 | BY LISA KASHINSKY | BLANK SPACES — Democrats running for statewide office are sprinting through their party’s caucuses. But major Republican candidates remain slow to emerge even with plenty of seats up for grabs. Anthony Amore, the Republican who unsuccessfully challenged Democratic Secretary of State Bill Galvin in 2018, is now considering a run for state auditor and is calling around for potential campaign staffers, per two people familiar with his thinking. Amore didn’t respond to a request for comment. Former state Rep. Geoff Diehl and businessman Chris Doughty are vying for governor. Rayla Campbell filed paperwork to run for secretary of state. Cecilia Calabrese, an Agawam city councilor, has for months been floated as a potential candidate for lieutenant governor but hasn’t made a move publicly. Others have passed on races from governor to state attorney general. Democrats, on the other hand, are fielding primaries for each of the six constitutional offices except for state treasurer. Amore is one of the Republicans who could bridge the ideological and intraparty divides roiling the state GOP. Republicans in Gov. Charlie Baker’s orbit like Amore. So do allies of MassGOP Chair Jim Lyons, even though Amore’s not thrilled with the state of the state party. Yet the ongoing and public feuding within the GOP state committee looms over Republicans who could regrow their ranks on Beacon Hill by contending for the four open statewide seats and several more opening up in the Legislature. Lyons sees “high” energy levels at the candidate training sessions the party is holding. He also told me he sees openings for Republicans to talk about pocketbook issues like inflation and taxes, and about keeping kids in schools and getting parents more involved, similar to the playbook Glenn Youngkin used to win the governor’s office in Virginia. But any candidate stepping up will have to navigate a fractured party whose embattled chair and governor hopeful Diehl still hew close to Donald Trump in a state where the former president is deeply unpopular. State committee members are walking out of meetings in protest of Lyons’ leadership and are holding up the party budget as the factions feud over who should hold a Boston committee seat. The party treasurer sent an email to committee members last week saying he “can no longer authorize any payments from state committee funds,” per screenshots shared with POLITICO. Lyons, for his part, said he’s “not going to get into it" and is "laser-focused" on recruitment. GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips? Scoops? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com. Also, we’re aware that some links may be missing from Playbook when we publish. Our engineers are still working on it. TODAY — Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and House and Senate leaders hold their weekly leadership meeting at 2 p.m. at the State House. U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins is on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” at 11:30 a.m.
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| — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Quentin Palfrey has been endorsed for state attorney general by 150 Democratic activists and elected leaders including former state Democratic Party Chair Phil Johnston; state Reps. Jack Lewis, Steve Owens, Brian Murray and Natalie Higgins; former state transportation secretary Jim Aloisi and former New Bedford Mayor John Bullard. — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Sen. Cindy Creem has endorsed state Sen. Eric Lesser for lieutenant governor, per his campaign. — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The International Association of Machinists District 15 has endorsed state Sen. Diana DiZoglio for state auditor, per her campaign. — GETTING IN: Mansfield Democrat Brendan Roche is running for state representative in the 1st Bristol District and will virtually kick off his campaign on Feb. 17. Roche unsuccessfully challenged the district’s current state representative, Republican Jay Barrows, in 2020. — “Massachusetts state auditor candidate Chris Dempsey plans sweeping State Police review following overtime pay scandal,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “Chris Dempsey, a transportation advocate running for state auditor, has unveiled a sweeping proposal designed to restore public faith in the Massachusetts State Police, after the agency’s reputation was mired by the widespread overtime scandal, as well as the destruction of public records and improper use of a criminal offender database."
| | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| — “In less than a decade, nearly every state has outlawed ‘revenge porn.’ So why hasn’t Massachusetts?” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “The state remains one of just two in the country — South Carolina being the other — that hasn’t specifically outlawed the practice. It’s a fact that Governor Charlie Baker wielded in his State of the Commonwealth address last month to prod lawmakers to act on a proposal to address revenge porn, versions of which he’s filed three times since 2017. … ‘Nobody in the Legislature can hide behind, ‘I didn’t know anything about it,’’ Baker, a second-term Republican, said in an interview. ‘It’s now on people’s radar.’” — “Debate Drew Durant To Prove Vaccination Status,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): “[GOP state Rep. Peter Durant] had filed an amendment to the voting bill seeking to ban vaccine mandates at polling places, and he wanted to make his case for that proposal directly to his colleagues. But because he remained one of the few representatives out of compliance with the mandate, Durant would have had to deliver his speech by phone. … Around 6 p.m., ... Durant says he filled out the House's online form providing proof of vaccination, joining more than 150 other representatives who had already done so.” — “‘Nero’s Law’ Approved By House Of Representatives,” by David Cifarelli, WBZ News Radio: “The Massachusetts House of Representatives voted Friday to pass Nero’s Law. The bill was inspired by the death of Yarmouth Police K9 Sgt. Sean Gannon in April of 2018 who was shot and killed in the line [of] duty while serving an arrest warrant. Gannon’s police dog Nero was also gravely injured during the altercation.” — “Pot cafes could soon be coming to Massachusetts,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “[Marijuana] cafes have not begun popping up in the Bay State because of a legal technicality that prevented cities and towns from being able to vote to bring these cafes within their borders. Last week, the state Legislature’s Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy favorably reported out a bill that would clear that blockage, as well as tightening restrictions on contracts between marijuana businesses and host communities and creating a Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund.”
| | VAX-ACHUSETTS |
| — MASK DOWN: Cities are relaxing their mask mandates as the Omicron wave ebbs. Beverly and Lowell dropped theirs last week, GBH’s Hannah Reale reports, though leaders in both cities said they’d reconsider if needed. Worcester officials today will ask the city’s board of health to rescind its mask mandate, per MassLive’s Michael Bonner. Salem plans to reconsider its indoor mask and vaccine mandates on Tuesday, Salem News’ Dustin Luca reports. — “Experts say not to worry about new version of omicron detected in Massachusetts,” by Mark Herz, GBH News: “A new version of the omicron variant has been detected in Massachusetts, according to the state Department of Public Health. … Dr. Sabrina Assoumou, an infectious disease physician at Boston Medical Center and a member of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s COVID-19 Advisory Committee, said vaccines appear to offer the same protection against this new subvariant as the original omicron when it comes to severe disease and death.”
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| | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | FROM THE HUB |
| — “No deal between Boston, unions on vaccine mandate after 9-hour session,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “A marathon bargaining session that stretched into the night and included a proposal from the Wu administration to make the coronavirus vaccine mandate more flexible did not lead to a deal as a court ruling looms and the city is ‘ready to move forward’ on enforcement of the current policy. Mayor Michelle Wu’s staffers and public-safety union leaders haggled in the Parkman House from noon Friday until after 9 p.m. over the city’s vaccine mandate.” — "Boston rejects most requests for waivers from vaccine mandate for city employees," by Ally Jarmanning and Todd Wallack, WBUR: "Boston has approved fewer than half of the requests it received from city workers who claimed a medical or religious waiver from the city's vaccination mandate, according to data the city provided WBUR." — “30 minutes in Roslindale: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s block has taken center stage in one of the city’s ugliest political dramas,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “[Boston Mayor Michelle] Wu’s neighbors say they love this quiet area for its community feel: the coffees with a friend across the street, the backyard barbecues in summer. Now, their block has taken center stage in one of the city’s ugliest political dramas — and the performances start before dawn.” — “Government properties among those fined for violating Boston’s snow removal ordinance following blizzard,” by Andrew Brinker and John Hilliard, Boston Globe: “Publicly owned properties in Boston — including sites run by the MBTA and the city — were fined thousands of dollars for violating the city’s snow removal ordinance in the days after the region was slammed by a powerful blizzard last weekend, according to city records.” — “‘Unconscionable’: Parents protest Tufts plan to close children’s hospital,” by Kim Lucey, 7 News: “Dozens of parents, doctors and nurses protested outside of Tufts Medical Center Saturday, calling on the hospital’s corporate owner to stop its plans to shutter its pediatric hospital and take away treatment options for children.” — “Protesters gather outside Brigham and Women’s Hospital over patient dropped from transplant list,” by Andrew Brinker and John Hilliard, Boston Globe: “About 100 protesters gathered outside Brigham and Women’s Hospital Sunday afternoon in support of a Massachusetts man whose family has said he was dropped from its heart transplant waitlist because he hasn’t been vaccinated for COVID-19.”
