spate of mass shootings across the country and the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision shooting down a New York State law that had set limits on the concealed carry of handguns in public.

“Every Massachusetts resident has the right to feel safe in their homes, schools, and grocery stores, but the Supreme Court’s decision has very serious implications that will undermine or eliminate the very laws that keep us safe. Those disproportionately harmed or unjustly targeted by gun violence will bear the brunt of this decision the most,” Campbell said in a statement. 

“The next Attorney General will play a key role in ensuring our Commonwealth remains vigilant and continues to lead the way on gun violence prevention measures,” she said. “As Attorney General, I will defend every aspect of our common-sense gun laws to protect the public and the future of Massachusetts.”

Campbell’s plan calls for fine tuning the state’s current assault weapons ban through working with state lawmakers “to identify dangerous semi-automatic rifles that currently evade the assault weapons ban, including identifying guns by lethal characteristics rather than by brand name,” according to her campaign.

The former Boston city councilor would also work to enhance prosecution for criminals who use guns already banned under the law.

Additionally, Campbell wants to upgrade prosecution for those who build and use ghost guns, or weapons “typically built by individuals rather than manufacturers, that have no serial numbers and are not traceable,” her campaign said in a press release.

A new U.S. Department of Justice policy is aimed at reining in the number of ghost guns in circulation by requiring manufacturers of gun kits to be licensed and include serial numbers on the kits’ frame or receiver. In April, there were approximately 20,000 of the weapons reported as recovered by authorities nationally in 2021, according to the White House.

If elected, Campbell would use “existing unfair trade practice law to go after illegal internet sales of ghost gun blanks and 3-D printed weapons,” according to her plan.

Other aspects of the plan include creating an Office of Gun Safety Enforcement within the Attorney General’s Office; expanding community-based gun violence prevention programs; cracking down on gun hoarding; and bolstering gun safety training requirements.

Campbell is facing off against labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan and Quentin Palfrey, a former attorney for Obama and Biden administrations and state prosecutor, in the Sept. 6 primary. Jay McMahon, a trial attorney and Republican 2018 nominee for attorney general, is the lone Republican candidate.

Opponents of law that gives undocumented immigrants driver’s licenses begin ballot effort (June 29)

Opponents of a recently passed law that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses in Massachusetts have started gathering signatures in an effort to put the issue before voters this fall and potentially repeal the measure, GBH News reports.

Fair and Secure Massachusetts, the committee behind the push for repeal, started distributing signature sheets on Tuesday, the outlet reports.

To make the ballot, the committee must submit to state officials at least 40,120 signatures for certification by 5 p.m. on Aug. 24 and deliver them to the secretary of state by Sept. 7.

But leaders of the campaign are apparently unfazed by the short timeframe.

“The outpouring of support that we are receiving … for this is overwhelming,” said MassGOP chair Jim Lyons.

“We think this gives us an opportunity to show what one-party rule does on Beacon Hill,” Lyons added. “It completely ignores the will of the people.”

Under the law, undocumented immigrants may apply for a driver’s license if they can submit to the Registry of Motor Vehicles a foreign passport or consular identification document.

Applicants will also have to provide one of these documents: a driver’s license from another U.S. state or territory; a birth certificate; a foreign national identification card; a foreign driver’s license; or a marriage certificate or divorce decree from any U.S. state or territory.

Proponents have argued the law is necessary for public safety, as qualifying immigrants will have to demonstrate they can operate a vehicle safely and will have to obtain proper auto insurance.

Lyons rejected that position when speaking to GBH News, though.

“Just think about that argument,” he said. “All of a sudden, people that are here illegally are now going to follow the rules of the road? The fact of the matter is, they’re here illegally, they’re violating our laws to get in here, and we’re rewarding them for bad behavior.”

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker vetoed the measure, but the state Senate overrode the veto to pass the bill into law. The law is slated to take hold on July 1, 2023.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Read the full GBH News report.

Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund backs Maura Healey, Kim Driscoll, and Andrea Campbell in state races (June 28)

The Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund on Tuesday announced endorsements for a trio of candidates, just days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark abortion rights case, Roe v. Wade.

The PPAF endorses candidates who “have strong records supporting sexual and reproductive health access and who will continue to prioritize the health and wellbeing of Planned Parenthood patients,” according a press release.

“While the right to abortion is protected in Massachusetts under the ROE Act, PPAF’s legislative priorities focus on making abortion care more accessible and affordable statewide, protecting patients and providers that seek or deliver care that is legal in Massachusetts, expanding access to birth control and comprehensive sex education across the state, and combating systemic health inequities especially for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities,” the PPAF said.

On Tuesday, the PPAF endorsed Attorney General Maura Healey for governor, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll for lieutenant governor, and former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell for attorney general.

“As millions of people lose access to abortion and politicians threaten to restrict all reproductive rights across the country, we need State leaders that are bold, effective, unapologetic champions for sexual and reproductive health and rights to ensure Massachusetts remains a beacon for reproductive freedom and a safe place to access care,” Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, president of the PPAF of Massachusetts, said in a statement. “That is the leadership we have seen and can expect from Maura Healey, Kim Driscoll, and Andrea Campbell, and PPAF is proud to endorse their candidacies.”

GOP gov. hopeful Chris Doughty was not invited to a party rally – because he’s a ‘RINO,’ organizer says (June 27)

As over 200 voters gathered in Lowell last week to hear from Republicans running for several statewide offices, one candidate was notably absent.

Chris Doughty, the Republican Wrentham businessman vying for the GOP nomination for governor, was not present last Tuesday — apparently by design, according to The Lowell Sun.

John MacDonald, a co-organizer of the rally, told the Sun that Doughty was omitted because he doesn’t stand for Republican values — that Doughty is not “fiscally conservative and socially conservative.”

MacDonald sees Doughty similar to Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican in name only, otherwise known as a “RINO.”

“We invited Republican candidates who subscribe to the Republican platform and have been unwavering in their support of the Republican Party,” MacDonald told the newspaper. “I don’t see Chris Doughty exemplifying the values of the Republican Party. … Voting for Chris Doughty, in my opinion, it’s the same thing as voting for (Attorney General) Maura Healey.”

MacDonald made a comparison to the former Republican Massachusetts governor turned U.S. Senator for Utah, Mitt Romney, who has stood against former President Donald Trump, and also highlighted that Doughty voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.

“He’s a Democrat as far as I’m concerned,” he told the newspaper.

Still, although Doughty didn’t get the party’s endorsement at its convention last month — former state Rep. Geoff Diehl did — Doughty still received the support of 29 percent of the party’s delegates — nearly double the 15 percent threshold needed to make the September primary ballot.

MacDonald also said he and co-organizer Jason Ross wanted to bring forth “the most diverse slate of candidates” the Bay State has seen.

“I go back to Martin Luther King, it’s all about the content of someone’s character, not the color of their skin,” he said. “We had several Latino candidates, African American, Asian, men and women, a real good representation of the other people in Massachusetts.”

The Sun, in its column published Saturday, noted however there could be more at hand behind the decision than Doughty’s alleged RINO status.

MacDonald is the public relations manager for 1A Auto Parts, based in Nashua, New Hampshire, his LinkedIn page says. Diehl, meanwhile, is the director of business development at 1A Auto Parts’ Pepperell-based TRQ Auto Parts division.

“That connection between the two men, as they are both employed by CEO Rick Green, could paint a different picture of Tuesday night’s event,” the newspaper wrote.

Doughty campaign spokesperson Holly Robichaud told the Sun she could not comment on why Doughty was not given an invitation to the rally, but said he has been campaigning around the state and had a slate of radio and television ads ready to air by Monday.

“We are happy to go and speak wherever Chris is invited to speak,” Robichaud said. “He has been crisscrossing the state, talking to as many people as he possibly can.”

Ayanna Pressley backs Andrea Campbell for AG, Ricardo Arroyo for Suffolk DA (June 27)

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley has backed former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell for attorney general, current City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo for Suffolk County district attorney, and civil rights attorney ​​Rahsaan Hall for Plymouth County district attorney.

Pressley, a former city councilor herself, used to serve on the body with Campbell.

“Andrea is a proven leader and problem-solver,” Pressley said in a statement on Monday. “She has been a passionate advocate for our communities, has brought her full lived experience to the work of policymaking, and has made clear the values that will guide her work as Massachusetts next Attorney General: equity, opportunity, and an unswerving commitment to justice for our communities. 

“I’m grateful to have had the chance to work alongside Andrea – as colleagues on the Boston City Council and during the time I’ve been in Congress – and I’m proud to endorse her campaign,” Pressley added.

In her own statement, Campbell said she and Campbell are “proof that when women of color lead, incredible things happen.”

“As your next Attorney General, I will continue to partner with our federal delegation to push for progress, opportunity and justice for the people of Massachusetts,” Campbell said.

Pressley announced endorsements for Arroyo and Hall in a statement to Politico on Monday morning.

“Our criminal legal system is fundamentally broken. That’s why I introduced the People’s Justice Guarantee in Congress, and why I believe in the need for leaders at every level who prioritize humanity, safety, and dignity for all of our communities,” Pressley said in a statement shared with Playbook.

“Andrea, Ricardo, and Rahsaan each have unique lived experience, but share a commitment to reimagine current systems and use the law to advance equity, opportunity, and true justice for everyone in Suffolk County, Plymouth County, and across Massachusetts,” she continued.

Elizabeth Warren backs Maura Healey for governor after Sonia Chang-Díaz ends campaign (June 24)

The day after progressive state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz announced she will no longer seek the Democratic nomination for governor, Sen. Elizabeth Warren backed the only candidate left standing in the party’s primary: Attorney General Maura Healey.

“I’m very glad to endorse @Maura_Healey,” Warren wrote in a tweet Friday morning. “We’ve been working together since before she got elected attorney general, and I can’t wait to see her shatter another glass ceiling as governor. She’s in this fight to make Massachusetts work for everyone. Strong women get it done!”

