| | | | |  | | By Kelly Garrity | MILE MARKERS — Somewhere about a mile outside of downton Worcester, the sidewalk ends. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, five days into her week-long walk across the state, crosses the street — only to realize the sidewalk on the other side ends, too. So, it’s back across the street, where the shoulder is slightly wider and where walkers are more visible to the cars rolling by. The Methuen Democrat was around 13 miles into the day, with several left to go as she chips away at her 141-mile walk across Massachusetts. The multi-day trek is DiZoglio’s latest gambit to garner support for the ballot question she’s backing that would allow her office to audit the Legislature. “It was a creative approach to raising awareness beyond the usual campaign events,” DiZoglio, who has launched similar campaigns in the past, told Playbook as she walked from a mid-day ribbon cutting in Worcester. “There are several ballot questions now. There is a presidential race. There are a lot of different races and issues that are important that are going to be on the ballot, and we wanted to make sure that folks are still aware that we are promoting yes on one,” she said. Along the way, a range of supporters have joined DiZoglio on the trail and at the nightly "Sips and Sunshine" events — a motley assortment of Democratic activists, mayors and city councilors and some Republican lawmakers who want to see some more light shed Recent polls show the question may be the least controversial among Massachusetts voters out of the five they’ll face in November. Around 70 percent of voters in both a new Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll and a recent WBUR/CommonWealth Beacon poll said they would vote yes on the question — in each poll, the strongest support any question earned. But it’s one of the most contentious on Beacon Hill, where legislative leaders have resisted DiZoglio’s efforts to pry open their books. The Legislature already is audited, they’ve pointed out, and letting the auditor (who’s part of the executive branch) audit the state’s legislative branch would violate laws governing separation of powers, they say. There’s no official opposition campaign lobbying voters to come out against the question. But if it passes, as polls currently indicate, legal challenges are likely. Despite pushback, DiZoglio’s office already did go ahead with an audit of the Legislature — just without access to materials she says they would need to deliver a complete report. The results will be released soon, DiZoglio said, and could give voters — and lawmakers — a clearer idea of what she’s looking for ahead of the election. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll attend the Massachusetts State Police Academy Graduation at 10 a.m. in Worcester; Attorney General Andrea Campbell speaks at the event at noon. Healey, Driscoll, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and other state and local officials join a signing ceremony for the Boston liquor license bill at 4 p.m. at the State House. Wu speaks at a dedication ceremony at the Boston Fire Department Training Academy at 10:15 a.m. in Quincy and at the opening of the O’Day Playground at 2:30 p.m. in the South End. Pressley attends a ribbon cutting for the Turner Free Library at 10 a.m. in Randolph and attends a “Men of Color for Harris” fundraiser at 6 p.m. in Boston. Sen. Ed Markey participates in a webinar hosted by New England for Offshore Wind at noon.
|  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | — “Campaign to repeal Massachusetts gun law clears signature threshold for 2026 election,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Massachusetts voters are in line to face a question during the 2026 election asking them to repeal a new gun law heralded by Beacon Hill Democrats after Second Amendment advocates reported collecting more than 90,000 signatures over the past month. The milestone achieved by a coalition of gun groups sets up a contentious and lengthy campaign where opponents of the law are likely to argue the measure is an overreach of governmental powers and an infringement on Constitutional rights while supporters will contend it saves lives and creates safer communities.” — “The rising power of women in Massachusetts politics,” by Alexi Cohan, GBH News.
| | FROM THE HUB | | — “Boston city councilors slam USPS for declining to testify at emergency hearing on mail delivery delays,” by Niki Griswold, The Boston Globe: “Boston city councilors slammed post office leaders Tuesday for refusing to testify at an emergency hearing on mail delivery delays after complaints from residents across the city about inconsistent and unreliable postal service. At Tuesday’s hearing, leaders of local unions representing United States Postal Service workers alleged mismanagement they said is contributing to a significant decline in service for customers in Boston. Nearly a dozen residents also testified about their experiences with mail that didn’t show up on time.” — “Carney ‘working group’ includes 32 members,” by Bill Forry, Dorchester Reporter: “Members of a ‘working group’ asked to advise state and city leaders on the impacts of the closure of Carney Hospital — and the next steps to replace it — were announced [Tuesday] by city officials. The Dorchester unit, with 32 members, and a second like it that will focus on Nashoba Valley, includes public health officials, labor leaders, doctors and elected officials. The Carney team is co-chaired by Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, the commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston, and Michael Curry, president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers.” — “Ripple effects continue 10 years after Boston's Long Island Bridge and shelter, treatment programs closed,” by Lynn Jolicoeur and Lisa Mullins, WBUR.
| | WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET | | — “AG sues TikTok over 'addictive' social media platform,” by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Daily Times: “The state’s top law enforcement official is taking Chinese-owned TikTok to court over claims that popular short-form video app is harming youth mental health by designing its platform to be addictive to kids. A complaint, filed Tuesday in state Superior Court, alleges the company and its affiliates are violating the state’s consumer protection laws and have contributed to a mental health crisis among the hundreds of thousands of young people who use the platform.”
| | BALLOT BATTLES | | — “Mass. voters support scrapping MCAS graduation requirement in new Suffolk Univ. poll,” by John L. Micek, MassLive.
| | MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS | | — “From deportation to housing, Mass. voters express complicated views on immigration in new Suffolk/Globe poll,” by Samantha J. Gross and Matt Stout, The Boston Globe.
| | YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Attorney General Andrea Campbell has endorsed Kevin Kalkut, according to his campaign. Kalkut is challenging state Rep. Marcus Vaughn for his seat in the 9th Norfolk District. — “In 3rd Berkshire District debate, Leigh Davis and Marybeth Mitts agree on issues, but they differ on style and politics,” by Heather Bellow, The Berkshire Eagle.
| | KENNEDY COMPOUND | | — “'Best care possible.' Ethel Kennedy hospitalized after stroke, grandson says,” by Mary Ann Bragg, Cape Cod Times: “Ethel Kennedy is hospitalized and being treated after a stroke in her sleep, according to her grandson Joe Kennedy III in a message on X on Tuesday. ‘She is comfortable, she is getting the best care possible, and she is surrounded by family,’ Kennedy said in his message. His grandmother had the stroke on Thursday, he said.”
| | FROM THE 413 | | — “The Pittsfield City Council has approved pay raises for the fire chief and solicitor positions,” by Greg Sukiennik, The Berkshire Eagle.
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “Vocational schools, home to one-eighth of Mass. high school students seek aid to grow more,” by Christopher Huffaker, The Boston Globe. — “Fall River firefighter wins years-long fight against PFAS in gear. What does he do now?,” by Dan Medeiros, The Herald News. — “Norwood Hospital to permanently close 4 years after flood,” Hannah Reale and Craig LeMoult, GBH News: “More than four years after flooding devastated Norwood Hospital, and three years after a ceremonial groundbreaking and a promise to rebuild, the news came Monday that it will not reopen. Steward Health Care, which has already sold five of its Massachusetts hospitals and closed two more as part of its bankruptcy proceedings, had left Norwood’s future in limbo. But court filings Monday show Steward will not renew the hospital’s license when it expires next month.” — “Laws to trigger new housing headed for council,” by Grace Ferguson, The New Bedford Light: “New ordinances meant to spark more housing are on Wednesday night’s agenda for the City Council Committee on Ordinances. One draft ordinance would create a ‘transit-oriented development’ zoning district around the new Church Street MBTA station to encourage dense, walkable, mixed-use development — particularly around Kings Highway. New housing there would need fewer parking spaces than elsewhere in the city.”
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