ATTORNEY GENERAL Maura Healey is sitting on a mountain of campaign cash, raising the question of what she’s going to do with it. Healey’s campaign finance reports indicate she had $2.96 million in cash on hand at the end of December. That’s more than the $2.5 million Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito […]
Elections
Posted inThe Download
New year will usher in 2018’s ‘grand bargain’
It’s been a tough year for low-wage workers, who were hit hard by the pandemic – losing jobs and income and facing housing and food insecurity. But in Massachusetts, changes in state law that go into effect January 1 could bring at least slight relief. The minimum wage is set to rise next year, and […]
Posted inOpinion
3 steps Mass. should take to boost voting rights
SINCE THE SHOT heard around the world at the battle of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts has been at the forefront of modern democracy. The Massachusetts Constitution – which was drafted by John Adams – formed the model for the United States Constitution and remains the oldest continuously-operating constitution in the world. Despite this history of […]
Posted inOpinion
‘Alternative facts’ didn’t scuttle ranked-choice voting
THERE IS NOTHING worse than a sore loser. That is our gut reaction after reading Evan Falchuk’s recent item in CommonWealth entitled “Ranked-choice opponents peddled ‘alternative facts’”. With a treasure trove of out-of-state cash, Falchuk blames the loss of Question 2 on the “falsehoods” spread by the No on 2 campaign, a group armed with […]
Posted inPolitics
Do Trump support and COVID go together?
DOES HOW a city or town votes for president help predict whether that municipality will be at high-risk for COVID-19? That’s what one of our readers suggested last week after the release of the state’s report breaking communities down into four COVID categories – red for high-risk, yellow for moderate risk, and green and gray […]
Posted inThe Download
Do Trump support and COVID go together?
DOES HOW a city or town votes for president help predict whether that municipality will be at high-risk for COVID-19? That’s what one of our readers suggested last week after the release of the state’s report breaking communities down into four COVID categories – red for high-risk, yellow for moderate risk, and green and gray […]
Posted inThe Download
The Fattmans highlight the power of campaign cash
The state’s Republican power couple – Stephanie and Ryan Fattman of Sutton – knows how to win elections. The trick appears to be to raise a lot of money, spend nearly all of it, and run for office in a district that generally reflects your political values. From July through October, Stephanie Fattman spent $156,562 […]
Posted inPolitics
The Fattmans highlight the power of campaign cash
THE STATE’S Republican power couple – Stephanie and Ryan Fattman of Sutton – knows how to win elections. The trick appears to be to raise a lot of money, spend nearly all of it, and run for office in a district that generally reflects your political values. From July through October, Stephanie Fattman spent $156,562 […]
Posted inOpinion
Climate change key to winning many elections
CLIMATE CHANGE was not just a key topic in the presidential and congressional contests earlier this month; dozens of down-ballot races across the Commonwealth were decided based on candidates’ stances on the environment. Candidates demonstrated that fighting the climate crisis, promoting clean energy, and pursuing environmental justice are winning campaign issues. Ten years ago, climate and environment were rarely mentioned by most state-level candidates. In the 2010 gubernatorial election, Cape Wind was a controversial issue—former governor Deval Patrick was its only supporter, […]
Posted inPolitics
Rep. Dooley to run for state GOP chair
REP. SHAWN DOOLEY of Norfolk announced Monday evening that he is running for the chairmanship of the Massachusetts Republican Party as a candidate who can bridge the divide between the Trump and Baker factions of the party. Massachusetts Republicans are badly divided right now. The party chairmanship is currently held by Jim Lyons, a former […]