Healey, meanwhile, praised Warren as “the ultimate advocate for MA families.”

“She has been a great partner in addressing the child care crisis, protecting consumers, and standing up for student borrowers,” Healey wrote in her own tweet. “Honored to have her support!”

State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz ends campaign for governor (June 23)

Boston state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz ended her campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor on Thursday, telling supporters she is directing her focus on supporting candidates with similar progressive values in down-ballot races this fall.

“The reality is, this race has always been about more than just me. It’s been about all of us coming together and building a movement for courage and urgency in this state,” Chang-Díaz said in a statement. “A good leader calls the question and focuses resources not just on themselves — but on the best way to build our power and win real change for the long-term.”

Read the full story.

Congresswoman Katherine Clark endorses Andrea Campbell for attorney general (June 23)

Congresswoman Katherine Clark has backed former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell to serve as the next attorney general of Massachusetts.

“Andrea knows firsthand the difference that opportunity can make in a child’s life. As our next Attorney General, she will fight for every child in Massachusetts: from health care, to early education, to housing and safe neighborhoods,” Clark, also assistant speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, said in a statement on Thursday. “Listening to Andrea’s life story, I hear her determination, and she has a proven track record of transforming challenges into solutions. Andrea will be a champion for opportunity for every Massachusetts family, and I am proud to endorse her for Attorney General.”

Campbell, one of three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in September’s primary, returned the praise to Clark.

“From her own time in the Attorney General’s office, Assistant Speaker Clark knows firsthand how this office can help families across the state. I’m deeply grateful to have earned her support and confidence in this race, and look forward to working together to expand the reach of the AG’s office,” Campbell said in a statement. “As Attorney General, I will leverage all of the tools and resources available to push for progress on issues of health care, wages, benefits, education, housing affordability, and more, to deliver greater opportunity for the people of Massachusetts.”

Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta backs colleague Ricardo Arroyo for Suffolk DA (June 23)

Newly-minted Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta has endorsed her colleague from District 5, Ricardo Arroyo, to serve as Suffolk County’s next top prosecutor.

“Ricardo has been a leader as a city councilor and public defender by championing public safety policies that address the root causes of crime,” Coletta said in a statement on Thursday. “I trust that as DA he will partner with community leaders, public servants, and people from all walks of life to ensure long-term safety for every neighborhood in Suffolk County.”

Arroyo, who is squaring off against interim District Attorney Kevin Hayden in the Democratic primary, said he is honored to have received Coletta’s endorsement.

“Gabriela has been a committed fighter for marginalized communities and justice in all its forms her entire career,” Arroyo said. “I look forward to continuing to work together to move us forward with policies that increase public safety, reduce race and class disparities, while offering healing and restoration for those who have been harmed.”

Poll: Maura Healey tops Geoff Diehl by 30-point margin in hypothetical governor’s race match-up (June 22)

Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey is ahead of Republican Geoff Diehl by just over 30 points in a new UMass poll of a hypothetical general election match-up for governor released on Wednesday.

Healey, who secured her party’s endorsement earlier this month, leads Diehl, a former state representative who picked up his party’s endorsement last month, 61 to 30 percent among the 1,000 likely Massachusetts voters surveyed between June 7 and 15, according to the UMass Lowell’s Center for Public Opinion.

One percent of those surveyed indicated they would vote for another candidate, while 8 percent were undecided. The poll has a 4-point margin of error.

“This election isn’t over, but Democrats have the high ground,” associate professor John Cluverius, associate director of the Center for Public Opinion, said in a statement. “If they’re going to try it, Republicans seeking the corner office on Beacon Hill need to tie themselves to [retiring] Gov. Charlie Baker, who remains popular among voters across the Commonwealth.”

Diehl’s primary opponent, Republican businessman Chris Doughty, is polling slightly stronger against Healey than Diehl and would carry 30 percent of the vote against Healey’s 58 percent, in that hypothetical race. Two percent of voters polled said they would vote for another candidate and 10 percent were undecided in that scenario.

As for Healey’s primary opponent, Democratic state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, Chang-Díaz would also handily win against Diehl, with 54 percent of voters polled favoring the Boston legislator over Diehl, who garnered 29 percent of voters surveyed, according to poll results. Three percent of survey participants said they would vote for another candidate, while another 15 percent were undecided.

Similarly, Chang-Díaz is polling 20 points ahead of Doughty, should they face off in the general election — 50 percent to Doughty’s 30 percent, results show.

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley endorses Tanisha Sullivan for secretary of state (June 21)

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley on Tuesday endorsed Tanisha Sullivan to be the next secretary of state, over incumbent Bill Galvin.

“Our democracy and our communities are stronger when more voices are at the decision-making tables, when more people feel a reason to be engaged, and when our leaders are committed to working in deep partnership with the communities they represent,” Pressley said in a statement. “Tanisha Sullivan shares that commitment to bold, inclusive, collaborative leadership, and I’m so proud to endorse her to be Massachusetts’ next Secretary of State.” 

Pressley touted Sullivan, the president of the Boston branch of the NAACP, is devoted to the “work of making our communities more just and more equitable.”

“She has advocated and organized on some of the most pressing challenges facing our communities — from education and environmental justice to voting rights and protections for workers — and she has a vision and a plan for how the Secretary of State’s office can be a more proactive, intentional leader to make our Commonwealth more open, accessible, and representative of all of our communities,” Pressley added.

The endorsement is the first that Pressley has made for a statewide candidate in this election cycle.

“I am grateful for Congresswoman Pressley’s policy lens and courage in the fight to advance social, economic and racial justice for all of our communities, and I share her commitment to the work needed to expand democracy right here in Massachusetts,” Sullivan said in a statement.  

Congressman Jake Auchincloss backs Andrea Campbell for attorney general (June 21)

Congressman Jake Auchincloss has thrown his support behind Andrea Campbell in the race for Massachusetts’ next attorney general.

“Andrea Campbell has the experience and the vision to be a terrific Attorney General,” Auchincloss, a first-term congressman who represents the 4th Congressional District, said in a statement on Tuesday. “In Washington, we’re fighting against a cyclone of NRA zealots, anti-abortion crusaders and democracy deniers. Andrea will continue Massachusetts’ proud tradition of national leadership in defense of equal justice under the law. She is the right choice for Attorney General.”

Campbell, a Democratic former Boston city councilor, said she’s proud to have Auchincloss’s endorsement.

“At a time when the Supreme Court is rolling back our civil rights it is critical for state and federal officials to collaborate and stand up for the rights of Massachusetts residents, and I look forward to partnering with him as the next Attorney General,” Campbell said in a statement.

Former Rep. Gabby Giffords endorses Maura Healey for governor for record on stopping gun violence (June 15)

Former Arizona Representative Gabby Giffords and her political action committee endorsed Maura Healey for governor of Massachusetts Wednesday at a roundtable with gun violence prevention leaders in Chelsea.

“For years, Attorney General Maura Healey has fought side-by-side with us to end gun violence. She has dedicated her career in public service to ending gun violence by supporting common sense gun reforms and calling for gun manufacturers to be held liable for facilitating the illegal trafficking of firearms,” Giffords said in a news release.

“Maura Healey is the type of leader Massachusetts needs to enact solutions that will keep schools, streets, churches, and neighborhoods safe.”

Giffords is known for having miraculously survived an assassination attempt in 2011 during which she was shot in the head at point-blank range. She’s since become one of the most prominent gun control advocates in the U.S.

“Congresswoman Gabby Giffords is an inspiration. She has stood against hate and for common sense gun safety reform in our communities, and it’s an honor to have her support in our campaign,” Healey said in the release.

“We know that Massachusetts’s strong gun laws save lives, and should serve as a national model to better protect our kids, our families, and our communities.”

During her time as attorney general of Massachusetts, Healey has worked with local, state, and federal law enforcement to get illegal guns off the street, her campaign said in a news release. She also successfully defended several challenges to the Bay State’s strong gun laws in court.

In 2020, Healey sued the Trump administration to stop the deregulation of 3D-printed ghost guns, and later partnered with state law enforcement officials to prosecute ghost gun holders.

Healey supports several gun control reforms, such as regulating assault weapons, universal background checks, banning bump stocks, and extreme risk protection orders, her campaign said in the release.

“As governor, Maura Healey will continue her efforts to mitigate the devastating effects of gun violence on families and communities in Massachusetts,” her campaign wrote in the release.

“With rates of violence spiking to record highs, it is more imperative than ever that voters elect gun safety champions like her to office.”

Geoff Diehl is opting for public financing for his campaign. Here’s what that means. (June 9)

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Geoff Diehl is running low on cash – and he’s opting for a state-run program to help finance his way to at least the September primary election.

The former state representative, who scooped up the MassGOP endorsement last month, will take part in the state’s campaign financing program, which could give him hundreds of thousands of dollars, with certain spending limits, The Boston Globe reports.

Diehl is one of five candidates running for statewide offices to opt into the program this cycle, although he is the only candidate for governor to do so, according to the newspaper.

Through the program, gubernatorial candidates are eligible for up to $750,000 for the primary election and – should they advance – again during the build up to the general election in November. Candidates must also limit their spending to $1.5 million in each of those elections, with some flexibility.

The state Office of Campaign and Political Finance told the Globe on Wednesday there was about $1 million available. The cash comes from taxpayers who volunteer $1 to the fund from state income taxes they pay.

Other candidates who have opted in include Diehl’s running mate and lieutenant governor candidate Leah Allen; Tami Gouveia, a Democrat running for lieutenant governor; Republican attorney general hopeful Jay McMahon; and Quentin Palfrey, a Democrat running for attorney general.

According to the Globe, Diehl ended May with $55,359 in his account and has raised $373,000 since the beginning of the year.

Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, who is not seeking reelection this year, was sitting on $485,859.51 at the end of last month, campaign finance filings show.

