| | |  | BY LISA KASHINSKY | DOMINO EFFECT — Rachael Rollins has finally been confirmed as the next U.S. attorney for Massachusetts. Now it’s up to Gov. Charlie Baker to pick someone to fill out her term as Suffolk district attorney — and potentially set up a front-runner for the 2022 DA race in the process. Kamala Harris , the nation’s first Black vice president, cast two tie-breaking votes to make Rollins the first Black woman to hold the state's top federal law enforcement job, ending an unusually contentious Senate confirmation process filled with Republican roadblocks. Rollins said she’s “deeply honored and humbled” to serve as the next U.S. attorney here and defended her record in a statement after yesterday’s vote. Her confirmation was widely celebrated by Democrats — including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, who put her forward for the job — and quickly panned by the state GOP. Baker told reporters yesterday he’s interviewed “a small group of very qualified people” and that he’ll make his decision “shortly” on who will finish out Rollins’ term. Linda Champion, an assistant general counsel in the state Department of Industrial Accidents who ran against Rollins in 2018, had at least one interview with Baker’s people earlier this fall. Kevin Hayden , who leads the state Sex Offender Registry Board, and Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty have also been floated. Dan Mulhern, Rollins’ first assistant DA and someone she’d initially advocated for, withdrew himself from contention, per two sources, and plans to leave the DA’s office this month, per an email shared with POLITICO. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Rollins got her vote, but more Bay State pols tapped for Biden administration posts remain in limbo. Framingham state Rep. Maria Robinson, who was nominated in September as assistant secretary in the Department of Energy's Office of Electricity, told me she’s hoping for a January confirmation hearing. House Majority Leader Claire Cronin, who was selected as the next U.S. ambassador to Ireland in June, has yet to be confirmed. Lawmakers leaned into Cronin and Robinson’s likely departures to create two incumbent-free, majority-minority House districts centered around Brockton and Framingham in this year’s redistricting process. Now one Brockton politician is taking advantage of the opening. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Brockton City Councilor Rita Mendes, an attorney and real-estate broker who immigrated from Brazil as a child and speaks three languages, is running for the open 11th Plymouth District House seat. “When I ran for City Council, I always said I was a mother — not a politician,” Mendes, who won reelection to the council last month, said in a statement. “I am running for state representative to bring that type of authentic leadership to Beacon Hill.” Running for something? Know someone who is? Email me at lkashinsky@politico.com. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker, state officials and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attend an affordable-housing groundbreaking at 140 Clarendon St., Boston, at 10 a.m. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito makes MassWorks grant announcements in Douglas at 9 a.m. and Franklin at 12:30 p.m. Markey and colleagues host a press conference on sky-high airline fees at 10:30 a.m. in D.C. Wu gets her Covid-19 booster at 12:30 p.m. at City Hall. Baker, House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka are honorees at the A Better City Norman B. Leventhal Awards, 6 p.m., Boston Harbor Hotel. Governor hopeful Geoff Diehl attends a fundraiser in Quincy at 7 p.m. | |
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|  | FEELING '22 |
| – LG FIELD COULD GROW: Baker and Polito’s decision not to seek reelection has opened the floodgates for potential office-seekers, particularly on the Democratic side. Between the holidays and the start of the Democratic caucuses in early February, would-be candidates are in a bit of a time crunch, and several are calling around to allies and potential supporters. Here’s the latest: – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Manny Cruz , a Salem School Committee member and former State House staffer who serves as advocacy director for Latinos for Education, is exploring a run for lieutenant governor. Cruz, who is Afro-Latino, told me he wants to help ensure “the commonwealth’s focus remains on equity and that the diversity of our state is fully represented” in the LG field. The 29-year-old Democrat views his potential run as not just for LG, “but to be our state’s chief equity officer." – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Angel Donahue-Rodriguez, the deputy chief of staff at the MBTA who spent seven years at the State House as a chief of staff and legislative aide, is considering a run for lieutenant governor. “I bring a different perspective as a Latino and an immigrant to political circles and to the people who are making decisions that would impact people’s lives,” the 31-year-old East Boston Democrat told