When a Suffolk Superior Court judge appointed Joseph Feaster as the receiver of the Boston facility in April, the well-known attorney immediately turned to an old friend for help.
Elections
Posted inPolitics
Political Notebook: Registered opposition | Karen Read crowd | Super PAC shuts down
Voters are often surprised to see their names at the bottom of the ballot, where the obscure county contests appear. But occasionally races for such positions become the most intriguing campaigns available.
Posted inPolitics
Bill to allow campaign funds for childcare on the move
While everything from pricey steakhouse dinners to travel to far-off conferences can be paid with campaign funds under the broad definition of allowable spending that furthers a candidate’s political career, childcare falls outside that interpretation.Â
Posted inPolitics
Inside Wu fundraiser, 2025 is already underway
Michelle Wu has held off on a formal reelection launch, but the scene inside the Omni Parker House had the unmistakable vibes of a Boston mayor gearing up to defend her seat.
Posted inPolitics
Donors to DiZoglio ballot campaign mostly hail from business sector
The ballot question is championed by state Auditor Diana DiZoglio, who is in effect launching another statewide campaign after jumping from a state Senate seat to the auditor’s office in 2022.
Posted inPolitics
Durant, amiable conservative, wins Senate seat
Durant swept to what appeared to be a double-digit victory in an election that offered a glimmer of hope that Republicans can actually win seats on Beacon Hill. An amiable conservative, Durant appealed to the rural, conservative-leaning voters in the central Massachusetts district and did a better job of getting his voters out in a low-turnout special election to find a replacement for Democrat Anne Gobi.
Posted inPolitics
Danielle Allen says we have work to do on Massachusetts democracy
Harvard professor Danielle Allen says a health democracy hinges on inclusionk participation, and competitiveness. “One each of those dimensions, we can see room for improvement in Mass.,” she says
Posted inOpinion
Using big data to make elections fairer
IN 1812 the Boston Gazette first used the term gerrymander in response to a set of voting districts devised by Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry. The Herald suggested that one of […]
Posted inPolitics
Durant wins primary — to face Zlotnik for open Senate seat
REP. PETER DURANT of Spencer emerged victorious from Tuesday’s special election Republican primary and will face off in November against his House colleague, Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik of Gardner, in the […]
Posted inPolitics
Former senator indicted on ethics violations
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE FORMER STATE Sen. Dean Tran was indicted Friday by a Suffolk County grand jury and charged with two counts of violating state ethics laws, Attorney General […]
Posted inState Government
State GOP settles in Fattman campaign finance case
THE MASSACHUSETTS Republican Party this week settled a 2 ½-year-old case that focused on efforts by Sen. Ryan Fattman of Sutton to financially support his wife’s campaign for register of […]
Posted inEducation
MTA gearing up to push for new ballot questions
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE MASSACHUSETTS VOTERS in 2024 could be asked to settle two major education debates, but retailers may pass on bringing tax cuts to next year’s ballot. The […]
Posted inOpinion
Why stopping the super PAC ballot question is important
ON JANUARY 21, the famous Supreme Court decision of Citizens United vs the FEC celebrated its 13th anniversary, but here in Massachusetts the efforts to undermine this expansion of our […]
Posted inNews Analysis
Mass. poll indicates popularity of Democratic leaders sagging
POLL NUMBERS for key Democratic leaders are sagging between apathy and anonymity, according to a new poll of Massachusetts voters by the MassINC Polling Group. Favorability and reelection numbers are […]
Posted inPolitics
SJC hears challenge of Healey ballot question rejection
THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT heard arguments Monday on a thorny and novel question of political spending and free speech rights. Proponents of a potential 2024 ballot measure limiting individual campaign […]
Posted inOpinion
Progressives aren’t the problem, voting approach is
GREG MAYNARD’S insights regarding the shrinking influence of the Massachusetts Democratic Party was a much needed effort to critique the party’s shortcomings. However, instead of analysis, Maynard mixes up the […]
Posted inPolitics, State Government
House declares Scarsdale winner of disputed race
DEMOCRAT MARGARET SCARSDALE of Pepperell is expected to be sworn in Wednesday as a state representative after a special House committee of two Democrats and one Republican upheld her seven-vote […]
Posted inOpinion
Mass. Democratic Party isn’t all that different from GOP counterpart
THE DYSFUNCTION of the Massachusetts Republican Party has captured attention and headlines for the last few years, but it is the quiet collapse of the Massachusetts Democratic Party that should […]
Posted inPolitics
2 Republicans blame human error in unusual election challenge
TWO REPUBLICANS who narrowly lost races for the House in November told a three-member legislative committee tasked with declaring a winner that there were irregularities in the counting of votes […]
Posted inPolitics, State Government, State House News Service
House panel will try to decide who won 2 rep races
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A PANEL OF LAWMAKERS will convene two public hearings on Friday to examine a pair of House races decided by extremely narrow, but certified, recounts, a […]
Posted inPolitics
Mariano says House will review 2 election results
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE TOP HOUSE DEMOCRATS plan on Wednesday to task a special committee with examining the results of two elections decided by microscopic margins following recounts, a process […]
Posted inPolitics
Super PAC with ties to Baker accused of breaking law
MASSACHUSETTS REGULATORS accused a super PAC with close ties to Gov. Charlie Baker of breaking state campaign finance law by holding a fundraiser in July where the governor was the […]
Posted inPolitics
Recount in rep race gives edge to Dem by 1 vote
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE DEMOCRAT KRISTIN Kassner jumped into the lead over five-term Republican Rep. Lenny Mirra after a district-wide recount erased her narrow deficit and put her ahead by […]
Posted inPolitics
In-person Election Day voting boosted turnout to 2.5m
THERE WERE 2.5 million Massachusetts residents who cast ballots in the November 8 midterm election, and despite the availability of vote-by-mail, more than half of them returned to the tried-and-true […]