UPDATE (June 10)

In a statement, Amanda Orlando, Diehl’s campaign manager, said neither Diehl nor Allen will take money from the program.

“Both made a strategic decision to try to limit the role of outside money on the race by voluntarily agreeing to statutory spending limits and thereby challenging our opponents to do the same,” Orlando said.

Read the full statement:

The dynamics of this race are very clear. Geoff Diehl is a mainstream, populist candidate with a positive vision for the state, facing a primary challenge from a self-funded millionaire looking to buy his way into the Governor’s office, and a general election challenge from an entrenched Democrat waiting to sell out the Governor’s office to every special interest imaginable.

Our campaign and Leah Allen’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor both made a strategic decision to try to limit the role of outside money on the race by voluntarily agreeing to statutory spending limits and thereby challenging our opponents to do the same. As a result, this campaign will come down to who has the best vision for the future of our state, not who has the biggest bank account. That’s what we believe the people want and what best serves the public interest.

Our campaigns additionally want to make it clear that as part of making this decision it was never our intention to actually accept any public funds. We want people to know that the Diehl and Allen campaigns have not accepted any public money, and they both pledge not to take one single penny of taxpayer money for their campaigns. The voters know and understand that Geoff Diehl and Leah Allen are the only candidates in this race who have the best interests of taxpayers squarely in mind.

Tanisha Sullivan challenges Bill Galvin to 3 debates in race for secretary of the commonwealth (June 7) 

Tanisha Sullivan, who handily picked up the Democratic endorsement for secretary of the commonwealth on Saturday, is calling on her opponent, incumbent Bill Galvin, to participate in at least three broadcasted debates.

“Voters deserve to learn more about the office of Sec of State in MA & all that it could & SHOULD be,” Sullivan, the president of the Boston branch of the NAACP, wrote in a tweet on Monday.

Sullivan said the debates are necessary so “voters can understand the difference in our visions for this office.”

At the party’s convention last weekend, Sullivan received more than 2,500 delegate votes to Galvin’s 1,500.

Dems back newbie over incumbent Galvin for secretary of state again (June 6)

For the second convention in a row, the Massachusetts Democratic Party has chosen to back a new candidate for secretary of state instead of the incumbent, William Galvin.

Tanisha Sullivan, the president of the Boston branch of the NAACP, won the endorsement handily on Saturday during the party’s state convention in Worcester, receiving more than 2,500 delegate votes, State House News Service (SHNS) reported. Galvin received only 1,500.

But Galvin has been reelected as the secretary of state since 1998, and has won elections over the candidate endorsed by the state democratic party three times already during his political career.

The first time was in 1990 when Galvin ran for state treasurer. The second was in 1994 when he first ran for secretary of state.

More recently, in 2018, the Massachusetts Democratic Party endorsed Josh Zakim for secretary of state, only to have Galvin win a decisive victory over Zakim in the state primary.

If Galvin wins, he could break Secretary Frederic Cook’s record 28-year tenure as secretary of state.

At the convention, SHNS reported, Galvin told reporters he was “optimistic” about getting the party’s endorsement, but that he wasn’t counting on it.

During his speech, SHNS reported, Galvin said that he delivered on his promises from 2018 to oversee a fair count of Massachusetts residents through the 2020 Census, and to ensure that the 2020 presidential election in the sate was conducted securely and to protect voting rights.

If reelected, SHNS reported, Galvin said he will use his experience to promote voting rights at the national level.

“With the shift in the electoral college that’s occurred, with the changes that the Republicans have relentlessly brought about in other states, we are up against it,” he said.

“I am now the senior Democratic election official in the United States and I intend to use that role to make sure that we’re able to make sure that citizens throughout our country have the opportunity to vote.”

Sullivan also promised to protect and expand voting rights during her speech, SHNS reported. She also promised to make public records more accessible in what she called “the least transparent state in the country.”

“Despite record voter turnout in 2020…voters from some of our most vulnerable communities still saw the lowest voter turnout across Massachusetts, leaving behind far too many voices. I’m talking about the voices of Black, indigenous, Latinx and AAPI folks. I’m talking about our working families, our disability and immigrant communities. I’m talking about our seniors. I’m talking about residents experiencing poverty,” she said.

“These are our neighbors who have been left out because we’ve had reactive leadership. It is time for proactive leadership that understands that voting is not a privilege, it’s a right.” 

Healey secures Democratic Party endorsement for governor, lieutenant governor field narrowed (June 5)

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey secured the Democratic Party’s endorsement for the Democratic nominee for governor at the Democratic State Convention in Worcester Saturday.

Healey received 71% of the delegate vote in a clear victory over her opponent, Boston State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz. But Chang-Díaz still received 29% of the vote, which is nearly double the 15% required for her to be on the ballot during the Sept. 6 primary.

According to State House News Service, Healey was the favorite going into the convention — a fact that Chang-Díaz used in her speech to highlight her independence from the political establishment.

During Healey’s speech, she said lowering the high cost of living in Massachusetts, expanding job training, making the state a global leader in clean energy, and protecting and expanding access to abortion were her top priorities, according to a news release from her campaign.

“I will be a Governor who sees everyone, listens to everyone, and hears everyone. A Governor who fights to make sure people share in our progress and no one is left behind. A Governor as tough as the state she serves,” Healey’s campaign quoted her as saying in her speech.

In the race for lieutenant governor, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll nabbed the party’s endorsement, while two candidates, state Sen. Adam Hinds and businessman Bret Bero, failed to reach the 15% of the delegate vote required to get on the primary ballot in September.

State Rep. Tami Gouveia and state Sen. Eric Lesser made the cut to be on the ballot in September, garnering 23% and 21% of the delegate vote, respectively.

Maura Healey continues building momentum as Democrats head into convention (June 3)

Harvard professor Danielle Allen, one time a candidate seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, has endorsed her former opponent, Maura Healey, as their party heads into its convention in Worcester on Friday.

In a statement on Thursday, Allen, who dropped out of the race in February, called the attorney general “a seasoned leader with an invaluable depth of experience across the board and a track record of commitment to the people of Massachusetts.”

“With the depth and strength of her criminal justice reform agenda, including her focus on driving progress through leadership appointments, Maura is already leading for change — and with her support for climate justice, overdose prevention sites, and same day voter registration, she will be an effective champion on the biggest issues facing our state,” Allen continued. “I look forward to nominating her this weekend.”

Even as delegates began to settle into the two-day party affair in Worcester Friday morning, Healey continued to build upon her longstanding momentum in the race against state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz. 

State Treasurer Deb Goldberg officially came out in support of Healey, saying in a statement, “it is essential that the Treasurer and Governor’s offices collaborate to ensure economic stability and economic security for everyone throughout our state.”

“Maura and I have that kind of strong, working relationship that will be so essential between financial and business partners in managing and keeping the Massachusetts’ economy strong and growing.”

Party delegates are gathering virtually and in-person at Worcester’s DCU Center on Friday and Saturday to endorse candidates in statewide races.

Polls throughout the campaigns so far have shown Healey holds a sizable lead against Chang-Díaz. 

Candidates for statewide office need 15 percent support from delegates to make the ballot. Although the party will endorse a candidate in the governor’s race this weekend, it’s still likely voters will have a chance to weigh in on both candidates in the governor’s race come the September primary election.

Here’s Lt. gov. hopeful Bret Bero’s plan to get all Democrats on the ballot (June 2)

Bret Bero, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, is looking to get all of the party’s candidates on this September’s primary ballot when party delegates convene at this weekend’s convention, Politico reports.

Candidates typically need to get support from 15 percent of delegates to make the ballot, but Bero supporters intend to make a motion to allow all of the party’s statewide candidates to appear before voters, according to the political news outlet. Delegates, in turn, could then vote on which candidates they may want to endorse.

If the motion receives just one objection, it will fail, so Bero said he isn’t counting on it passing.

“I know it’s not going to succeed. But I think the symbolism of it is incredibly important,” Bero told Politico. “The Democratic Party should be promoting choice and options to voters.”

As for his chances of making the 15-percent cut off, Bero said he’s “close” to making the ballot.

“The vast majority [of delegates] tell us they’re going to make a decision in the hall based on the videos and the speeches,” Bero said. “It’s up to me in my speech to get them to understand why they should put me on the ballot.”

‘The status quo isn’t good enough’: Congressman Seth Moulton backs Tanisha Sullivan for secretary of state (June 2)

Seth Moulton wants to see change in the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office.

The congressman has backed Tanisha Sullivan, president of the Boston Branch of the NAACP, over longtime incumbent Bill Galvin – now seeking a record eighth, four-year term – in the Democratic primary.

“The Secretary of the Commonwealth is one of the most important roles when it comes to promoting our democracy,” Moulton said in a statement on Thursday. “It’s a role where the status quo isn’t good enough for protecting and expanding access to the ballot box. That’s why I’m supporting Tanisha Sullivan to be our next Secretary of the Commonwealth.”

Sullivan, 47, entered the race in January, pitching herself as a candidate who will transform the office into stalwart advocate and champion for expanding voting rights in the Bay State and on the national stage.

“Tanisha’s commitment to service and her leadership in the fight for racial, economic, and social justice have prepared her to usher in the next generation of democratic participation in Massachusetts,” Moulton said. “We must modernize the office of the Secretary of Commonwealth and I know Tanisha can help deliver the 21st century democracy we need today.”

Mass. Senate President Karen Spilka backs Maura Healey for governor (June 2)

Touting a shared commitment to improving mental health care in Massachusetts, state Senate President Karen Spilka endorsed Maura Healey for governor on Wednesday.

“Attorney General Maura Healey is a proven leader who brings people together to deliver results and won’t hesitate to stand up for what’s right for the people of Massachusetts,” Spilka said in a statement. “She has been a strong partner to the State Senate on the most pressing issues facing the state, particularly in confronting the mental health and opioid crisis. I know that with Maura Healey as governor, we will build on our progress to make Massachusetts a healthier, stronger, and fairer home for all.”

