| | | | |  | | By Kelly Garrity | TRIAL BALLOON SEASON — Could we see a crowded Republican primary for governor next year? No one’s officially jumped into the race, but there’s plenty of interest — and private and public jockeying — from potential GOP candidates. The latest to publicly signal their interest: state Sen. Peter Durant, who told WBUR he’s considering a run and plans to decide by the spring. Durant, who has long criticized Gov. Maura Healey’s handling of the state’s emergency shelter program, won his Senate seat in a special election in 2023, flipping the Worcester County seat long held by Democrats (and injecting the party with new energy coming off a bruising election cycle in 2022). Durant joins a handful of other candidates whose names are currently floating as possible challengers to the Democratic governor, who has yet to say if she plans to seek a second term. Mike Kennealy, who served as secretary of housing and economic development under former Gov. Charlie Baker, confirmed he’s seriously considering running and has a crew of former Baker and Mitt Romney strategists advising him. Brian Shortsleeve, a Marine veteran who helped run the MBTA under Baker, is also mulling a run. And Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis has fans lobbying him to get in the race. Then, there’s those who haven’t said much publicly whose names still come up in the conservation. What about former Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who’d have a head start with more than $1.4 million in her campaign coffers? Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, anyone? He’s got more than half a million in his own campaign account. Why all the interest? Republicans view Healey as vulnerable, particularly when it comes to ballooning costs and safety concerns in the shelter system. But Healey has tracked right on the issue in recent weeks in response to headlines detailing incidents of violence and the arrest of an undocumented immigrant at one state-run shelter, asking the Democratic-controlled legislature to approve changes to the system similar to ones that Republicans have been pushing for more than a year. Still, Republicans will have to contend with running a campaign while President Donald Trump is in office — historically a drag on GOP candidates down ballot in blue Massachusetts. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. What we want to know is whether or not any Democrats are secretly thinking about getting in. Spill: kgarrity@politico.com. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey has no public events. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Pinnacle Awards at noon in Boston. Attorney General Andrea Campbell participates in the Anti-Defamation League New England’s panel discussion on antisemitism in K-12 schools at 6 p.m. in Boston. Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Reps. Jim McGovern and Ayanna Pressley host a press conference with health care providers in response to the White House memo halting federal funding at 10:30 a.m. in Revere. THIS WEEKEND — Senate President Karen Spilka is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao is on WCVB’s “On The Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com.
| | | | Power shifts, razor-thin margins, and a high-stakes agenda. We’ve transformed our coverage—more reporters, more timely insights, and unmatched policy scoops. From leadership offices to committee rooms, caucus meetings, and beyond, our expert reporting keeps you ahead of the decisions that matter. Subscribe to our Inside Congress newsletter today. | | | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | — “Healey’s 7.4% spending hike in FY26 ‘certainly gives us pause,’ Senate budget chief says,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “A top Senate Democrat expressed skepticism toward Gov. Maura Healey’s plan to boost state spending by 7.4% in fiscal year 2026 as Massachusetts faces constrained tax revenue growth and increased business costs. Senate budget chief Michael Rodrigues said the 7.4% spending increase Healey wrote into her $62 billion fiscal year 2026 budget proposal ‘certainly gives us pause.’ Revenue growth in the Bay State is pegged at only 2.2 percent for the next fiscal year and a post-pandemic slowdown has put pressure on Beacon Hill to rein in spending.” — “Families who claim eligibility for state-run shelter handed month-long benefits worth $15K,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Families seeking access to taxpayer-funded shelters who claim eligibility for benefits receive up to $15,000 in services and housing during the month it takes state officials to determine whether they actually belong in the emergency assistance program, the Healey administration said. Thousands of families have flooded the state’s emergency assistance shelter program over the past year and a half, including migrants from other countries, but the Healey administration said state law bars them from verifying basic eligibility requirements prior to their initial placement.”
