PRIMARY RETURNS: Bad night for incumbents — MA-3 still unresolved — WARREN agrees to three debates with DIEHL
09/05/2018 06:49 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @laurendezenski)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
AS THE DUST SETTLES ON PRIMARY DAY, IT'S CLEAR ... It was a bad night to be an incumbent on the ballot last night — and a great night for women of color .
NIGHT OF THE WOMAN CHALLENGER — It's the biggest story of the primary. Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley pulled off an upset victory over longtime Democratic Rep. Michael Capuano in the closely watched 7th District race. Capuano conceded quickly — only 90 minutes after polls closed, and before the Associated Press had reported even five percent of precinct results. Capuano was gracious, if slightly resigned to the election's outcome in his concession speech from the Somerville Holiday Inn ballroom: "Clearly the district wanted a lot of change," he told the crowd. Pressley, who faces no opponent in the general election, is poised to become Massachusetts' first woman of color to serve in Congress. With 55,743 votes cast, she carried the MA-7 district with 58.9 percent of the vote to Capuano's 41.1 percent.
The first sign of the night's upset came from the district including Jamaica Plain, where Nika Elugardo unseated state House Ways and Means Chair Jeff Sanchez — and where unexpectedly high early turnout numbers reported from the city of Boston throughout Election Day indicated something was up. Incumbents in other state House races fell to their challengers too: Longtime Boston state Rep. Byron Rushing lost in a three-way race to John Santiago.
Some incumbents were able to hang on. Rep. Richard Neal held onto his western Massachusetts congressional district despite a far-left challenge from Springfield attorney Tahirah Amatul-Wadud.
Secretary of State Bill Galvin had a decisive victory over Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim, who delivered Galvin's first serious primary challenge in a generation. Galvin had 67 percent of the vote to Zakim's 33 percent. State Sen. Jason Lewis will remain in his seat after a challenge from Sam Hammar in Melrose.
All in all, it'll still make for an incredibly interesting Democratic unity breakfast in Dorchester late this morning as the party licks its wounds and turns toward the general.
THE TRUMP BUMP — Gov. Charlie Baker saw a resounding victory in his own primary against anti-LGBT pastor Scott Lively, but Lively still over-performed expectations. Lively won 74,000 votes — constituting 35.4 percent of the Republican primary vote, and a larger share of GOP support than what Lively received at the state Republican convention, where Lively earned 28 percent of the vote. It seems much of that success came from tapping into support for President Donald Trump . While operating on the fringes of the state Republican party, Lively sought to closely tie his loosely organized campaign to Trump, encouraging supporters to wear "Make America Great Again" gear while campaigning ahead of the primary.
TOP-THE-TICKET — And now we have a picture of the top-of-the-ticket races for governor and senate. Jay Gonzalez and Quentin Palfrey will face off against Gov. Charlie Baker and LG Karyn Polito (in what will, visually speaking, be a fascinating televised debate between Gonzalez and Baker). State Rep. Geoff Diehl bested his three-way GOP field to take on Sen. Elizabeth Warren this November. Get ready for things to heat up: Warren announced Tuesday night she's agreed to three debates with Diehl between now and Election Day in November.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com..
TODAY — Massachusetts Democrats gather at the party's coordinated campaign HQ at 150 Mt. Vernon Street in Dorchester for a party unity event at 11 a.m. — Gov. Charlie Baker, Secretary of Education James Peyser, Commissioner of Higher Education Carlos Santiago, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Jeff Riley, Board of Higher Education Chairman Chris Gabrieli, state Sen. Mike Moore and state Rep. Dan Ryan visit to early college classes at Chelsea High School — Parse yesterday's primary results with Steve Koczela of the MassINC Polling Group and yours truly in a live event for the Horse Race podcast. Special guests include Ayanna Pressley adviser Alex Goldstein, new On Point host Meghna Chakrabarti, MassDems Chair Gus Bickford, and the Lowell Sun's Chris Lisinski.