Spilka’s words of support came as the two lawmakers published an op-ed in the MetroWest Daily News to outline what state officials must do to better meet the heavy demand for mental health services in the commonwealth.

“We are in a mental health crisis in Massachusetts,” the two officials wrote. “There is an extreme shortage of treatment options, fueled in large part by a dearth of mental health professionals and experienced support staff. Across all ages, races, genders and socioeconomic groups, mental health issues like depression, anxiety, addiction and suicidality are steadily rising — and we, quite simply, do not currently have the capacity in the commonwealth to treat them.”

Spilka and Healey made specific mention of the need to incentivize workers to enter the field and to update and reform behavioral health parity laws “to ensure that they clearly address practices that create barriers to access.”

“Mental health parity as a concept is simple: Insurance coverage for mental health care should be equal to coverage for any other medical condition,” the pair wrote. “This concept has been codified in federal and state law for decades, but interpretations of the laws have differed and enforcement has been challenging.”

Healey, in a tweet, said she and Spilka have seen the mental health crisis first hand.

“We’ll ensure that mental health care is treated as health care and no one struggles alone,” Healey wrote. “I’m proud to earn her endorsement.”

Superintendent: Geoff Diehl’s daughter was not forced to sign a ‘white privilege’ pledge (May 27)

The superintendent of the school district where Republican gubernatorial hopeful Geoff Diehl’s daughter is a student said that despite claims from the candidate, Diehl’s daughter was not forced to sign a pledge in acknowledgement of her white privilege, The Boston Globe reports.

The clarification comes after Diehl told reporters on Monday his daughter, a student at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School, was made to sign the pledge, which he pointed to as an example of how local schools are teaching children lessons their parents and guardians may believe are “inappropriate,” according to the newspaper..

But Superintendent Jeff Szymaniak told the newspaper on Thursday the pledge doesn’t exist.

“I did speak with Mr. Diehl,” he wrote in an e-mail. “No student in the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District is required, or is even asked, to take any sort of pledge involving white privilege.”

Instead, Diehl’s concerns were related to a pledge that includes a list of discriminatory practices that student athletes sign to play in MIAA-sponsored athletic programs, Szymaniak told the Globe.

Diehl’s daughter also took part in a one-hour implicit bias training that is required for all student athletes and signed – voluntarily – a “No Place for Hate” banner, according to the newspaper.

On Monday, Diehl said his daughter’s school was “trying to tell my daughter she has racist problems.”

“My wife and I have done our best to try and get racism out of our household,” he told reporters.

On Thursday, Diehl provided the Globe a lengthy statement regarding his comments on the pledge. 

“As a prerequisite for participating in high school sports, my daughter was required to sign a form acknowledging that she took a course to help her manage the influence implicit bias as to race, ethnicity, gender, disability, and sexuality has on her real-world behavior,” he said.

“It’s the nineteenth clause in a multi-page permission slip to participate in school sports in town. In the preceding clause, she was also required to sign a pledge whereby she promised to hold her community responsible for the use of exhibition of any discriminatory practices,” Diehl continued. “In this case, the MIAA and the public schools are coordinating to require this of athletes in our public schools. Certainly, the public schools are aware and supporting this, because they allow the MIAA to use the schools’ athletic programs to carry this out.”

The candidate went on to say, “the argument is not whether bias or discrimination is acceptable. No such argument reasonably can be had because hatred and discrimination are never acceptable.”

Diehl said he and his wife have “tried hard” to teach their children to focus on “the content of one’s character” and model that behavior. 

“But, we also expect our public schools to be a sanctuary free from the inculcation of political agenda,” he said in his statement. “I find it exceptionally offensive that high school students are being told they are intrinsically guilty of racism and bias within their soul, and to thereby imply that they lack innate ability to independently see beyond bias in the conduct of their actions, as a precondition of participating in a school activity that itself should be seen as a great equalizer.”

‘We aren’t going away’: Geoff Diehl gets GOP endorsement as chair vows ‘a new Republican party’ at convention (May 23)

Former state Rep. Geoff Diehl was endorsed by the MassGOP at the party’s convention on Saturday, where other candidates and party officials vowed to fight “evil” Democrats and chart a new course for Republicans in Massachusetts.

Diehl, an ardent Trump supporter who has supported the former president’s false claims the 2020 presidential election was rigged, received 71 percent of the votes from party delegates. Wrentham businessman Chris Doughty received 29 percent of votes, putting him far above the required 15 percent to make it on the September primary ballot, according to The Boston Globe.

Speaking in Springfield on Saturday, Diehl said he is progressive Democrats’ “worst nightmare.” If elected, Diehl will hire back state workers fired because they refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and will send the National Guard to the nation’s southern border “to stop the lawlessness,” he said, according to the Globe.

“We will stand tall and deliver a powerful message to Maura Healey and her fellow progressives loud and clear,” he said, name-dropping the attorney general who is leading the polls in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. “To the Democratic party — be on notice. We are not some infection found in the wastewater. We aren’t deplorables, and we aren’t going away.”

At other times during the festivities, speakers decried the concept that a one-party Massachusetts could mean “indoctrination” of children in schools, and vowed to stand against critical race theory — a philosophy examining the intersection of race, society, and law that’s typically studied in graduate and law school programs — from being taught in public school classrooms.

Party Chairman Jim Lyons, at one point, asked the crowd if anyone believes “we should be teaching third-graders gender transitions,” inviting boos from the audience.

Secretary of State candidate Rayla Campbell cautioned her fellow Republicans not to stand aside and say, “Maybe somebody else will take care of it. That’s not so nice.”

“I don’t think it’s nice when they’re telling your 5-year-old that he can go suck another 5-year-old’s [expletive],” she said. “Do you?

“Because that’s what’s happening in your schools!” she added. “If this makes you uncomfortable, it should.”

Campbell, however, was unable to provide the Globe evidence of her claim. She pointed to a pending bill in the state Legislature aimed at updating the Massachusetts sexual education curriculum by requiring schools that offer those classes to include “medically accurate, age-appropriate” programs, the newspaper reports.

As for endorsements, Leah Allen, a candidate for lieutenant governor and Diehl’s running mate, received the party’s backing, as did Jay McMahon, a candidate for attorney general. Anthony Amore, candidate for state auditor, also received the GOP’s endorsement.

Lyons framed the convention as the beginning of a new era for his party – one that won’t “do what the Democrats tell us to do,” he said.

“We will never, ever be a party that puts up with that again,” Lyons said. “The radical left wants us to sit down in the corner and do what we’re told. This is a new Republican party. A party that is going to stand and fight.”

AG hopeful Shannon Liss-Riordan sues Georgia school district after Black students are suspended for protest of Confederate flag (May 18)

Shannon Liss-Riordan, a candidate for attorney general, is among the lawyers bringing a lawsuit against a Georgia school district alleging a pattern of overt racism and bigotry after several Black students were suspended for attempting to protest Confederate flag displays at their high school.

“While administrators failed to act when white students at Coosa High School reenacted George Floyd’s murder on school property, hurled racial slurs and waved the Confederate flag, Black students were disciplined by those same administrators for attempting to peacefully display the Black Lives Matter message,” Liss-Riordan said in a statement. “While the actions of racists that led to this lawsuit are disgusting, I am proud to represent the students and families who are bravely standing up to the white supremacy they see just about every day. These students deserve the protection of the Court and I am confident our lawsuit will prevail.”

According to the Associated Press, the students behind the lawsuit are accusing school officials of allowing a pattern of racism, including “overt bigotry and animosity by some white students and teachers against African American students.”

One student carried what appeared to be a whip and told a Black classmate “we used to whip you,” the AP reports.

Students are barred from wearing Black Lives Matter shirts but apparel displaying the Confederate flag is allowed under school policy, the lawsuit states.

“The racism on display at Coosa High School isn’t just happening there, but across the country,” Liss-Riordan said. “The rights enshrined in the Constitution do not protect themselves.  I hope that people in all corners of the U.S. look to the incredible example that the young plaintiffs in this case are setting, and step up and confront civil rights abuses.”

Read the full AP report.

U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark backs Maura Healey for governor (May 16)

U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, the assistant speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, has endorsed Maura Healey’s bid to become the next governor of Massachusetts.

Clark is the first of the state’s delegation of federal lawmakers to weigh in on the gubernatorial Democratic primary.

The 5th District congresswoman, on Twitter, wrote how the two first met during their time working in the Attorney General’s Office, before either became an elected official.

“Looking back now at Maura’s brilliant leadership of the Civil Rights Division, I can see that the groundwork was being laid for this moment,” Clark wrote on Friday. “Today, I’m proud to endorse her for Governor.”

“The stakes are high, and we can’t take anything for granted,” Clark continued. “At this critical moment, when legal abortion access, voting rights, and so many of our freedoms are hanging in the balance and families are struggling with high costs, we need a Governor who is on our side.”

Healey backed by Fall River officials (May 12)

After a tour of the Fall River Pier Thursday, Democratic candidate for governor Maura Healey announced the endorsement of several Fall River leaders.

Those officials included Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan and State Representatives Carol Fiola, Pat Haddad, Paul Schmid, and Alan Silvia.

“The Fall River Pier is a clear example of how we can invest in our Gateway Cities to spur equitable economic growth,” Healey said in a news release.

“In what was once inaccessible space to the public, we now see the makings of a thriving waterfront neighborhood. That didn’t happen overnight – thanks to the advocacy of Fall River officials and investments in transportation and greenspace, economic development is coming to Fall River.”

While speaking in Fall River, Healey’s campaign said, she emphasized the need for investments in public transportation and neighborhood revitalization in gateway cities to spur equitable economic growth.

Healey has promised that if elected governor, she will prioritize expanded public transportation, including West-East Rail and Regional Transit Authorities.

