POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Boston boards the Wu train

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY GLASS CEILING SHATTERED — Michelle Wu swept to victory in the Boston mayor’s race last night, ending two centuries of electing white men and ushering in a new era of progressive politics in the historically parochial and patriarchal Hub. The 36-year-old daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Wu will become the city’s first elected female mayor, its first elected mayor of color and its first Asian-American mayor when she takes office in just two weeks. Wu’s more than two-dozen-point victory adds credence to the Sen. Elizabeth Warren protégé's progressive vision for Boston as a city with a Green New Deal and a fare-free public transit system even as some of her aims face roadblocks on Beacon Hill and beyond. She triumphantly declared last night that Boston is “absolutely” a proving ground for progressive policies. “We don’t have to choose between generational change and keeping the streetlights on, between tackling big problems with bold solutions and filling our potholes,” Wu told her jubilant supporters. “We said these things are possible. And today, the voters of Boston said all these things are possible, too.” Wu’s win offers one of the clearest pictures yet of the changing political tides in Boston — particularly when juxtaposed with her rival, fellow City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George. The daughter of Arab and Polish immigrants ran a more moderate campaign and won the city’s whiter, more conservative pockets. This year those neighborhoods weren't nearly enough to boost Essaibi George. “This race may technically be over, but the work is not done,” Essaibi George told her supporters. “I promise you I’m never going to stop fighting for the city that I love. I am never going to stop fighting for the people that I love.” GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Wu’s victory was a predictable end to a somewhat unpredictable night in municipal races across the state. SPICER FALLS IN FRAMINGHAM — Yvonne Spicer , Framingham’s first mayor and the first popularly elected Black female mayor in Massachusetts, is out after just one term after losing by a wide margin to former city councilor Charlie Sisitsky. NOT-QUITE SOCIALIST SOMERVILLE — Democratic socialists eyeing a takeover of the Somerville City Council fell short of their goal. Boston Democratic Socialists of America-backed incumbents J.T. Scott and Ben Ewen-Campen, and newcomers Willie Burnley Jr. and Charlotte Kelly, all won. But Tessa Bridge, Becca Miller and Eve Seitchik did not. Progressive City Councilor Katjana Ballantyne defeated City Councilor Will Mbah, another progressive, to become the city’s first new mayor in nearly two decades. BAKER’S MIXED BAG — Gov. Charlie Baker went 0 for 2 last night, at least in mayor’s races where he cut videos for candidates. Baker-backed GOP state Rep. Jim Kelcourse lost his bid to unseat Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove, per the Daily News of Newburyport. Baker's other video recipient, Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, was unseated by former city councilor Greg Verga. Other mayoral candidates backed by the Baker-affiliated Massachusetts Majority PAC offered mixed results last night. Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan and Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan won reelection, for instance, while Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux defeated PAC-backed challenger Todd McGhee. TODAY — Baker is billed as the special guest at a fundraiser for state Rep. Donald Wong at 6 p.m. in Saugus. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and state and local officials make a MassWorks grant announcement at 9 a.m. in Medway. The Boston City Council meets at noon. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com.   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.     THE RACE FOR CITY HALL – “Michelle Wu wins historic Boston mayor’s race, marking a new era for the city,” by Emma Platoff and Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: “[Michelle Wu’s] victory is a triumph of a new Boston over the establishment, a powerful endorsement of the often irreverent style she has brought to a staid city government. Courting a city attached to its traditions, she presented an unapologetic, novel agenda that has already needled many longtime leaders: free public transportation, an entirely new approach to downtown development, rent control, and a municipal-level Green New Deal.” – More from the Boston Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter and Erin Tiernan: “Because there is no sitting mayor, Wu will take office in just two weeks, on Nov. 16. … Wu’s been reticent about who’s on her transition team, besides naming the leader, local education activist Mariel Novas. She’s also declined to talk about who would be in her cabinet. She told reporters that those conversations would begin Wednesday and announcements would be on their way soon.” – “Progressives win big in Boston on an otherwise tough night for the left,” by Maya King and Lisa Kashinsky, POLITICO: “Michelle Wu cruised to victory in Boston’s mayoral election Tuesday night, bringing an end to two centuries of white male leadership in the city and delivering a major win for progressives in a year — and an election night — that otherwise brought sporadic triumphs and some big losses for the left.” – “In Michelle Wu’s win, Asian American political power,” by Stephanie Ebbert and Elizabeth Koh, Boston Globe: “Michelle Wu’s historic election as the next mayor of Boston not only writes a new chapter for the city’s history, but also turns a page for the country’s Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Though they represent the nation’s fastest-growing portion of the electorate, they remain significantly underrepresented in political office. Wu now enters a slim echelon of Asian American politicians who have won executive political office amid scant representation at the highest levels of government.” – “Here’s what Annissa Essaibi George said in her concession speech to Michelle Wu,” by Nik De-Costa Klipa, Boston.com: “‘Don’t ever forget I’m from Boston.’ That’s how Boston mayoral candidate Annissa Essaibi George kicked off her concession speech Tuesday night, with election results indicating that residents had delivered a commanding win to her City Council colleague and general election rival Michelle Wu.” – “Governor Charlie Baker, Senator Elizabeth Warren among Mass. officials congratulating Michelle Wu on historic win,” by Amanda Kaufman, Boston Globe. Baker, who didn’t endorse in the mayor’s race, said his administration looks forward to working with Wu’s. – “Keller @ Large: Deep-Seated Problems Await New Boston Mayor Michelle Wu,” by Jon Keller, WBZ: “Wu’s winning coalition was clearly drawn to her branding as a big-thinker with sweeping plans … But as Annissa Essaibi George noted, her ability to deliver on those lofty promises will be severely constrained by Beacon Hill’s control over MBTA funding and rent control policy, and, now that the voters have approved a ballot question empowering greater city council control over the budget, by her former colleagues there.” – “New Boston City Council takes shape,” by Tiana Woodard, Danny McDonald and Katie Redefer: “several incumbents held their seats, while some newcomers were also successful, including Tania Fernandes Anderson, a Cape Verdean immigrant who will be the first Muslim to serve on the council in the city’s history. In the citywide race for the council’s four at-large spots, incumbents Michael Flaherty and Julia Mejia secured another term, and were the top two vote-getters in the field. Ruthzee Louijeune, a lawyer who represented Bostonians facing eviction and foreclosure and served as senior counsel on Elizabeth Warren’s presidential and US Senate campaigns, secured the third spot, according to the city’s unofficial count. Erin Murphy, a Boston Public Schools teacher, appeared to come in fourth… With 100 percent of precincts reporting, [Brian] Worrell had 61 percent of the vote to [Evandro] Carvalho’s 38 percent [in District 4]. Perhaps the most heated district race this year was in District 6, where first-time candidates Kendra Hicks and Mary Tamer battled to succeed incumbent Matt O’Malley, who announced his retirement last year. Hicks defeated Tamer Tuesday night 55 percent to 44 percent…” ON THE STUMP – THE VICTORY SPEECH: “One of my sons asked me the other night if boys can be elected mayor in Boston. They have been, and they will again someday, but not tonight,” Wu declared to cheers. “Boston elected your mom, because from every corner of our city Boston has spoken. We are ready to meet this moment. We are ready to become a Boston for everyone.” – THE CONCESSION SPEECH: “I want to offer a great big congratulations to Michelle Wu,” Essaibi George said. “She is the first woman, the first person of color and as an Asian-American the first elected to be mayor of Boston. I know this is no small feat, you know this is no small feat. I want her to show the city how mothers get it done — and I’m going to teach her to say it the right way.” WHAT CITY HALL IS READING – “Boston City Council Prepares For Post-Election Musical Chairs,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “When Boston's new mayor is sworn in on Nov. 16, she will trigger a temporary political shuffle to hold spots until January, when the next crop of city councilors is sworn in. … The city charter dictates such vacancies are filled by referring back to the previous at-large election results and asking the defeated candidates to serve, beginning with the fifth-place finisher. In this case, that's none other than Alejandra St. Guillen — the candidate who, after a rare recount, lost to Councilor Julia Mejia by one vote. ‘I'm definitely very open to it,’ St. Guillen, 44, said of the temporary role. ” – “Boston voters overwhelming support elected school committee in ballot question results,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “Boston voters showed overwhelming support for a non-binding ballot question that asks if the city should change its school committee from an appointed to an elected model.” – “Boston Election 2021: Voters support Question 1 on new City Council budget process,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “Boston elected officials are poised to wield a greater power of the purse — with voters on Tuesday supporting a binding ballot question that [would] overhaul the way city councilors and the mayor negotiate the budget process.” THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP – THE FIRSTS: Boston isn’t the only city where mayoral candidates broke