me, stressing his background in transportation and his Beacon Hill know-how. – “Eric Lesser, a state senator and Obama alum, is considering campaign for lieutenant governor,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Eric P. Lesser, a four-term state senator and Obama White House alum, is seriously weighing a run for lieutenant governor next year, according to people who’ve spoken with the Longmeadow Democrat.” – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan raised $53,000 at a fundraiser at Waxy’s in Lexington last night that was attended by Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and state Reps. Ruth Balser and Kay Khan. Ryan’s name has been floated as a possible candidate for state attorney general should Maura Healey choose not to seek reelection. Ryan has $316,408 in her bank account, per her latest state campaign finance report. – “Former state senator accused of unethical behavior moves toward Congressional run,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Republican Dean Tran, a former state senator accused last year of using his taxpayer-funded staff for political gain, filed paperwork this week laying the groundwork for a potential challenge to US Representative Lori Trahan, a two-term Democrat. ... An adviser to the Fitchburg Republican said Tuesday that Tran was exploring a run, and that he’d probably decide after the New Year whether he’ll formally launch a campaign.” | | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “Massachusetts coronavirus cases surge 5,403, the most daily cases since January,” by Rick Sobey and Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “State health officials on Wednesday reported the most daily cases since mid-January, while COVID-19 hospitalizations jumped for the 13th straight day and lawmakers began sounding the alarm. ‘Given the surge in cases and the state of the hospital capacity issue, I’m very alarmed,’ state Rep. William Driscoll, D-Milton, said. Driscoll, who co-chairs Legislature’s COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness Committee, said its time the administration employ a ‘vaccines plus’ strategy to stem the surge, noting he is in favor of a return to universal masking indoors. The committee will discuss this and other potential measures at next Thursday’s hearing.” | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – NEW REP JUST DROPPED: Jamie Belsito, the Topsfield Democrat who won the 4th Essex District special election to replace former GOP state Rep. Brad Hill, was sworn into office yesterday. “I am ready to get to work,” the newly minted state representative said, pledging to focus on economic recovery, environmental issues and improving access to health care. – “‘I’m literally back doing my job,’ Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker says after not seeking reelection in 2022,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “‘One of the things I said when I made the announcement was that I really appreciated throughout the course of the pandemic that the people of Massachusetts did not believe I was playing politics with COVID,’ Baker told reporters in Roxbury on Wednesday afternoon, following a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new workforce development center. ‘And I think part of the reason the lieutenant governor and I made the decision we made was we don’t want people to ever think we’re playing politics with COVID.’” – “COVID-era mail-in, early voting expansions set to expire Dec. 15,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “‘It’s going to be a real problem for many of our communities,’ said Secretary of State William Galvin, who oversees the state’s elections. Galvin rattled off a list of elections being held shortly after the expansion expires, including for the state Senate seat vacated by Joseph Boncore, whose district included parts of Boston and Cambridge and all of Revere and Winthrop. Other elections include municipal races in Norwood, Concord, Wellesley and Duxbury, according to Galvin.” – “Pushing for equity and election reform, Massachusetts activists urge lawmakers to approve same-day voter registration,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “With pandemic-induced flexible voting options poised to expire next week in Massachusetts, including extended vote-by-mail and early voting opportunities, activists on Wednesday called on lawmakers to advance a sweeping elections reform package that could permanently bolster equity and participation.” | | VAX-ACHUSETTS |