“Maura has stood up for Fall River as attorney general by investing in our opioid recovery services, protecting our workers, and advocating for economic development all along the South Coast,” Coogan said in the release.

Her climate agenda also called for a $200 million increase in investments in port infrastructure, a rapid expansion of the offshore wind industry, and support for community greenspaces, particularly in gateway cities such as Fall River.

“Communities along the South Coast have different needs than Boston, and Maura understands the kinds of support and resources our region needs in terms of public transportation, economic development, housing, arts, and culture,” Fiola said in the release.

Liss-Riordan says Campbell ‘flip-flopped’ on safe consumption sites (May 12)

In the race for Massachusetts attorney general, on Thursday, Democrat Shannon Liss-Riordan accused fellow Democrat and front-runner in the race Andrea Campbell of “flip-flopping” on the issue of allowing safe consumption sites in Massachusetts, State House News Service (SHNS) reported.

Liss-Riordan referenced questionnaires from last year and this year from Progressive Massachusetts that were answered by Campbell, who was a Boston city councilor at the time, SHNS reported.

In last year’s survey, Campbell answered: “Yes. While we’re still exploring the benefits and risks of safe consumption sites and whether they’d be feasible in Boston, I support harm reduction programs,” SHNS reported.

This year, Campbell simply answered “no.”

“How are voters going to be able to compare candidates’ positions on critical issues like safe consumption sites…when Andrea Campbell’s position seems to depend on the day and on the audience,” Liss-Riordan campaign manager Jordan Meehan said in a statement to SHNS.

A Campbell campaign spokesperson told SHNS that Campbell answered no because she has concerns about how safe injection sites will be implemented, including cost and location, and has been talking about the issue with residents and stakeholders.

“As the people’s lawyer, the next AG should let those voices inform the work and Andrea is the only candidate who seems to be prioritizing that,” her campaign said in a statement to the News Service.

Democrats hold strong lead in governor’s race matchups, new polling shows (May 9)

New data shows that Democrats currently have the advantage in four hypothetical gubernatorial matchups, according to State House News Service. In a new poll conducted by Emerson College, 848 registered voters were surveyed between May 2 and May 4. These voters were asked how they feel about matchups between the top two candidates on either side. The candidates in question were Attorney General Maura Healey and Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, both Democrats, and former Rep. Geoff Diehl and businessman Chris Doughty, both Republicans. 

Currently, Healey and Diehl lead their respective primaries in the polls. When asked to choose between the two, 59 percent said they would pick Healey and 31 percent said they would back Diehl, according to SHNS. When the poll pitted Healey against Doughty, she maintained a lead of 54 percent to his 31 percent. Voters also said they were more likely to support Chang-Diaz over either Republican, but with lower levels of support than Healey. In a race between Chang-Diaz and Diehl, about 46 percent of voters polled backed the Democrat and 32 percent backed the Republican, while Chang-Díaz led Doughty nearly 41 percent to 33 percent, according to SHNS. 

On Sunday, Gov. Charlie Baker gave a measured response when asked by WCVB host Janet Wu how much hope he holds for the Republican Party. 

“Let’s see what happens between now and November,” Baker said. “There’s a lot of elections that are going to be held between now and November. Let’s see what happens.”

Baker, the state’s top Republican, has historically been popular among independents and Democrats, according to SHNS. He has decided not to seek reelection for a third term, not because of the rise of Former President Trump and his allies like Diehl, but for personal reasons. 

“This was 100 percent a family decision,” Baker told WCVB. 

Michelle Wu says notion Arroyo is inexperienced for DA is ‘code and signal’ for keeping status quo (May 9)

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu on Monday fired back at criticism that her chosen Suffolk County district attorney candidate Ricardo Arroyo, the city councilor she endorsed over the weekend, lacks the experience needed to be the county’s top prosecutor.

Wu was asked about why she opted to weigh in on the race during an appearance on WBUR’s “Radio Boston.”

“I have worked with Councilor Arroyo in many different settings, public and private, on legislation, organizing on programing, and advocating for organizations that do this work,” Wu said. 

On Saturday, after Wu’s endorsement, Adam Webster, a spokesperson for interim District Attorney Kevin Hayden, suggested in a statement that Arroyo, a former public defender, is underqualified for the position.

“If Mayor Wu believes a novice attorney with zero public safety experience should be the top law enforcement officer in the county, that’s her choice,” Webster said. “We’re confident voters will disagree.”

On Monday, Wu said the criticism sounds similar to pushback other candidates have faced when challenging “the status quo” in Boston.

“I think many of the comments that we’re hearing now are similar to those that we’ve heard for a long time, when in Massachusetts and in Boston, we’re trying to present a vision of change that can build community,” Wu said. “And in this case, you know, [Arroyo’s] platform of really reducing crime while healing and providing the resources to build community is exactly what we need.”

“The same statements of someone not being old enough or experienced enough, sometimes I think that is code and signal for upholding the status quo,” she added.

Pressed to elaborate, Wu said, “This is a status quo that hasn’t been working for everyone.”

“We want to see the types of reforms that former District Attorney [Rachael] Rollins had put into effect, which have been documented through research and data to bring about outcomes … [that] reduce crime and heal communities and stabilize and reduce recidivism,” the mayor said. “And so, that is the approach … that we want to see keep going.”

Arroyo was elected city councilor for District 5 in 2019, and has also gained support from other progressive lawmakers, including senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.

Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden blasts Wu’s endorsement of Ricardo Arroyo in prosecutor’s race (May 9)

City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo has scooped up an endorsement from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu in his bid to become Suffolk County’s next district attorney.

On Saturday, Wu, a former council colleague of Arroyo’s, praised the sitting councilor for his stewardship of the body’s Government Operations Committee and his tenure as a former public defender.

But interim District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s campaign quickly made clear it feels differently about Arroyo’s resume.

“If Mayor Wu believes a novice attorney with zero public safety experience should be the top law enforcement officer in the county, that’s her choice,” Adam Webster, a campaign spokesman said in a statement. “We’re confident voters will disagree.”

Hayden, a Democrat, was appointed by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker after Rachael Rollins resigned to serve as U.S. attorney for Massachusetts. 

Read the full story.

Here’s what the 2 GOP candidates for Mass. governor said about abortion laws following the Supreme Court leak (May 3)

Republican gubernatorial hopefuls Chris Doughty and Geoff Diehl on Tuesday responded to a leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion suggesting justices may soon overturn the court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade, with the former stating he would not seek changes to the state’s abortion laws if elected, and the latter stating he will not make policy decisions based off the draft.

In Massachusetts, state lawmakers codified abortion access into law in 2020 and the Supreme Judicial Court has determined abortion is protected under the state constitution.

Should the Supreme Court reverse its decision in Roe, abortion access would remain unchanged in the Bay State.

“The right to abortion is enshrined in the Massachusetts constitution,” Doughty told Boston.com in a statement on Tuesday. “I am running to focus on making our state more affordable for our citizens and our job creators. As Governor I will not seek any changes to our state’s abortion laws.”

Whether Diehl would seek to challenge state law as governor if Roe was overturned was unclear on Tuesday, however.

In a joint statement with his running mate, former state Rep. Leah Allen, Diehl said he does not “form core policy decisions based on leaked first drafts of Supreme Court opinions.

“Rather we form them based on deeply-held personal beliefs and a commitment to Constitutional Rule of law,” the statement continued. “Thus, today, we join together as we have throughout our campaigns in our respect for the dignity of human life and our belief that decisions on non-federal issues are best left to the states.”

The statement also said Diehl and Allen “believe in and reaffirm the need to protect human life wherever and whenever possible.” The pair reiterated their support of Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto of the ROE Act ultimately passed by the state Legislature to codify abortion access.

Baker, a Republican, has said he supports reproductive rights, but vetoed the law based on his objections to lowering the age of consent for teenagers seeking abortions and the expansion of “the availability of later-term abortions.”

Diehl and Allen, in their statement, said they recognized the “extreme bill as a radical move too far by state legislators.”

“We have both been consistent in these positions throughout our campaigns and our time in public office, and we remain solid in our beliefs now,” the statement said. “To the extent there is credibility to current reports sourced to the Supreme Court, we will await the Court’s formal decision later this spring and assess it at that time.”

AG candidate Quentin Palfrey calls on Andrea Campbell to close super PAC (May 2)

Quentin Palfrey, a former assistant attorney general, is calling on his fellow attorney general-hopeful Andrea Campbell to close a super PAC that contributed to Campbell’s bid in last year’s Boston mayoral race.

In a statement Monday, Palfrey said Campbell, a former city councilor, “should shut down her superPAC because Massachusetts voters deserve a campaign for AG that is not polluted by outside corporate advertising.”

Palfrey, last week, signed a “People’s Pledge” to vow to keep special interest money out of the attorney general election, and extended a challenge to Campbell and attorney Shannon LIss-Riordan to do so as well.

Liss-Riordan ultimately did sign the pledge, but Campbell has not.

The Better Boston Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee raised about $1.6 million during last year’s mayoral contest. A news release from Palfrey’s campaign highlighted select “corporate donors, including senior leaders from Bain Capital, charter school backers such as the Walton family, developers, and for-profit health care companies such as Steward Health.”

 Notably, super PACs do not and cannot coordinate their actions with candidates, which means Campbell does not possess the authority to close-up Better Boston, although she can call on the PAC to do so itself.

Palfrey wants Campbell to at least vow not to take money from the PAC “or other outside groups,” his campaign said.

Palfrey took aim at Campbell over special interest money during a candidates forum last week. Corporate cash “flooded into our elections” both last year and in 2016, when Massachusetts voters had to consider a ballot question on expanding charter schools, he said.

“The AG’s role is not to be pushing for the expansion of charter schools,” Campbell said at the forum. “It’s to hold these education systems accountable and to push these systems to do better so that Black and brown kids actually have access to a high-quality education, which is currently not the case in this state.”