barriers. Jennifer Macksey will become North Adams’ first female mayor, per the Berkshire Eagle’s Greta Jochem. Joshua Garcia will become Holyoke’s first Latino mayor, per the Daily Hampshire Gazette’s Dusty Christensen. – “Incumbent mayors fall in Framingham, Gloucester, Westfield,” by Shira Schoenberg and Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Several incumbent mayors across Massachusetts – in Framingham, Gloucester, and Westfield – took a drubbing Tuesday night, losing their seats to challengers. Newcomers also scored victories in open mayoral contests in Lawrence, Lynn, Holyoke, Somerville, and North Adams.” – Other incumbents held on to their seats, including Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, Haverhill Mayor Jim Fiorentini , Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle and Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty. – “Sciarra rolls to victory in Northampton mayor’s race,” by Brian Steele, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Gina-Louise Sciarra will serve as Northampton’s 45th mayor after beating Marc Warner by more than 3,300 votes. Voters in Tuesday’s city election chose Sciarra, the City Council president, to replace Mayor David Narkewicz, who did not seek reelection after 10 years in office and endorsed Sciarra as his successor.” – “DePena wins Lawrence mayoral race,” by Jill Harmacinski, Eagle-Tribune: “Broadway businessman and former City Councilor Brian DePena became the city’s next mayor in Tuesday’s election. … DePena earned 6,093 votes to interim Mayor Kendrys Vasquez’s 5,358 votes. Vasquez earned the most votes in the city’s preliminary election in September followed by DePena.” – “Reardon wins mayor's race in Newburyport,” by Heather Alterisio, Newburyport Daily News: “In a major turnaround from the preliminary election, Sean Reardon won the race for mayor Tuesday with unofficial results showing him finishing 22 votes ahead of Charlie Tontar.” – “Belsito, Snow face off in 4th Essex race,” by Michael Cronin, Salem News: “Democrat Jamie Belsito of Topsfield and Republican Robert ‘Bob’ Snow of Rowley won their respective primaries for election to former state Rep. Brad Hill’s seat.” TODAY'S SPECIAL (ELECTION) – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Anthony D’Ambrosio will launch the first television ad of his campaign for the state Senate seat vacated by former state Sen. Joe Boncore. D’Ambrosio, a Revere School Committee member, says it’s “time for a new generation of outsiders to upend business as usual on Beacon Hill” in the 30-second spot, titled “ Unafraid,” which will air on cable and through various social media outlets with a mid-five-figure buy, per his campaign. D’Ambrosio is running against Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards in the special Senate election. Edwards won reelection to the City Council last night. FEELING '22 – “First responders picket state vaccine mandate outside Charlie Baker fundraiser,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “First responders clad with signs and yelling chants denouncing a vaccine mandate for state and city workers formed a picket line outside of a swanky Back Bay restaurant where Gov. Charlie Baker and supporters held a fundraiser inside.” THE LATEST NUMBERS – “Reports of breakthrough COVID cases in Massachusetts rose slightly last week as overall cases declined,” by Noah R. Bombard, MassLive: “Massachusetts reported 1,066 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, the lowest report of new cases since Aug. 5. … The number of COVID cases among fully vaccinated individuals ticked up this week with 3,192 breakthrough cases in the seven-day period ending Oct. 30. That represents about 39% of newly reported cases during the same seven-day period — up slightly from 36% last week.” FROM THE HUB – “Man Arrested At Mass And Cass Denied Treatment, Sent To Worcester Jail With Ongoing COVID-19 Outbreak,” by Tori Bedford, GBH News: “A man arrested during a clearing of the homeless encampment at the Mass and Cass corridor in Boston was denied medical treatment for substance use disorder and instead was detained overnight in a correctional facility in Worcester that has an ongoing outbreak of COVID-19.” MAPMAKER, MAPMAKER – “New congressional maps split communities, reunite others,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “For more than a decade Andover has been divided between two congressional districts, which has created confusion for voters and political candidates in the town and logistical challenges for local election officials. But that would change under proposed congressional maps rolled out by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Redistricting on Monday, which would unite the town under the 6th Congressional District now represented by Seth Moulton.” WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING – “Supreme Judicial Court begins search for next chief justice of trial court,” by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: “The Supreme Judicial Court has begun its search for a new chief justice of the trial court to replace Chief Justice Paula Carey, who is retiring in January.” – “Massachusetts has started tracking toxicology kits with rape kits; total of 1,189 rape kits administered to survivors in fiscal 2021, report says,” by Melissa Hanson, MassLive: “Massachusetts in fiscal 2021 became the first state in the U.S. to