| – “Rapid COVID tests in Boston are in short supply,” by Craig LeMoult, GBH News: “As Boston announces plans to distribute at-home COVID-19 tests to some of the city's most vulnerable communities, the CDC recommends the tests before indoor gatherings, and the federal government works out a plan for insurance companies to reimburse people for buying them, it may seem like rapid antigen tests have finally captured the attention of public officials … But the tests, which first became commercially available in the United States last spring, remain in short supply. Many pharmacies in and around Boston are currently sold out.” – “Mass. colleges start requiring Covid booster shots of all students, staff,” by Grant Welker, Boston Business Journal: “Bentley University, Emerson College and UMass Amherst are requiring all students and employees to receive Covid-19 booster shots before the start of the spring semester.” – “Amid COVID surge, UMass Memorial Health CEO says there aren’t enough inpatient beds across system to meet the current demand,” by Melissa Hanson, MassLive: “With Central Massachusetts seeing another COVID-19 surge UMass Memorial Health is reporting a steep increase in inpatient cases over the last month and a lack of beds to meet current patient demand." – “Mass. gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, opposes COVID vaccine mandates,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “As coronavirus infections increase at an alarming pace across Massachusetts, Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl on Wednesday said he opposes COVID-19 vaccine mandates.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – IN AND OUT: After state Reps. Nika Elugardo and Liz Miranda both said they’re running for the Second Suffolk District state Senate seat, another potential candidate is staying out of the race. State Rep. Chynah Tyler told me she’s “honored” to have served on the redistricting committee that redrew the Second Suffolk into a “very strong majority-minority” Senate district, but she remains focused on her House seat. – “Boston City Council plans more work on school-committee bill in coming term,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “The City Council won’t move on the home-rule petition that would change the makeup of the school committee this year, with councilors vowing to keep plugging away at it in the new term.” – “Plan to relocate Mass and Cass homeless to Shattuck Hospital detailed,” by Amy Sokolow and Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Eighteen candy-colored temporary sleeping shelters are coming to the former Shattuck Hospital campus in Jamaica Plain to house the homeless from the Mass and Cass encampment." | | TODAY'S SPECIAL (ELECTION) |
| – FROM THE OPINION PAGES: “Lydia Edwards for state Senate,” by the Boston Globe Editorial Board: “[Boston City Councilor Lydia] Edwards is, by a long shot, the more experienced and compelling candidate. She has a keen understanding of the issues that affect the district and has noteworthy achievements to back her Beacon Hill bid." – Edwards was also endorsed yesterday by Reproductive Equity Now PAC, the political arm of the pro-choice advocacy group. | | ROLLINS REPORT |
| – “Senate confirms Rachael Rollins to be US attorney for Massachusetts, making her the first Black woman to hold the office in state history,” by Jim Puzzanghera, Boston Globe: “After weeks of delay, the historic and unusually contentious nomination came with a final dose of drama. Vice President Kamala Harris had to trek to Capitol Hill twice Wednesday to break votes tied 50-50 along party lines — on a procedural motion and then on confirmation — in the face of united Republican opposition to a nominee they branded as a radical intent on dismantling the criminal justice system from the inside.” – GBH News’ Mike Deehan has the reaction to Rollins: “After [Vice President Kamala] Harris broke the tie, Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey thanked her as she descended from the Senate rostrum. ‘She said to me that she had been a Black woman prosecutor as district attorney in California and that it was an honor for her to come to break the tie so that we would have Rachael Rollins as our district attorney,’ Markey told GBH News." | | PARTY POLITICS |
| – "Mass. Republican party faces uncertain future after Baker's decides against another term," by Anthony Brooks, WBUR: "Charlie Baker is among the most popular governors in the country and the top Republican in Massachusetts. But there's a core group of conservative Republicans who literally celebrated Baker's decision not to seek a third term. 'What a great week,' declared Geoff Diehl, a pro-Trump Republican running for governor, to cheers at a fundraiser in Waltham." | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
| – “Business leader decries T service cuts,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The head of a Boston-based business group called the MBTA’s plan to scale back service because of a shortage of drivers ‘a step in the wrong direction’ and urged the transit authority to take the necessary steps to maintain existing service levels, including hiring private bus companies to carry T passengers." | | THE PRESSLEY PARTY |
| – “‘Enough is enough’: Pressley, other House Democrats introduce resolution to strip Boebert of committee assignments after anti-Muslim comments,” by Amanda Kaufman, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley and other House Democrats on Wednesday introduced a resolution to strip Representative Lauren Boebert of her committee assignments in response to Boebert’s Islamophobic comments about Muslim Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.”
