Bay State Dems pitch the big tent

Aug 23, 2024

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PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook is taking its annual end-of-summer hiatus next week, but we’ll be back Tuesday, Sept. 3. Don’t hesitate to reach out in the meantime to kgarrity@politico.com.

MASSACHUSETTS' MANY MESSAGES — Three Massachusetts politicians took the stage at the United Center on the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. And each delivered a different message to the crowd of politicians, staffers, activists and stars as Democrats capped off a week of displays of joy and unity.

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark put child care, one of her signature issues, atop Vice President Kamala Harris’ still emerging agenda — and tied former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, to the Project 2025 policies (that the Trump camp has aggressively disavowed) that she said would raise costs for child care programs.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren pitched Harris as a politician prepared to promote affordability by taking on Wall Street and Big Pharma (and ribbed Vance with a meme-inspired dig).

And Gov. Maura Healey, who won a coveted prime-time slot Thursday night, used her airtime to tout Harris’ history as a prosecutor well suited to take on a former president embroiled in legal battles.

Massachusetts’ varied messages — and varied messengers, who represent different corners of the Democratic Party — are a microcosm of the big tent Democrats hoped to put on full display this week with the parade of speakers that ranged from progressive icons like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to former Republican lawmakers and ex-Trump officials, as Harris looks to scoop up support wherever she can in the still tight sprint to November.

Harris made a direct appeal to voters across the political spectrum during her speech Thursday night. "I know there are people of various political views watching tonight, and I want you to know, I promise to be a president for all Americans," she said. "You can always trust me to put country above party and self, to hold sacred America's fundamental principles, from the rule of law to free and fair elections, to the peaceful transfer of power."

For Democrats, there’s still work to be done. The pre-convention hand-wringing over protests may have been over the top considering the relatively quiet week in Chicago. But activists with pro-Palestinian “uncommitted” movement weren’t happy with convention organizers after they rejected its request to allow a Palestinian-American speaker to take the main stage. And Harris will still have to fine-tune in the weeks ahead exactly what her presidency would look like, as she prepares to take on Trump on the debate stage.

GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Warren received one of the warmest welcomes of the week from the crowd. The applause that began when she emerged on stage lasted for more than a minute, and left Warren, who ran for president in 2020, teary eyed.

But two of the Republicans battling to challenge the popular progressive in November were quick to turn the senator’s speech into an attack line.

Attorney and Marine veteran John Deaton accused Warren of prioritizing her national profile over Massachusetts residents in a statement sent out Thursday night. And Quincy City Council President Ian Cain called her speech a sign that “we need fresh blood and new thinking in Washington,” in a post on X.

TODAY — Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll have no public events. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends St. Anthony's Feast at 6 p.m. in the North End.

THIS WEEKEND — Early voting begins Saturday; it’s also the last day to register to vote before the Sept. 3 primary elections. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio attends the Islamic Society of the North Shore’s annual barbecue at 3 p.m. in Lynn Saturday.

SUNDAY SHOWS — Sen. Elizabeth Warren is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Former Rep. Mike Capuano is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Jesse Mermell, Wendy Wakeman and Glen Johnson are on NBC10 Boston’s “@Issue” airing Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on NBC10 and noon, 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on NECN.

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CONVENTION ZONE

Some convention odds and ends:

— The Washington Post got Gov. Maura Healey to try Malört.

— Democratic Whip Katherine Clark downed her own very Vermont-style shot with members of the Vermont delegation.

— About those Beyoncé rumors ...

— ICYMI: Massachusetts delegate Joe Caiazzo has a daily DNC update. Catch the last day's recap.

— “‘The honeymoon’s inevitably going to end’: Harris dives into a critical stretch of the election,” by Eli Stokols, Adam Cancryn and Lisa Kashinsky, POLITICO.

— “IVF has become a hot topic at the DNC. In Mass., more couples use it to conceive,” by Scooty Nickerson, Izzy Bryars and Helena Getahun-Hawkins, The Boston Globe.

— “At DNC, limited anxiety over possible attacks on Harris’ gender and race,” by Adam Reilly, GBH News: “Given how close Hillary Clinton came to becoming the first female U.S. president back in 2016 — and given how catastrophic her failure to break that barrier felt for many of her supporters — it’s no surprise that, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, there are glimmers of concern that Kamala Harris might experience similar disappointment this fall. … Yet among the Massachusetts delegates gathered in Chicago, fears that a late-campaign barrage of racism and misogyny could derail Harris’ presidential bid seem relatively muted — and in some cases, entirely nonexistent.”

— “Politics has changed since 2016. Look no further than the three powerful Mass. women who took center stage Thursday at the DNC,” by Emma Platoff, The Boston Globe: “Eight years ago, when Democrats last gathered in person for their convention, speakers from Massachusetts were given slots on the first night of the gathering, which typically gets a smaller audience. And most of the best-known state pols to take the stage were men. This year, the Bay State had a much more prestigious position — on Thursday night, in some of the final slots before Vice President Kamala Harris gives her acceptance speech. And it was Senator Elizabeth Warren, Governor Maura Healey, and House Democratic whip Katherine Clark at the podium, in prime billing for the state and the women who lead it.”

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “Locals side with Healey's plan to seize land under St. Elizabeth's despite landlord pushback,” by Mark Herz, GBH News: “Gov. Healey is moving forward with taking the land St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center sits on by eminent domain, despite pushback from the owners of the property — ACREFI CS U, LLC, Medical Properties Trust, and Apollo Global Management — saying they are rejecting her $4.5 million dollar offer as part of the taking. Employees of St. Elizabeth’s and a local politician want Healey’s plan — to seize the land and transfer operation of the hospital to Boston Medical Center — to be allowed to proceed.”