| | PARTY POLITICS |
| — “Charlie Baker, moderate Republicans blast RNC censure on Capitol insurrection,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “Gov. Charlie Baker along with other moderate Republicans are blasting the leaders of their own party after a vote by the Republican National Committee declared the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, ‘legitimate political discourse.’ … Gubernatorial candidate and former state Rep. Geoff Diehl, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, distanced himself from the RNC moves, saying he ‘condemned violence in the street.’”
| | FROM THE SUNDAY SHOWS |
| — MCGOVERN ON SCOTUS: Rep. Jim McGovern told WCVB’s “On the Record” that he’s “disturbed by some of the pushback” from Republican senators at President Joe Biden’s pledge to nominate a Black woman to the high court. Republicans have supported other female nominees, McGovern said. But now "we hear these Republicans coming out being outraged over the fact that he would do that, almost implying that a Black woman wouldn’t be qualified. That’s offensive and, quite frankly, that’s racist. I trust President Biden will keep his promise. I believe the Senate will approve his nominee and history will be made.” — Also: “Rep. Jim McGovern, of Mass., calls for congressional hearings in wake of Brian Flores allegations,” by Ed Harding and Janet Wu, WCVB. — "Keller @ Large: Gubernatorial Candidate Sonia Chang-Diaz Calls For More Urgency On Beacon Hill," by Jon Keller, WBZ.
| | DATELINE D.C. |
| — “‘An amazing legacy’: Justice Breyer’s replacement could be a former clerk he considers family,” by Jazmine Ulloa, Boston Globe: “[Ketanji Brown Jackson] graduated with honors from both Harvard College in 1992 and from Harvard Law School in 1996, and had clerked for two lower court judges — including US District Judge Patti Saris in Massachusetts — when she arrived in the nation’s capital to clerk for Breyer in 1999.” — “Rufus Gifford ‘re-strengthening American leadership through diplomacy’ in new federal role,” by Trea Lavery, Lowell Sun: “As chief of protocol, [Rufus Gifford] serves as the first point of contact between President Biden’s administration and foreign diplomats. ‘I wanted to do this job because it is at a time when … the rules by which diplomacy has traditionally functioned have been tossed aside,’ Gifford said in an interview.”
| | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
| — “A decision made behind closed doors may set clean energy back by two years,” by Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe: “Like other regional power suppliers, New England’s grid operator has been asked by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to remove or change a mechanism that makes it harder for clean energy projects to enter the competitive market. But after months of saying it supported such a measure, ISO-New England reversed its stance last week and aligned with a proposal from the natural gas industry that would slow-walk any such change.” — “Massachusetts provides $13M for 300 EV charging stations,” by the Associated Press: “Massachusetts is providing more than $13 million in grants to install more than 300 electric vehicle fast-charging stations at 150 locations around the state.
| | THE LOWELL CONNECTOR |
| — “Cambodian rise in Lowell politics shadowed by dark history in homeland,” by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: “Cambodians began arriving here more than four decades ago, fleeing the Khmer Rouge and establishing their second-largest diaspora in the US. But it wasn’t until recently that they gained significant power locally by winning six political offices, including the first Cambodian-American mayor elected in the country. … Yet the milestone masks deep political divisions in this gateway city, where homeland politics still drives allegiances and where the Khmer community is conflicted over whether Chau’s election represents true progress.”
