In the race for state auditor, the Democratic and Republican candidates have very different positions on a key responsibility of the office – giving approval for the privatization of public services. Under state law, the auditor is charged with evaluating privatization proposals and certifying the initiatives will not only save money but also maintain at […]
Elections
Posted inState Government
Opposing camps evenly matched on millionaire tax fight
IT’S UNIONS VERSUS businesses in a high-stakes and so far evenly matched battle to raise the tax rate on high-income earners. This November, Massachusetts voters will decide whether to pass a constitutional amendment that would raise the tax rate by 4 percentage points on income over $1 million. If the initiative passes, the extra tax […]
Posted inThe Download
Super PAC with ties to Baker backed 15 winners
The normally tight-lipped super PAC with close ties to Gov. Charlie Baker is crowing about its performance in this week’s primary. The Massachusetts Majority PAC spent $171,432 supporting 12 Democrats and three Republicans in their respective primaries – and all 15 emerged victorious. Nine of them were essentially elected because they face no opponent in […]
Posted inPolitics
Super PAC with ties to Baker backed 15 winners
THE NORMALLY tight-lipped super PAC with close ties to Gov. Charlie Baker is crowing about its performance in this week’s primary. The Massachusetts Majority PAC spent $171,432 supporting 12 Democrats and three Republicans in their respective primaries – and all 15 emerged victorious. Nine of them were essentially elected because they face no opponent in […]
Posted inPolitics
Marblehead rep candidate scores victory against old-boy network
JENNY ARMINI narrowly edged Tristan Smith Tuesday night in the Democratic primary race for the House seat representing Marblehead, Swampscott, and part of Lynn – a victory that was all the more sweet given Smith’s support by the old-boy Democratic establishment in Massachusetts. Smith, the 26-year-old son of Jim Smith, one of the state’s top […]
Posted inPolitics
Devaney narrowly retains Governor’s Council job
INCUMBENT GOVERNOR’S Councilor Marilyn Devaney narrowly edged out Democratic activist and attorney Mara Dolan to hold on to the seat she has held for 23 years. Dolan gave Devaney her toughest competition since Devaney first won the seat in 1998. Devaney represents District 3, which includes the suburbs west of Boston. The Governor’s Council ratifies […]
Posted inPolitics
Diehl defeats Doughty – to take on Healey
GEOFF DIEHL cruised to an easy victory over Chris Doughty in the Republican gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, setting the stage for a final election battle with the Democratic nominee, Maura Healey. Former president Donald Trump is likely to become a topic of much discussion in the final. Trump endorsed Diehl early on in the race […]
Posted inPolitics
In DA, sheriff races, reformers seek change from inside
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS and sheriffs are traditional “law and order” positions, inhabited by officials often viewed as tough on crime. These jobs are elected, but incumbents, particularly DAs, have often sailed easily to reelection – and sometimes chosen their successors – with little public attention. That has changed in recent years, as a growing number of […]
Posted inOpinion
Our democratic institutions are failing voters
MORE MASSACHUSETTS voters will participate in the Democratic primaries for constitutional office than any year since 2006. There’s just one big problem: most of them have no opinion of the candidates. As shown in a recent MassINC poll sponsored by Priorities For Progress, fewer than half of primary voters believe they have sufficient information to choose […]
Posted inOpinion
Keep climate in mind entering voting booth
FOR THE MILLIONS of Massachusetts voters who worry about the consequences of climate change and our role and responsibility in the Commonwealth to fight it, the 2022 primary and general elections will be our most important statewide elections in a generation. With open seats for all of our statewide constitutional offices, voters will have a […]