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– MORE: “Dem leaders considering anti-Islamophobia bill to answer Boebert-Omar controversy,” by Nicholas Wu, Heather Caygle and Sarah Ferris, POLITICO. | | DATELINE D.C. |
| – WASHINGTON BOUND: State Rep. Michael Day is heading to D.C. to attend the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators conference. Day is the sponsor of “An act to save recycling costs in the Commonwealth” to help reduce packaging waste and improve recycling in Massachusetts, and is on the NCEL’s plastic pollution working group. – "Biden administration backs Harvard, urges Supreme Court not to take affirmative action case," by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: "The Justice Department filed a brief Wednesday giving its support to the Ivy League school, recommending that the court reject the case filed by a group that argues Harvard’s policies discriminate against Asian American applicants and violate federal civil rights law." | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “Springfield Councilor Tracye Whitfield, Mayor Domenic Sarno trade barbs over COVID community workshops,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “City Councilor Tracye Whitfield says her efforts to assist residents and organizations with COVID-19 federal aid applications have been disrespected by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, saying it appears related to her being a person of color in disagreement with him. Sarno, who is white, responded by calling for a written apology from Whitfield, and said her allegations related to race are ‘baseless and extremely offensive.’” – “Holyoke City Council upholds rule barring city employees from serving in elected office,” by Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “The Holyoke City Council failed to muster the votes needed Tuesday to change a 2017 ordinance that bars all city employees from simultaneously serving as city councilors. The City Council meeting included a screaming match between members of the public, councilors and at-large councilor-elect Kevin Jourdain, who ignored a one-minute time limit on those making public comments before leaving City Hall yelling.” | | THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP |
| – “Judge calls for Jan. 11 election to decide winner of District 3 council seat,” by Zane Razzaq, MetroWest Daily News: “The winner of the District 3 seat on the [Framingham] City Council will likely be determined by a Jan. 11 special election. Associate Judge Christopher Barry-Smith made the decision during a Wednesday virtual hearing. Incumbent Adam Steiner and challenger Mary Kate Feeney, who are currently deadlocked for the spot, will face off again.” – “Special election results announced, Kevin Keane newest Select Board member,” by Taylor Driscoll, Wicked Local: “On Tuesday, a special election was held for the Select Board. Kevin Keane won with 2,445 votes beating out opponent Karen Calton." | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “Rare public exchange between defense lawyer, DA follows dismissal of case,” by Julie Manganis, Salem News: “An unusual ‘open letter’ by the lawyer for a Black Lives Matter activist, accusing the Essex District Attorney’s office of ‘the appearance of race-based bias,’ has in turn drawn a rare public response from the district attorney, who called it ‘a contemptible effort’ to further inflame harassment and threats against the prosecutor assigned to the case.” TRANSITIONS – Juan Jaramillo is joining the Environmental League of Massachusetts as political director. Jaramillo was chief of staff to former Lawrence acting mayor Kendrys Vasquez, political coordinator at Local 32BJ and a former state representative candidate. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to the Boston Globe’s James Pindell and Brian Muldoon. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: WHAT'S IN THE ARPA SPENDING BILL? — State House News Service's Katie Lannan and CommonWealth Magazine's Shira Schoenberg join host Jennifer Smith to run down what's in the Legislature's $4 billion ARPA/state surplus spending bill. Smith and host Lisa Kashinsky talk about the wild week in #mapoli. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com. | |
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