FROM THE HUB

— “Mid-century ‘urban renewal’ tore Boston apart. Air rights projects are starting to sew it back together again,” by Murray Whyte, The Boston Globe.

— “‘We feel like our hands are tied’: Developers and Black church sue BPDA to build apartments on wooded land in Hyde Park,” by Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe: “The long-running fight over a large swath of wooded land on the border of Hyde Park and Roslindale has moved from City Hall to the courtroom. A court-imposed deadline this week represents the latest chapter in a dispute between the Jubilee Christian Church, home to one of New England’s largest Black congregations, and the Boston Planning & Development Agency, which Jubilee accuses of slow-walking its plans to build a 200-plus unit apartment complex in what’s known by neighbors as ‘Crane Ledge Woods.’”

BALLOT BATTLES

— “Massachusetts Republicans exploring emergency shelter ballot question for 2026 election,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Massachusetts Republicans are having early conversations about advancing a ballot question for the 2026 election that would attempt to codify into state law a series of restrictions Gov. Maura Healey has placed on the emergency shelter system, lawmakers and party officials told the Herald. The effort, the success of which may depend on who wins the presidential election in November, could formalize later this year or in early 2025 after focus shifts away from the contest for the White House and the Massachusetts gubernatorial race starts to take shape, those involved in the preliminary discussions said.”

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YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

— “Candidates for 3rd Berkshire District discuss climate issues, storm readiness at forum,” by Sten Spinella, The Berkshire Eagle: “All four candidates running for State Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli's seat for the 3rd Berkshire District agreed on one thing during Wednesday's climate-focused forum: Whoever wins must be proactive in securing money for storm readiness.”

MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

— “Cannabis commissioner pushing for forensic audit of agency,” by Bhaamati Borkhetaria, CommonWealth Beacon.

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “MBTA board, but not Tibbits-Nutt, talks new revenue,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “The MBTA board of directors spent some time Thursday looking back at what has gone wrong with funding of the transit authority over the last several decades, and then looked ahead to a fast-approaching deadline to get things back on track. … Monica Tibbits-Nutt, the secretary of transportation, a member of the MBTA board, and the co-chair of the transportation revenue task force, said nothing during the T board’s discussion about new revenues. In April at an event hosted by WalkMassachusetts, Tibbits-Nutt talked enthusiastically about assembling a transportation revenue package, including new tolls at the state’s borders. Healey four days later disavowed the talk about border tolls, and Tibbits-Nutt has said almost nothing about new revenues since.”

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THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “‘I feel really lucky’: Pushed out of Everett, Priya Tahiliani takes helm of troubled Brockton schools,” by Deanna Pan, The Boston Globe.

— “MBTA Board approves 545 housing units near Riverside station in Newton,” by Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald.

— “'Alarming lack of transparency': Worcester city councilors weigh in on WPI hotel plan,” by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette: “A city commission meeting scheduled Thursday where Worcester Polytechnic Institute's controversial plans to buy two hotels in the city so they can be turned into student housing would likely be discussed has been postponed to Aug. 29. Meanwhile, talks are ongoing between the city and WPI representatives about a potential meeting, and multiple city councilors have joined in on blasting WPI's conduct.”

— “Barnstable wind farm cable opponents unfazed at legal setback,” by Heather McCarron, Cape Cod Times: “Barnstable residents who want a public review of the Town Council's recent side agreement with Avangrid Renewables for its New England Wind 1 project were denied their request in Barnstable Superior Court to withhold the related easements until the matter is resolved. However, their lawsuit challenging the agreement remains in play.”

MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND

— “R.I. Republican mayoral candidates spar over votes on immigrant tuition, safe injection sites,” by Edward Fitzpatrick, The Boston Globe.

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HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — Dana Alas will serve as the executive director Boston's Office of Women’s Advancement. She previously helped lead 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and served as an adviser on Mayor Michelle Wu’s 2021 transition team.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Springfield state Rep. Carlos González, Everett state Rep. Joe McGonagle, Joshua Ostroff, George Schadler, Dianne Bagley Smith, Shelley Long (the actress who played “Diane Chambers” in “Cheers”), Robert Solow and Yanisa Techagumthorn. Happy belated to James Kugel, who celebrated Thursday.

HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Lawrence Bacow, Emily Cherniack, Sarah Heinonen, former NH congressional candidate and Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, and Keith Sonia of Regina Villa Associates, who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Maria Nation and Chandra Allard.

HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY — to late-August birthday-ers WCVB’s Sharman Sacchetti, Hampshire County Register of Deeds Mary Olberding, Eric Fehrnstrom, Quint Forgey and Francis Morris, who celebrate Monday; Westford state Rep. Jim Arciero, Robert Orthman, Sierra LaBonte, Jaime Watson and Noah Futterman, who celebrate Tuesday; state Rep. Christine Barber, Katie Bowler, Revere City Council President Anthony Cogliandro and Meghan Sorensen, who celebrate Wednesday; Kelly Smith, Michael Segal and Ben Martello, who celebrate Thursday; The Washington Post’s Martine Powers, a Boston Globe/POLITICO alum, and Julia Hoffman, who celebrate Friday, Aug. 30; and to state Rep. Smitty Pignatelli and state Sen. Becca Rausch, who celebrate Saturday, Aug. 31.

HAPPY EXTRA EARLY BIRTHDAY — to early September birthday-ers Amy Friguletti and Alan Dershowitz, who celebrate Sunday, Sept. 1; and former Rep. Michael Harrington, who celebrates Monday, Sept. 2.

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