include the tracking of toxicology kits within its sexual assault evidence kit tracking system, according to a newly released report. A total of 1,189 sexual assault evidence kits, also known as rape kits, were administered to survivors and entered into the Track-Kit tracking system in fiscal 2021. Of those kits, 194 were administered to individuals 15 and younger, according to an annual summary report released by the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.” MEANWHILE IN MAINE – “Maine voters reject transmission line that would bring clean energy to Mass.,” by Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe: “In what appears to be a stunning setback to Massachusetts’ climate goals, Maine voters on Tuesday rejected a referendum on a transmission line that would bring hydroelectric energy from Canada to the Bay State.” SPOTTED – Gov. Charlie Baker among the pols at Santarpio's for the traditional Election Day lunch. Tweet. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to former Gov. Mike Dukakis, current gubernatorial hopeful Danielle Allen, who is 50; Martine David, Medford City Councilor Zac Bears, Insider’s Jake Lahut, Barbara Zheutlin, Rowan Morris, managing director at Guggenheim Partners and David Case. 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.   BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we’ve got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don’t miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now.       Follow us on Twitter Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Auchincloss’s PRIMARY PROTECTION — GRADING Walsh and Janey — Lawmakers flex MUSCLE over Baker

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: PRIMARY PROTECTION PROGRAM — U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss is raking in cash and padding his war chest as he looks to ward off potential primary challengers next year. Auchincloss is expected to report raising more than $700,000 in the second quarter, according to a campaign spokesman, building on the $469,000 he brought in during the first quarter of the year. He’s also expected to report more than $1.4 million in cash on hand. Second-quarter campaign finance reports are due to the Federal Election Commission by Thursday. The first-term congressman is hoarding cash amid rumblings that Democrats he defeated in last year’s 4th Congressional District primary may step up to challenge him again. Auchincloss won the hotly contested primary to replace then-Rep. Joe Kennedy III by a razor-thin margin over second-place finisher Jesse Mermell and other Democrats who were largely perceived as more progressive than him. Auchincloss has since voted with his caucus 100% of the time in Washington — and that party fealty likely helped him land a plum perch as vice chair of the House Financial Services Committee. He's not as outspoken on progressive issues as some of his first-year counterparts, like Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) — and has even been at odds with “Squad” members, including fellow Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley, over the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict and whether the Justice Department should push to reinstate the death penalty against Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Auchincloss’s more establishment-aligned politics aren’t currying him much favor with progressives in his district who might rise to challenge him — or back a primary opponent against him — in 2022. But his continued fundraising prowess is making it harder for them to organize a bid against him. Plus, Auchincloss is drumming up name recognition through a slew of national media appearances, which have ranged from calls to expel fellow first-year Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) from Congress to the U.S. Marine Corps veteran’s more recent push to ensure Afghan translators and others who worked with the U.S. military are evacuated as troops proceed with their withdrawal. By not making waves in Washington and working to replenish his coffers, Auchincloss is taking a similar tack to Rep. Lori Trahan. Trahan narrowly defeated Dan Koh — now Labor secretary Marty Walsh’s chief of staff in D.C. — in the open-seat 3rd Congressional District primary in 2018. He almost challenged her again in 2020, citing campaign finance issues she was ultimately cleared of, before backing down. GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Happy Monday! More Covid-19 restrictions are lifting today for courts and in city halls from Boston to Somerville. TODAY — Rep. Ayanna Pressley testifies during the state legislative redistricting committee’s hearing regarding the 7th Congressional District at 10 a.m. Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey offers remarks alongside Boston Housing Authority Administrator Kate Bennett at a ribbon cutting ceremony for Harbor125 Apartments at 10:30 a.m. and at a ground-breaking ceremony for new land at Eastie Farm at 6 p.m. Rep. Lori Trahan joins UMass President Marty Meehan and UMass Lowell officials to discuss Covid-19 relief funding at 11 a.m. at University Crossing in Lowell. Sen. Adam Hinds leads a legislative “Reimagining Committee” hearing on post-pandemic transportation needs at 1 p.m.   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.     