Campbell’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment on Palfrey’s latest call on Monday.

But the Campbell campaign, in a press release also published Monday, touted a fundraising haul of $190,257 in April.

The release also added that Campbell “continues to lead the pack in grassroots fundraising” through bringing in more than $750,000 in the last three months, with more than 94 percent of that total having come from in-state residents.

“I am so thankful to every grassroots donor who has chipped in to fund our people-powered campaign,” Campbell said in a statement. “I believe in bottom-up government. That means getting out and working hard to connect directly with Massachusetts residents, and I look forward to continuing my Gateway Cities Tour to hear how we can use the AG’s office to push for justice in every community.”

AG candidates spar over “People’s Pledge,” charter schools at forum (April 29)

The three Democratic candidates for attorney general went head-to-head as they debated matters including a possible “People’s Pledge” and stances on charter schools at a forum at Boston College Law School’s Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy on Thursday. 

Shannon Liss-Riordan, who previously ran for U.S. Senate, played up her experiences as a workers’ rights attorney and discussed how she took on corporations including Starbucks and FedEx, the Boston Globe reported. 

“I have been acting as a private attorney general for my entire career, more than 20 years,” Liss-Riordan said. “The work that I have done has put hundreds of millions of dollars back in the pockets of regular people.”

Andrea Campbell, a former Boston city councilor who ran unsuccessfully for mayor last year, said the work was “personal,” citing the death of her twin brother Andre as an example of a case she would take on. Campbell’s brother was 29 when he died in the custody of the Department of Correction as a pretrial detainee 10 years ago.

“I see the AG’s office as the unique office to have done something about that particular case,” she said. “My family still doesn’t know under what conditions or what circumstances he passed.”

Quentin Palfrey, a former assistant attorney general who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2018, talked about his experience as the chief of the health care division as the state moved for health care reform.

Speaking about filing lawsuits against predatory healthcare companies, he said, “We took those cases, tried to help those consumers. I’ve seen firsthand how much impact the AG can have on people’s lives.”

Palfrey has proposed a “People’s Pledge” among the candidates, saying, “The biggest threat to our democracy is corporate money in our elections.”

Though Liss-Riordan has agreed to forgo campaign donations from special interest political action committees, Campbell has not. 

Palfrey, in a remark aimed at Campbell, said corporate money “flooded into our elections” in the 2021 mayor’s election and the 2016 election, during which there was a ballot question related to the expansion of charter schools. 

Campbell, who received millions of dollars and advertisements from an independent PAC led by charter school backers during her mayoral campaign, said that like Palfrey and Liss-Riordan, she has and continues to support the existing cap on charter schools. 

“The AG’s role is not to be pushing for the expansion of charter schools,” Campbell said. “It’s to hold these education systems accountable and to push these systems to do better so that Black and brown kids actually have access to a high-quality education, which is currently not the case in this state.”

After the forum, Liss-Riordan called Campbell out, pointing to her candidate questionnaire for Progressive Mass, on which she answered “NO” in all caps when asked if she supported the existing cap on charter schools. 

Campbell responded that she misspoke during the forum, but emphasized that her stance on charter schools has not changed, saying, “I continue to stand with every family, including our Black and brown families, to ensure their kids have access to high quality education, without demonizing the choice they ultimately may make.”

Kimberly Atkins Stohr of The Boston Globe’s editorial page moderated the forum.

Republican candidate Jay McMahon was not able to attend the event because of another commitment.

Sonia Chang-Díaz sharpens attacks on Maura Healey at gubernatorial forum (April 28)

Sonia Chang-Díaz sharpened her scrutiny of Maura Healey at a gubernatorial forum on Wednesday night, targeting the fellow Democrat on her record surrounding the environment, education, and other issues.

Chang-Díaz, a state senator, sought to paint Healey as out of step with the progressive causes and equity focus that both candidates say are the beating heart of their bids to be the state’s next chief executive, according to The Boston Globe.

In particular, halfway through the forum hosted by the Environmental League of Massachusetts and WBUR, Chang-Díaz took aim at Healey on environmental justice, saying there were “many moments that people of color needed you to be there to center racial equity when you did not.”

The Jamaica Plain lawmaker rattled off a list from Healey’s record, such as when Healey argued against a ban on no-knock warrants and on police use of facial recognition technology, the Globe reports.

Chang-Díaz also said Healey, the attorney general, should have been a stronger proponent of a law that reformed the Legislature’s school funding formula, which reconfigured more resources to schools in low-income areas.

“I respect the hell out of your work on the national level,” Chang-Díaz said to Healey, who built a reputation of challenging the Trump administration over 200 times during the former president’s term. “But standing up for racial equity at every turn means more than doing it when it’s against Donald Trump or against ExxonMobil. The next governor is going to need to have the courage to do that when it’s against members of our own party.”

Healey said Chang-Díaz remarks were “mischaraterizations,” and pointed to other, local work she’s done as attorney general, such as going against Boston’s plans to chop down trees in Roxbury and assisting families who are being evicted, according to the newspaper.

Healey said helping “marginalized” people has been the center of her work.

“That has been my life’s work in the attorney general’s office and will remain my commitment as governor,” she said.

Wednesday’s forum also revealed differences in how each candidate will fund their climate and environmental agendas.

Chang-Díaz supports a form of carbon tax.

“It is going to take money. We cannot hide the ball on that,” she said.

Healey, however, said she is “not committing to that right now.”

Instead, Healey, whose plans include dedicating at least 1 percent of the state budget to environmental policies, said she also wants to revisit the Transportation and Climate Initiative, the failed regional effort to help curb carbon emissions.

“We’re going to need that regional collaboration,” Healey said.

Quentin Palfrey wants opponents to sign ‘People’s Pledge’ in AG’s race (April 27)

Quentin Palfrey is calling on his opponents in the attorney general primaries to sign a “People’s Pledge” – a vow to keep special interest money out of the races.

“The Attorney General’s Office is not for sale,” Palfrey, a U.S. Dept. of Commerce attorney, said in a statement on Wednesday. “The people’s lawyer needs to be truly independent. That’s why I am calling on the 2022 AG candidates from both parties to join with me to commit to a campaign free of special interest money.”

Palfrey, who has also signed a pledge to reject cash from the fossil fuel industry, said the pledge he’s asking fellow candidates to sign would discourage special interest PACs from running support and attack ads. 

Palfrey said he is asking fellow Democrats Andrea Campbell and Shannon Liss-Riordan and lone Republican candidate Jay McMahon to sign on so the attorney general race is “a clean election.”

“That means rejecting special interest funded spending,” Palfrey said. “That means no outside spending by developers, fossil fuel companies, charter-school backers, for-profit healthcare companies, or pharmaceutical companies. There are a huge number of undecided voters in this race, and those voters deserve an opportunity to decide who should be the next Attorney General based on who has the most relevant experience for the job and the best vision for the future of Massachusetts, not on whose super PAC spends the most money on advertising.”

Palfrey, a former assistant attorney general, has consistently been behind his two opponents in polls. The latest voter survey, released by UMass Lowell last week, found Palfrey has garnered only 6 percent of voter support, behind 11 percent for Liss-Riordan, and 30 percent for Campbell. Two percent of respondents said they would support another candidate in the primary, and 52 percent of those polled said they are undecided.

Major umbrella union backs Healey’s campaign for governor (April 26)

The SEIU Massachusetts State Council, one of the state’s largest umbrella unions, endorsed Maura Healey’s campaign for governor, The Boston Globe reported.

The umbrella union is the latest in a string of unions that have chosen to support the attorney general over her opponent in the democratic gubernatorial primary, Boston State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz.

The SEIU Massachusetts State Council represents 115,000 workers, the Globe reported, including hospital and nursing home workers, social workers within the Department of Children and Families, janitors, and more.

The SEIU State Council’s unanimous support is unusual, the Globe reported. This is the first time in 20 years that all six of its unions have been united in supporting one candidate, the newspaper wrote.

The Globe reported that Healey has a long-standing positive relationship with Massachusetts labor unions given that as attorney general, she has been tasked with enforcing labor and worker protection laws during her nearly eight-year tenure.

“Maura Healey’s commitment to fight for issues like affordable healthcare, housing, and child care is not only aligned with our members’ values — it’s what we need to advance racial and economic justice here in Massachusetts,” Peter MacKinnon, president of the SEIU Massachusetts State Council and SEIU Local 509, said in a statement to the Globe.

Joe Kennedy endorses Andrea Campbell for AG; Mayors of Cambridge and Somerville endorse Tanisha Sullivan for secretary of state (April 26)

Andrea Campbell, candidate for attorney general, and Tanisha Sullivan, who is running for secretary of state, have picked up some notable endorsements.

Campbell, a former Boston city councilor, gained the support of former Congressman Joe Kennedy III on Tuesday during a campaign stop in Fall River.

“From affordable housing to education equity, Andrea Campbell has spent her career on the frontlines of the most pressing issues facing communities like Fall River and all of our Gateway Cities,” Kennedy said in a statement. “As a lawyer and elected official, she leads, advocates, policy-makes and governs from the perspective of someone who knows that injustice is bred in the places that government overlooks and ignores.”

Sullivan, who is currently president of the NAACP’s Boston branch, on Tuesday earned the backing of Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne.

“I’ve known Tanisha for years, and have seen firsthand her courage and commitment as an attorney, an advocate, and a civil rights champion,” Siddiqui said in a statement. “Tanisha embodies the kind of leadership we need in the Secretary of State’s office, and I know she’ll work tirelessly to build a stronger, more inclusive democracy that will benefit all Cambridge residents.” 

Ballantyne, in her own statement, said: “As an immigrant, my own lived experience provides a window into the challenges many of our friends and neighbors face when it comes to fully engaging in our democracy. I believe we all deserve a Secretary of State who works proactively to expand opportunity and create new pathways to participation for every person in our communities, and I’m proud to endorse Tanisha’s campaign.” 

