TO SECURE A victory in last September’s Democratic primary against one of the most powerful members of the Legislature, Nika Elugardo ran a blistering campaign excoriating the entire House establishment, which she later analogized to a slave plantation. The Jamaica Plain Democrat hasn’t recanted her incendiary statements, but her tone has softened, and she has […]
Nika Elugardo
Posted inThe Download
Baker’s new tax tone
It was one of the most dissected lines from Gov. Charlie Baker‘s recent inaugural address, coming at the end of a victory lap about the recent budget surplus. “And we did it without raising taxes,” Baker exclaimed to the crowd of officials and supporters in the House Chamber earlier this month. That may have been […]
Posted inPolitics
Boston’s change election
FIVE WEEKS BEFORE Nika Elugardo took on state Rep. Jeff Sánchez at a candidate forum in the Democratic primary contest in the 15th Suffolk District, JP Progressives could tell there was a pick-up in voter interest. That’s why the liberal neighborhood political group changed the forum location from a function room at Doyle’s—a bar and […]
Posted inPolitics
Liberal groups boost Sanchez challenger
IF THERE IS a campaign equivalent to the see-through pane in front of a fire alarm marked, “In case of emergency, break glass,” Jeff Sanchez has put his fist through it. Two weeks ago, the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee pulled together a group of local community leaders in Jamaica Plain […]
Posted inPolitics
Progressive leaders rally behind Sanchez
FACING A FEISTY challenge from his political left, state Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez turned to progressive community leaders on Tuesday to vouch for his liberal bona fides, the latest sign that the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee isn’t taking for granted that his powerful perch on Beacon Hill is a guarantee of reelection […]
Posted inThe Back Story
Sanchez in hot seat on immigration measure
WHEN STATE REP. Jeffrey Sanchez was tapped last July to be the new chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, it put a veteran liberal lawmaker from one of the most progressive-leaning districts in the state into one of the most powerful positions on Beacon Hill. While that was seen by many as good […]