| | FROM THE 413 |
| — “Flurry of opposition stalls vote on Northampton police dashcams,” by Brian Steele, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Two weeks after a proposal to upgrade the Northampton Police Department’s aging and unreliable dashboard cameras sailed through its first reading in the City Council without opposition, the same plan came under fire from the public on Thursday night and consumed more than 3½ hours of councilors’ time before it was sent to committee for further review.” — “Gov. Baker has indicated support for east-west passenger rail, but some in Berkshires say it’s too soon to celebrate,” by Danny Jin, Berkshire Eagle: “While Gov. Charlie Baker has indicated that he would like federal infrastructure dollars to support east-west passenger rail, some Berkshire County officials still want greater commitment to the Pittsfield to Springfield leg.” — IN MEMORIAM: “Raymond Jordan, Springfield’s first Black state representative, remembered as influential politician,” by Jeannette DeForge and Dave Canton, Springfield Republican. “Raymond A. Jordan Jr., Springfield’s first Black state legislator, who remained a servant to his community into his final days, died on Saturday at the age of 78.”
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| — “Bitter feelings linger after lengthy strike at Saint Vincent Hospital,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, Boston Globe: “The Massachusetts Nurses Association, the union that launched the strike and negotiated a new contract with Saint Vincent, is now facing a new threat: being kicked out of the hospital entirely. A contingent of nurses upset by the strike is pushing to decertify the union and nix the hard-fought labor contract. A decertification vote began Friday, and nurses have until the end of February to decide whether to keep or expel the union.” — “For years, the mother of Harmony Montgomery rang the alarm about her missing daughter. Few listened,” by Dugan Arnett, Boston Globe: “Her search has, as she recounts it, spanned three years, two states, and a collection of government agencies — and has been met, at times, with a bureaucratic indifference the mother can only attribute to her complicated past that includes a history of drug addiction.” — “Local governments weigh plans to spend APRA funds,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “Hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds are flowing into the coffers of city and town governments as part of a new pandemic relief law. … In Lawrence, Mayor Brian DePena is pitching a plan to spend $40 million in ARPA funds to replace the aging Leahy Elementary School." — “Communities of color get more gas leaks, slower repairs, says study,” by Barbara Moran, WBUR: “People of color, lower-income households, and people with limited English skills across Massachusetts are more exposed to gas leaks — especially more hazardous gas leaks — than the general population, according to a new study. Those same communities also experience longer waits to get the leaks fixed.” — “Charter school proposal roils South Coast,” by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: “The latest battleground: An increasingly acrimonious debate over a proposed grade 6-12 charter school serving students in New Bedford and Fall River. In recent days, opponents have taken the fight to the streets, picketing a local bank whose president was slated to serve on the charter school board of directors and showing up unannounced at the law office of an attorney who had submitted a letter to the state education department in support of the charter application.” — “Nurses struggle with staffing shortages, low pay as colleagues leave in droves,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “Three North Shore hospitals — Beverly Hospital, Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester and Lahey Outpatient Center in Danvers — have lost 322 nurses, or 40% of their staff, in just the past two years, and over 100 in the past five months, reflecting a dire case of a broader statewide trend.”
| | MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE |
| — "The battle to control Congress comes to N.H., sparking charges of gerrymandering," by Anthony Brooks, WBUR: "New Hampshire currently has two Congressional districts where Democrats have won the last three elections. But Republican lawmakers, who have majorities in the state legislature, have proposed redrawing the map to create a Democratic-leaning district that wraps around a second district favoring Republicans." HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former Uxbridge state Rep. Kevin Kuros, Keri Rodrigues, Mike Cummings, Mark Townsend, Michel R. Scheinman and Beth Robbins. Happy belated to Neri Oxman and Joshua Hantman. KUDOS — to Caroline Kimball-Katz, who found all five Michelle Branch references in Friday’s Playbook. 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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