Carole King to perform at virtual fundraiser for Mass. state Senate candidate (April 25)

Apparently, Sydney Levin-Epstein has a friend…in Carole King.

The legendary and celebrated singer-songwriter is slated to perform at a virtual fundraiser for Levin-Epstein, a Democrat facing off against state Rep. Jake Oliveira for state Sen. Eric Lesser’s seat as Lesser tries for lieutenant governor this year, MassLive reports.

“Western Massachusetts has long been overlooked and forgotten by Beacon Hill insiders,” Levin-Epstein told the outlet. “My campaign is focused on uplifting and empowering the people of the 413 to the point where it will be impossible to ignore. This is an event with the iconic Carole King, but also four of some of the most amazing women leaders in Western Massachusetts, proves that point. I am building a diverse coalition to put forward innovative and creative policies to [ensure] that west of [Interstate] 495 is never again treated as Narnia to Boston insiders.”

The May 11 event has a range of ticket prices, from $18 for students to $1,000 for hosts.

Geoff Diehl agrees to 2 debates ahead of GOP gubernatorial primary (April 21)

Geoff Diehl, the former state representative now seeking the Republican nomination for governor, said Thursday he will agree to take part in two debates ahead of September’s primary election.

Chris Doughty, a Wrentham businessman and the only other declared candidate in the primary, had repeatedly challenged Diehl to debate before the party’s convention next month.

“Diehl needs to clearly explain what advantage he is gaining to run for offices he has zero hope of winning,” Doughty said in a statement on Wednesday. He needs to explain how losing another general election is helpful for our party and our message.”

In a statement on Thursday, Diehl’s campaign said Diehl will agree to the two debates “with any other Republican gubernatorial candidate who secures enough certified signatures and convention votes to appear on the September primary ballot along with him.”

“Diehl’s campaign has consistently said that Diehl would participate in debates as soon as any other challengers paid their required convention fee, submitted more than 10,000 certified signatures, and secured more than 15% of the vote at the convention,” the release reads.

The campaign also said, “Howie Carr and Jeff Kuhner have both agreed to each host one-hour debates on their respective radio shows in July or August, before the state primary election.”

Sonia Chang-Díaz still wants 3 debates with Maura Healey (April 20)

Sonia Chang-Díaz is continuing her push for three debates against her gubernatorial opponent in the Democratic primary, Maura Healey, before the party’s convention in June.

At a candidate forum hosted by Boston Democrats on Tuesday night, Chang-Díaz, a state senator, reiterated her position that voters should be given a chance to see the two candidates square-off one-on-one, according to The Boston Globe.

“As much as I appreciate this conversation here today … I think it’s important to acknowledge that this is not a replacement for a debate,” she said, speaking to Healey. “Candidate to candidate, person to person, debates are the cornerstone of our democracy. Voters deserve to know where we stand on all of these issues.”

According to the newspaper, the forum on Tuesday didn’t exactly allow for candidates to ask one another questions, but Chang-Díaz said her campaign has received offers for debates and asked Healey if she would join.

Healey said she “looks forward to continuing to talk about policy over the next six weeks” and went on to note that “we actually have a debate next week,” in reference to another forum scheduled for April 27. Chang-Díaz first challenged Healey to three televised debates last month. Healey later offered she would commit to two debates after the convention but before the Democratic primary in September.

Maura Healey debuts climate agenda, her first major proposal in the governor’s race (April 20)

Maura Healey on Tuesday unveiled her climate agenda, outlining her vision for a 100% clean electricity supply in Massachusetts by 2030 and expansion of off-shore wind and electrified transportation.

“The climate crisis is an existential threat to our state and our residents – but there is also tremendous opportunity in our response,” Healey, the attorney general seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, said in a statement. “We need to meet this moment with innovation, aggressiveness, and urgency. I want Massachusetts to be a national and world leader in combating the climate crisis and driving our clean energy economy — and together we will do just that.”

Healey, not long after entering the gubernatorial primary, declared she will be “the most aggressive governor in the country,” if elected this year. 

The climate plan is the first major policy proposal Healey has released. 

In the plan, Healey calls for the state government to lead by example “by achieving net-zero emissions by 2030 across state operations and rapidly transitioning the state fleet to electric vehicles.”
Healey would also dedicate “at least 1%” of the state budget to its environmental and energy agencies and work to boost funding for the Department of Public Utilities, according to the proposal.

The plan also outlines creating a cabinet-level “Climate Chief” who will helm the push for climate policies and electrifying public transportation so all modes are running on 100% clean power by 2040, beginning with school and MBTA buses by 2030, Healey’s campaign said in a news release.

Healey also wants to “direct American Rescue Plan and Infrastructure Law climate spending to directly benefit overburdened communities for community-based projects like clean energy improvements in public housing, schools or municipal buildings, converting fleets of dirty fuel vehicles to clean electric buses, and community solar,” her campaign said.

Approximately six weeks from the state Democratic Party convention in June, Healey is enjoying a 45-point lead in the latest poll and has significantly more cash on hand than her opponent, state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz.

Read Healey’s full climate plan.

Maura Healey maintains dominance in gubernatorial polls (April 19)

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is maintaining a strong lead over her opponent in the gubernatorial Democratic primary, State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz

According to a new UMass Lowell poll, Healey is up 45 points over Chang-Díaz among likely Democratic voters. The lead is Healey’s widest yet, POLITICO reported.

Overall, Healey got 62% of likely Democratic voters, with Chang-Díaz getting just 17%. Another 20% of likely Democratic voters said they were undecided.

“Primary voters want someone they ideologically align with, but they also want to vote for a winner,” UMass Lowell pollster and Center for Public Opinion associate director John Cluverius told POLITICO.

“The more and more Healey looks like a frontrunner, the more and more voters who aren’t perfectly aligned with Healey, but find her acceptable, are willing to vote for her.”

The poll found that Chang-Díaz performs better with younger voters (ages 18 to 44) and non-white voters, where Healey leads 44% to Chang-Díaz’s 28%.

Much of the problem for Chang-Díazs is name recognition. When asking likely Democratic voters about favorability, 42% said they had no opinion of her, and 12% said they’d never heard of her.

Cluverius told POLITICO that Chang-Díaz could benefit from finding “something pivotal to contrast herself with Healey.”

With Healey leaving her post as Massachusetts Attorney General, the race to replace her remains competitive.

Former Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell leads the field with 30%, compared to 11% for Attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan, 6% for U.S. Dept. of Commerce Attorney Quentin Palfrey, 2% for another candidate, and 52% undecided.

Mass. House Speaker backs Kim Driscoll for lieutenant governor (April 11)

State Rep. Ron Mariano, the speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, is throwing his support behind Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll in the unusually active Democratic primary for lieutenant governor.

“Mayor Driscoll has an impressive record of accomplishment starting in Chelsea and as a transformative mayor in Salem,” Mariano said in a statement, according to Politico. “She is the best kind of leader: inclusive, accountable, and focused on results. She will be a valuable partner for our work in the House and the best advocate for the cities and towns of the Commonwealth.”

Mariano was drawn to Driscoll’s municipal government experience and cited their shared affinity for bringing offshore wind to Massachusetts, the outlet reported.

The speaker also endorsed Attorney General Maura Healey for governor.

As Politico noted, ​​state Rep. Tami Gouveia, a member of Mariano’s own caucus, is also running for lieutenant governor. A progressive lawmaker, Gouveia, however, has voted against House leadership, including voting for term limits and same-day voter registration.

Liss-Riordan calls for climate debate in AG’s race (April 7)

Shannon Liss-Riordan is calling on her fellow Democrats in the attorney general’s race to take part in a debate on climate issues this month.

The Brookline labor attorney wants the three candidates to meet sometime in April to mark “Earth Month,” or in May, before the party’s June convention, Politico first reported Thursday.

“We can all agree on the urgency of this issue,” Liss-Riordan said in a statement to the outlet. “I hope Andrea Campbell and Quentin Palfrey will join me in this important discussion to highlight how we must act as a Commonwealth, country and global community to save our planet.” In a letter to Campbell and Palfrey’s campaigns, Liss-Riordan’s campaign manager wrote the debate is a “no-brainer” given the latest IPCC report from the UN.

Healey campaign commits to 2 televised debates after 2 April ‘forums’ – and the Democratic convention (March 31)

Responding to calls from state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz’s gubernatorial campaign, Maura Healey’s campaign said Thursday the attorney general will commit to two televised debates ahead of the Democratic primary election in September, but only after the party’s convention in June.

Both candidates will first participate in two “forums” next month: One hosted by the Boston Ward 4 and 5 Democrats on April 19 and moderated by GBH’s Callie Crossley, and a second sponsored by WBUR and the Environmental League of Massachusetts on April 27.

But Chang-Díaz, who has trailed Healey in early polls, has called on her opponent to meet for three televised debates ahead of the party convention, where delegates will select a candidate to endorse.

Her campaign has said the request is similar to one Healey made of her opponent during her first run for attorney general in 2014, and is in line with the debate schedule during the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Earlier this week, Joshua Wolfsun, Chang-Díaz’s campaign manager, called out Healey’s campaign for “dodging” the requests.

Jason Burrell, Healey’s campaign manager, responded on Thursday in a letter to Wolfsun.

Healey will meet for two debates, Burrell wrote, adding that the April forums are “taking place more than a month before the June convention.”

“Maura has pledged to be the most aggressive Governor in the country on climate, and we look forward to the opportunity to have the candidates together on stage answering detailed questions about these critical issues,” Burrell wrote.

On GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” Thursday morning, Healey was asked to outline what she’s agreed to do.

“I have been out there talking to, listening to voters,” Healey said. “I’ve participated in over 70 caucuses, multiple forums, where people have had a chance to hear from me – (and) hear from all candidates, frankly – and that will continue and I look forward to that. I really do.”