DATELINE BEACON HILL – “Lawmakers approve $48B late budget,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “Lawmakers on Friday signed off on a $48.1 billion late budget buoyed by an unexpected surge in revenue. … The budget doesn't raise taxes and scraps a planned $1.5 billion drawdown from the state's 'rainy day' fund. Instead it calls for another $1.1 billion in capital gains taxes to be pumped into the reserves, bringing the fund to a record $5.8 billion by next year. The state's pension system would get a $250 million supplemental deposit under the spending plan. Chapter 70 school aid would increase by $219.6 million to $5.5 billion. The plan also sets up a $350 million trust fund for the Student Opportunity Act, a law that requires the state to spend an additional $1.5 billion in K-12 education over the next seven years.” – “Massachusetts Teachers Association says lack of funding in fiscal 2022 budget creates disproportionate negative effect on students of color,” by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com: “The Massachusetts Teachers Association has said the Legislature passed a ‘status quo’ budget for fiscal 2022 and that the lack of funding creates a disproportionate negative effect on working-class students and students of color. … ‘While maintaining the provisions of the Student Opportunity Act and establishing a special fund for school spending are positive steps, we must remember that our public schools — and our public colleges and universities — have been grossly underfunded for decades,’ [MTA President Merrie] Najimy said.” – "Massachusetts lawmakers take action to close rape kit testing loophole," by Karen Anderson and Kevin Rothstein, WCVB: "The Massachusetts state budget now sitting on Gov. Charlie Baker's desk includes language with a strong message from House Speaker Ron Mariano to the State Police Crime Lab and the Baker Administration: Test all rape kits in Massachusetts once and for all." – "Under Mass. law, 1.2 million women qualified for free birth control; So, why did only about 300 take advantage of it?" by Sarah Betancourt for MassLive.com: "As Beacon Hill considers approving $500,000 of state funds for an educational campaign to inform the public they might have access to a year of free birth control all at once, the state’s Department of Insurance has been making moves to clarify the so-called Access Law to insurers. The move comes after an investigation revealed that only about 300 women obtained a 12-month supply of birth control in 2020 through the state’s largest insurers under a 2017 law that permits them to do so, although at least 1.2 million qualified." – "As Pandemic Fades, Massachusetts Lawmakers Take More Active Role," by Steve Brown, WBUR: "[Gov. Charlie Baker] spent billions of dollars in federal aid with little oversight from the state Legislature. But as the pandemic recedes, lawmakers are reasserting their control. ... The shift has been on full display in recent weeks as the governor pressed the Legislature to give him permission to swiftly spend more than $2 billion dollars in new federal aid on everything from more affordable housing to job training to environmental projects." VAX-ACHUSETTS – “Slowly, Mass. Is Closing The Racial Gap In Vaccination Rates,” by Angus Chen, WBUR: “Back in May, only 37% of Black residents and 33% of Hispanic residents had at least one shot compared to 55% of white residents. Today, that near 20-point chasm has shrunk to 14 percentage points. As of Thursday, roughly 50% of both Hispanic and Black residents have received at least one dose, whereas 64% of white residents shared the same security.” – “'In the dark' Local COVID variant data no longer available to Cape Cod health officials, by Cynthia McCormick, Cape Cod Times: “Even as federal funds have poured into efforts to genomically sequence positive cases of coronavirus to identify variants, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has taken to releasing the information only on a state and regional level, which in this geographic area is New England. ... Some COVID-19 experts say regional reporting waters down data and robs communities of the opportunity to quickly react to situations like the P.1 variant showing up on Cape Cod.” FROM THE HUB – “Acting mayor offers reprieve to some city employees on return to work,” by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: “Acting Mayor Kim Janey offered a last-minute reprieve to city employees whose union filed an unfair labor practice over her order to return to work immediately following the July Fourth weekend. Janey’s administration has agreed to let some SEIU Local 888 employees delay their return to work, if a review of their individual circumstances warrants it. The union then agreed to drop the complaint it filed last month with the state’s Division of Labor Relations. … But it’s unclear exactly what that means for the rest of the city’s work force.” – “Boston School Committee unanimously approved 95 of 99 agenda items in last year and a half,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “Members of the Boston School Committee have unanimously approved 95 of 99 action items in the last year and a half, raising concerns of ‘rubber stamping’ among the community, which one [school committee] member called ‘insulting.’” – “Boston Pride announces closing amid controversy over inclusion,” by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: “Boston Pride, which for a half-century advocated for the rights of the LGBTQ community, is dissolving amid a controversy over inclusion, the group’s board of directors announced Friday, threatening the future of New England’s largest Pride parade.” THE RACE FOR CITY HALL – “How do Boston mayoral candidates grade Walsh, Janey?” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “The Herald asked the six major mayoral candidates to give letter grades for both former Mayor Martin Walsh and Acting Mayor Kim Janey, and then to briefly explain their reasoning for each.” – “Mayoral candidates press the flesh as in-person campaigning makes a return,” by Jack Lyons and Ivy Scott, Boston Globe: “Boston’s mayoral candidates took to the streets Saturday to give hugs, pet dogs, and knock on doors, signaling a return to traditional, in-person campaigning in the waning days of the coronavirus pandemic, as the six face off in the hotly contested race.” – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Bridget Nee-Walsh has been endorsed by the Laborers Local 151 in her campaign for Boston City Council at-large, per her campaign. “Bridget will be a champion for working families on the City Council, and will fight every day for fair wages, benefits, and workplace protections,” Allen Boyer, Business Manager of Local 151, said in a statement through the campaign. PARTY POLITICS – Republican state Sen. Ryan Fattman has a new legal defense fund. The fund, filed with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance at the start of the month, is meant to help pay for outstanding legal fees associated with the lawsuit Fattman, his wife and others filed in March in hopes of blocking OCPF from potentially forwarding an investigation into their campaign finances to the state attorney general’s office. A judge denied their request for a preliminary injunction, and outgoing OCPF head Michael Sullivan referred the investigation to the AG days before his departure in April. The Fattmans withdrew their lawsuit, which alleged that Sullivan was acting with “bias," at the end of June. “Due to this bias, we asked the court to stop Michael Sullivan from referring a matter to the attorney general in violation of OCPF’s own statute,” Fattman said in a statement to POLITICO. “But since Sullivan decided to do so anyway, this matter moves out of the court system, which is why the matter is dismissed and now must be paid for. I will always stand up against political prejudice and fight for my family, and what is right.” Fattman’s legal defense fund, which can raise unlimited sums, was created weeks after the Boston Globe reported the state Republican Party had asked state campaign finance regulators if it could dip into its own fund to pay attorney fees for an unnamed GOP candidate facing “legal actions” by the state. DAY IN COURT – “Federal judge withdraws Boston exam school opinion, says he was ‘misled’ by school committee text messages,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “A federal judge has withdrawn his opinion that had ruled in favor of a zip-code-based temporary Boston Public Schools exam school admissions policy, saying the district ‘misled’ him by leaving out text message records that included now-controversial disparaging comments.” – “Rollins moves to overturn thousands of convictions based on testing at now-closed state drug lab,” by Andrea Estes, Boston Globe: “Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins on Thursday moved to overturn tens of thousands of drug convictions that were based on testing conducted at the scandal-plagued William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute, which closed in 2012. In court papers filed Thursday, Rollins’s office asked that the Supreme Judicial Court decide whether new trials should be granted to anyone whose evidence was tested at the lab — regardless of whether the chemist who did the analysis has been implicated in wrongdoing. If the court agrees, the DA would then likely drop the charges against most of the defendants.” – More: “Hearing Officer Finds Misconduct Against Former Drug Lab Prosecutors,” by Deborah Becker, WBUR: “Three former Massachusetts assistant attorneys general, accused of withholding information that evidence was tainted in thousands of drug cases, engaged in professional misconduct, according a report by a state hearing officer released last week.” WARREN REPORT – “The enduring appeal of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren among progressives on display at Springfield ‘meet and greet’,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: “A ‘meet and greet’ event outside U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s local office in downtown Springfield drew primarily progressives and Democratic elected officials eager to rub elbows with the lawmaker loved by the left and reviled by the right." MARKEYCHUSETTS – “OTR: Sen. Ed Markey finds Massachusetts Interstate 95 standoff 'disturbing',” by Ed Harding and Janet Wu, WCVB: “The U.S. senator from Massachusetts says extremism is on the rise on the left and right, he is calling upon Facebook to pull down extremist pages.” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN – “Efforts to pursue climate goals in Mass. clash with incentives offered that promote fossil fuels,” by Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe: “The state’s climate plan demands that 1 million households be converted from fossil fuels to electric heat by the end of the decade, part of a sweeping transition meant to help stave off the worst of climate change’s consequences. And yet the state’s only incentive program, and its best tool for helping convince businesses and homeowners to make that switch, is sticking with rebates for new carbon-emitting systems likely to remain in service long past that deadline.” FROM THE 413 – “Across the country, families are reuniting. For immigrants, it’s more complicated,” by Francesca Paris, Berkshire Eagle: “As vaccines have allowed life in Berkshire County to return to a relative normal, with restaurant dining, weddings and Fourth of July gatherings, some residents with family across international borders have yet to experience that glee of post-vaccine reunions. Some cannot return because their home countries still have significant restrictions, including mandated quarantines, while others worry about the major COVID-19 outbreaks, significant variant presence and low vaccination rates.” – “Easthampton business owner signals mayoral run against LaChapelle,” by Jacquelyn Voghel, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “The owner of Fort Hill Brewery, Eric Berzins, has pulled nomination papers to run for mayor, though he said he will likely remove himself from the race if another qualified candidate runs against incumbent Mayor Nicole LaChapelle. Berzins, 35, believes that contested elections are healthy for democracy, and he also thinks that several aspects of city leadership should be improved.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “Face-to-face talks Friday between nurses, St. Vincent Hospital fail to end strike,” by Kim Ring, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: “After spending an extended day at the bargaining table, striking nurses and negotiators from St. Vincent Hospital left their face-to-face session Friday evening with no resolution.” – “Cluster of violent crimes in Massachusetts leaves cops on high alert,” by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: “Crime has taken a feverish turn this summer leaving experts puzzled, suggesting social isolation from the pandemic or copycat attacks could be behind the surge of random hostility. One thing is sure, the bizarre string of hate has Bay State law enforcement officials on alert.” – “Parents group launches campaign for ‘true diversity of thought’ in New England private schools,” by Jenna Russell, Boston Globe: “A group of parents whose children attend New England private schools has mobilized to fight for ‘true diversity of thought’ in classrooms, an effort resembling those launched elsewhere in the country in the spring by conservative groups and families against what they describe as the ‘indoctrination’ of students with ‘woke’ ideas about race and social issues.” – “Aly Raisman reunited with her dog Mylo: ‘I’m just really grateful he’s safe’,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman has been reunited with her puppy Mylo thanks to the sharp eyes of two passersby — and told the Herald she’ll do what she can to help others searching for their lost pets.” THE NATIONAL TAKE – “POLITICO-Harvard poll: Americans sharply divided over vaccine mandates,” by Dan Goldberg, POLITICO: “ Americans are almost evenly divided over whether schools or most private employers should require Covid-19 vaccinations as part of reopening, according to a POLITICO-Harvard survey that shows how politically fraught any kind of mandate would be. Most Democrats support forcing employees and students to be vaccinated before they return to work or the classroom, and approve of government-issued documents certifying their status. Republicans oppose the government or most employers infringing on their individual choice.” SPOTTED – Former Virginia governor and current gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe at the Nantucket airport (h/t Cole Perry). Tweet. Warren in the audience Saturday night at Jacob’s Pillow dance festival in Becket, where she watched a show by the Contra-Tiempo dance group. TRANSITIONS – Jane Lytvynenko has left BuzzFeed News to join Joan Donovan’s team at Harvard. Tweet. Gabriela Coletta starts today as the external relations manager for the New England Aquarium’s downtown waterfront planning initiative. She was previously chief of staff to Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Charlestown state Rep. Dan Ryan, Daily Hampshire Gazette reporter Scott Merzbach and Gregorio Gomez. 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.   THE ROAD TO TOKYO 2020 – A TUESDAY CONVERSATION WITH FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE IOC ANITA DEFRANTZ: The Tokyo Olympics kick off July 23, 15 months after being postponed. One problem … Japan's capital city is in a Covid state of emergency and has prohibited fans from attending. With financial pressure to push forward and potential punishment for any athletes involved in protests or demonstrations during the sporting event, these Olympics Games will be unlike any other. Join Global Translations author Ryan Heath for a POLITICO Live conversation with Anita DeFrantz, First Vice President, International Olympic Committee, on what's at stake in the Tokyo Olympics, as a global health crisis, sports and politics all come to a head. REGISTER HERE.       Follow us on Twitter Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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