| | FROM THE HUB | | — “Indicted Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson says she can’t afford attorney’s fees,” by Flint McColgan, Boston Herald: “Indicted Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who was federally charged for an alleged kickback scheme, says she can’t afford the fees of her court-appointed attorney and wants a payment plan. ‘The Court has ordered Ms. Fernandes Anderson to make a payment of $5000 to the Clerk’s Office by January 31, 2025 for the purpose of contributing to the costs of court-appointed counsel,’ her attorney, Scott Lauer of the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Boston, wrote in a Thursday motion to modify her payment schedule. ‘Ms. Fernandes Anderson will comply with the Court’s directive but is unable to pay the full balance at this time,’ the filing continued, noting that her bank statements will be filed under seal for the court to review.” — “‘Huge win’: Opponents of Boston’s White Stadium plan protest demolition, buoyed by deadlocked City Council vote,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Opponents of Boston’s public-private plan to rehab White Stadium for a new pro soccer team say they are taking a deadlocked City Council vote on a call to halt the project as a ‘win,’ given how ‘masterfully stacked’ the body is in the mayor’s favor. Roughly three dozen residents gathered at the 75-year-old stadium in Franklin Park late Thursday morning to protest against the ongoing demolition and tree removal work taking place behind them — and bash the Wu administration and city councilors who voted against a resolution that sought to pause a tear-down that began last week.” — “Emails show tension between Wu administration and Kraft Group over Everett soccer stadium,” by Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe: “Negotiations are off to a tense start between the Wu administration and the Kraft Group as they try to hammer out a community mitigation agreement for the Krafts’ proposed soccer stadium in Everett. These talks are happening because of economic development legislation that Governor Maura Healey signed in November. A provision in that law allows a nearly 25,000-seat soccer stadium for the Krafts’ New England Revolution to be built on the site of a shuttered power plant in Everett, on Boston’s doorstep, as long as the Krafts sign mitigation agreements with the cities of Everett and Boston. Both cities and the Revs face a deadline of May 1, before the law mandates that a mediator gets involved; if no agreement is reached by Dec. 31, the issue goes to arbitration. The two sides appear to be far apart right now, according to emails released this week by Boston city officials at the Globe’s request.”
| | MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS | | — “In Mass. immigrant communities, rumors of ICE raids outnumber arrests,” by Simón Rios, WBUR.
| | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL | | — “Former State Rep. John Fresolo to run for Worcester District 3 Councilor,” by Adam Bass, MassLive: “Former State Rep. John Fresolo will run for Worcester’s District 3 councilor seat in November’s municipal election. … He previously served as the state representative for the 16th Worcester District from 1999 to 2013. Fresolo, a Democrat, resigned from the House in May 2013 after an ethics investigation.” — “Loisel announces bid for Northampton’s Ward 3 council seat,” by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette.
| | TRUMPACHUSETTS | | — “Boston reparations advocates pledge to keep fighting as Trump resumes office,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has energized anti-DEI and conservative voices across the nation. In response, reparations advocates in Boston are shifting their focus from government toward religious institutions. ‘There is a rightward shift and there is antagonism toward many progressive causes,’ said the Rev. John Gibbons, a community minister at Boston’s historic Arlington Street Church. ‘Nonetheless, the issue of reparations is one that predates Donald Trump and predates any current administration.’”
| | | | New Year. New Washington. New Playbook. With intensified congressional coverage and even faster delivery of policy scoops, POLITICO’s reimagined Playbook Newsletter ensures you’re always ahead of the conversation. Sign up today. | | | | | | | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “6 people with ties to Boston area skating club killed in DC plane crash,” by Craig LeMoult and Matt Baskin, GBH News: “Six people with ties to a local skating club were killed in last night’s plane crash in Washington, D.C. At a news conference Thursday morning, Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe said that two of their coaches, two teenage skaters and their mothers were all aboard when American Eagle Flight 5342 collided with a military helicopter and plunged into the Potomac River.” — “Southbridge Town Council votes no confidence in state-appointed schools receiver,” by Jesse Collings, Telegram & Gazette: “Southbridge's Town Council took a vote of no confidence in the public schools' state-appointed receiver, despite opposition to the move from some Southbridge teachers and staff. Southbridge Public Schools have been under state receivership since 2016, following years of poor performance. Under state receivership, the state appoints a receiver to serve as superintendent, which Jeffrey Villar has done since 2018. As part of state law, school districts in state receivership have very limited local control.” — “Teachers at 'breaking point' rally before school,” by Teddy Tauscher, The Eagle-Tribune: “A two-hour delay did nothing to hamper the spirits of hundreds of fed up public school educators Wednesday morning. Staff rallied across the district prior to the beginning of classes to protest low wages, particularly for program assistants, a low paying and demanding job working with some of the most vulnerable students in the school.” — “Councilors approve solar farm with conditions,” by Jonah Frangiosa, The Eagle-Tribune: “The City Council on Tuesday approved a controversial special permit to construct a 23.2-acre solar field off Lovers Lane that will require clear-cutting nearly 2,500 trees. The development, submitted by Christopher Anderson of SPI Solar Inc., has encountered opposition from residents and councilors who have shared an array of concerns the solar facility could present.”
| | WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING | | COMEBACK KID? — “The Quiet Evolution of Joe Kennedy III,” by Tom McGrath, Boston Magazine. — “Steward demanding millions from its former Mass. hospitals to continue critical technology services,” by Jessica Bartlett, The Boston Globe: “Steward Health Care is threatening to cut off critical medical record and billing services it continues to provide to its six former Massachusetts hospitals unless it receives millions of dollars more each month, a move the hospitals say could create wide-scale disruptions and potentially even force some to close. The new owners of those hospitals have been scrambling for nearly a month as a result of the demands, and this week filed motions in Steward’s bankruptcy case demanding the chain adhere to the contract, which covers a range of software and technology services including digital patient records for radiology, laboratory, pathology, microbiology, and pharmacy.”
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