Chang-Díaz, in a statement Thursday afternoon, criticized Healey’s counter offer.

“The arrogance of dodging debates is the kind of attitude that drives voters away from our party and from participation in the political process,” the lawmaker said. “I called for three live, in-person, moderated debates sponsored by media organizations before the convention in June. The Attorney General has agreed to zero.”

Notably, Healey, speaking on GBH, referred to the two April forums as “debates.”

“To be clear, these are opportunities where both candidates are present, have an opportunity to talk to one another, have an opportunity to answer questions, so they’re debates,” Healey said. “Again, what’s been great, as always is great when you’re campaigning, is you have the opportunity to hear from and talk to as many people as possible, and I’ve been working hard across the state to do just that, and will continue to over the coming weeks and months.”

But a news release from the Chang-Díaz campaign stated Healey “portrayed two previously-scheduled forums as a substitute for debates before the June convention.”

“Debating is a time honored tradition and essential to our democratic process,” Chang-Díaz said. “While I have participated in many forums and look forward to joining the ones that the Attorney General cited in her letter, they are not a replacement for debates. Our next Democratic nominee must not run away from the issues or their own promises.”

Healey gains endorsement from pro-choice advocacy group (March 31)

Maura Healey on Wednesday picked up an endorsement from NARAL Pro-Choice America, the national reproductive freedom advocacy group.

“Maura has demonstrated time and again that she will stand up for our fundamental rights,” NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju said in a statement. “With states across the country rushing to ban abortion and Roe v. Wade hanging on by a thread, it is more important than ever that Bay Staters have a governor who will work to safeguard and expand access to abortion care.”

In a press release shared by Healey’s campaign, the group highlighted Healey’s “readiness to stand up for reproductive freedom as governor.” 

Last year, Healey was among 24 attorneys general who spoke out against a 15-week abortion ban in Mississippi and led opposition to Texas’s six-week abortion ban in October, the group noted. Healey was also the first statewide Massachusetts elected official to back the ROE Act, the state law that codified and expended abortion access in 2020.

“While Healey served as co-chair of the Democratic Attorneys General Association, it became the first and only Democratic campaign committee to require candidates to publicly state their support for abortion rights in order to receive endorsements,” the release states.

Healey, in a statement of her own, said “reproductive freedom is under threat like never before.” “With the looming possibility of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade this June, it will be on our next governor to continue to protect access to safe and legal abortion in Massachusetts, break down systemic barriers to these services, and expand access to comprehensive reproductive care for all,” Healey said. “That’s what I’ve done as a civil rights attorney throughout my career, and it’s what I will do as governor in partnership with advocates like NARAL.”

NARAL told The Boston Globe Healey’s opponent, state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, did not respond to the group’s questionnaire.

But Chang-Díaz said she never received one.

“NARAL never reached out to my campaign & now claims I didn’t return their questionnaire,” Chang-Díaz wrote on Twitter. “It’s deeply troubling for a national reproductive rights org to shut out women of color and then lie about it.

“I’ll be proud to keep fighting for inclusive reproductive justice as Governor,” she added.

Campbell gets Mariano’s support, government employee union backs Liss-Riordan in AG’s race (March 30)

Endorsements continue to flow into the attorney general Democratic primary race.

On Wednesday, Andrea Campbell gained a nod from Massachusetts House Speaker Ron Mariano, who said the former Boston city councilor “has dedicated her entire career not only to advocacy, but to action.”

“Andrea brings her lived experience, one that resonates with so many families across Massachusetts, to everything she does,” Mariano, a Quincy Democrat, said in a statement shared by Campbell’s campaign. “I have the utmost confidence in Andrea’s vision for this office, and am proud to endorse her as our next Attorney General.”

Meanwhile, labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan scooped up support from the National Association of Government Employees – one of the largest labor unions in the state – on Tuesday.

The Quincy-based union represents 22,000 public employees in the Bay State alone.

“When I’m your AG, public servants will always have a strong partner who will fight for the dignity of work,” Liss-Riordan wrote in a tweet.

Gov. Charlie Baker endorses Anthony Amore for auditor (March 29)

Gov. Charlie Baker has made his first endorsement in a statewide race this election cycle, backing fellow Republican Anthony Amore for state auditor.

Amore, the director of security at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, was previously a candidate for secretary of state in 2018.

“As an independent and experienced watchdog, Anthony will be able to keep the checks and balances on Beacon Hill and help preserve and continue the work the Baker-Polito administration has done over the last seven years,” Baker wrote in a campaign e-mail to supporters on Monday, The Boston Globe reports.

Amore told the newspaper last week that, if he is elected, one of his goals is “to protect the legacy of Baker and Polito as they leave office.”

“I don’t want to see (their work) undone when he leaves office,” Amore, of Winchester, said.

Amore is the sole Republican in the auditor race. Chris Dempsey, a transportation advocate, and state Sen. Diana DiZoglio are both vying for the Democratic nomination.

Healey rejects notion her lawsuits against the Trump Administration were ‘performative’ (March 28)

As Massachusetts attorney general during the four years President Donald Trump was in the White House, Maura Healey, by her count, sued the Trump Administration over 100 times.

Healey, often among a coalition of state attorneys general that took on Trump in court, challenged the then-president on his travel ban in 2017, the separation of families at the nation’s southern border in 2018, and his changes to the U.S. postal service in the build-up to the 2020 election.

Healey and her counterparts won over 80 percent of those cases, she told Vanity Fair in late 2020.

The lawsuits did little to dissuade Trump.

As a top prosecutor in one of the nation’s bluest states, was Healey taking the Republican to court, regularly, simply political posturing?

Healey says that wasn’t the case.

In an episode of “Sway,” a New York Times podcast, published on Monday, host Kara Swisher asked Healey if “a lot” of the lawsuits were “just performative” or if she was “really going for something” — a question that didn’t sit right with Healey.

“No, we were — I strongly reject the premise of that question,” Healey said.

She continued:

“We saw him try to take away healthcare, try to take away contraception, go after immigrant communities, cut off SNAP benefits, institute the travel ban, which here in Massachusetts, meant that a lot of our companies, our universities, didn’t have students or professors or workers who were able to return to the United States (or) Massachusetts to work.

“It was just like every week, he as doing something harmful, rolling back important environmental regulations that have been put in place to deal with greenhouse gases, tinkering with the census, which would have had the effect of cutting off federal funding to our states.

“So yeah, we sued him probably over 100, times based on things he had done that were illegal, unconstitutional and hurtful to our residents or businesses of the like. And you know what? We won nearly 85 percent of those cases. We went to court, we got orders to block him. And in blocking him, that was important because it was a way to stop bad things from happening. It was sort of sad that we had to be constantly going to court, but we were successful and it was absolutely necessary to hold the line until he left office.”

Healey also clarified that although no Republican attorneys general sued Trump, she believes many of them were afraid of the president and afraid of retaliation.

Trump, a private citizen again, is now the subject of numerous investigations and lawsuits, including a Congressional probe into the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Is there anything that could happen, legally speaking, that would prevent Trump from trying for a second term, Swisher asked?

“Absolutely,” Healey said. “I mean, I think any number of things could happen, including his prosecution.”

Healey entered the race for governor in January and quickly became the frontrunner in early polls of the field of Democratic contenders, despite lacking specifics on her policy proposals.

She spent the early days of her campaign defending her record, including the portion pertaining to public corruption cases as attorney general.

With Massachusetts having its own record of preferring moderate Republicans in the governor’s office, Swisher asked Healey if there is a benefit to having those leaders in a deep-blue state.

“So this probably isn’t going to surprise you, but I think all rules are out the window at this point,” Healey said. “I think that in this time, what people are looking for is somebody they know who’s going to listen to them and to really get things done. I think that’s what people are looking for in government leaders.”

Listen to/read the full episode.

Sonia Chang-Díaz’s campaign calls out Maura Healey over ‘dodge’ of 3-debate commitment (March 28)

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Sonia Chang-Díaz’s campaign is calling out their opponent, Maura Healey, over not heeding the state senator’s call for at least three televised debates ahead of the party’s convention in June.

Last week, Chang-Díaz wrote to Healey, the Massachusetts attorney general, requesting the two debate before party delegates meet to select a candidate to endorse this summer.

“Democrats deserve to hear publicly from their candidates for governor on the important issues facing us today,” Chang-Díaz wrote. “This moment calls for leadership that is willing to answer the tough questions and provide fearless commitment to the residents we serve.”

Healey’s campaign subsequently told The Boston Globe Healey has participated in “dozens of caucuses and candidate forums” and will take part in debates before the Sept. 6 primary election.

Joshua Wolfsun, Chang-Díaz’s campaign manager, took aim at Healey over the “dodge” on Monday.

“The people of Massachusetts deserve a governor who will respect the democratic process, not expect a coronation,” Wolfsun said in a statement. “The Attorney General’s move to dodge committing to three debates before the convention is bad for the voters of our state — and inconsistent with her past positions.”

Wolfsun cited an April 1, 2014 tweet from Healey, in which she called on her opponent — when she was first running for attorney general — to debate “at least once a month” until the election that year.

Additionally, Chang-Díaz’s challenge to Healey is in line with the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary, during which candidates engaged in at least three debates and forums before June that year, Wolfsun said.

“Our Democratic nominee for governor shouldn’t be afraid to get on a stage across from other candidates and debate the real issues,” Wolfsun said. “Too much is at stake, and the voters deserve nothing less.”

Early polls have consistently shown Healey with a comfortable lead.

A poll conducted by the Fiscal Alliance Foundation released earlier this month found Healey, with support from approximately 31 percent of those surveyed, was the preferred candidate, even among all candidates, both Democratic and Republican. Chang-Díaz trailed candidates from both parties, with 1.2 percent.

But it’s a long way until Election Day: Just over 50 percent of 750 registered voters surveyed were still undecided.