ON THE STUMP —
THE TSONGAS ARENA — "Trahan claims win in so-close House race," from the Lowell Sun: "Lori Trahan, touted as the Lowell born-and-raised candidate and Marty Meehan's former chief of staff, declared victory early Wednesday morning by a sliver in the race for the 3rd Congressional District. ... More than four hours after the polls closed at 8 p.m., Trahan and Dan Koh, former chief of staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, were locked in a dead heat, with Trahan leading by only 223 votes with 97.8 percent of the vote counted. ... State Rep. Juana Matias, of Lawrence, remained close to the top two ."
MA-07 - "Pressley takes down incumbent Dem Capuano in Massachusetts primary," from yours truly and David Siders: "The progressive left crowned its latest star Tuesday, as Ayanna Pressley upended Massachusetts politics and toppled 10-term Democratic Rep. Mike Capuano in a primary. ... Pressley, the first woman of color to win a seat on Boston's city council, is now set to reprise the same feat in Massachusetts' congressional delegation — part of a wave of young, female and non-white Democrats reshaping their party in the era of President Donald Trump."
COUNCILOR ALTHEA GARRISON - "With Ayanna Pressley likely leaving the City Council, Althea Garrison may finally have her chance," by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: "With Pressley off the council, Garrison may finally, after more than 20 attempts, have the chance to swoop back into an elected office."
GOP SENATE PRIMARY - "Geoff Diehl Handily Wins Republican Nomination For U.S. Senate," by Lisa Creamer, WBUR: "Diehl, the chair of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign in Massachusetts, decisively won the three-way state primary race Tuesday against former Romney administration official Beth Lindstrom and Winchester investor John Kingston. With 82 percent of precincts reporting, Diehl took more than half of the vote. Kingston was a distant second place, securing 27 percent of votes; Lindstrom was solidly in last place, with 18 percent."
DEM GOV PRIMARY - "Pledging to 'aim high,' Jay Gonzalez accepts Democratic nomination for Massachusetts governor," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "Pledging to 'aim high' and look out for the 'little guys,' Jay Gonzalez accepted the Democratic nomination for governor on Tuesday night. ... Gonzalez began to make his case against Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, arguing that Baker is not aiming high enough and is not making Massachusetts a leader."
THE AG RACE - "Bourne lawyer offers stark contrast in AG's race," by Michael P. Norton, State House News Service: "In choosing James Jay McMahon III of Bourne, Republican primary voters on Tuesday nominated a self-described 'constitutional conservative' for attorney general, a veteran trial attorney who has corporate, law enforcement and military experience and has vowed to revoke Attorney General Maura Healey's ban on copycat assault weapons."
SUFFOLK COUNTY DA - "Rachael Rollins Wins Nod For Suffolk County District Attorney," by Andy Metzger, WGBH News: "Liberal reformers saw a big opportunity in the open DA seat responsible for prosecuting criminals in the state's largest city, and Rollins's supporters brimmed with excitement at her Jamaica Plain headquarters as the numbers rolled in."
BERKSHIRE DA - "Berkshire District Attorney race: Reformer Andrea Harrington defeats longtime prosecutor Paul J. Caccaviello," by Dan Glaun, Masslive.com: "Harrington, Caccaviello, and Judith C. Knight all sought the Democratic nomination to be Berkshire County's top prosecutor. The race has been a clash between Caccaviello, a longtime prosecutor who was appointed DA after Capeless' March retirement, and two advocates for liberal changes to the Berkshires' criminal justice system."
SIGN OF THE TIMES - "Voters oust high-ranking Reps. Sanchez, Rushing," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "In a stunning rebuke to House Speaker Robert DeLeo and his leadership team, Ways and Means Chairman Jeffrey Sanchez and Assistant Majority Leader Byron Rushing, both of Boston, lost their re-election campaigns, according to multiple Democratic sources."
SECRETARY OF STATE - "Heated secretary of state primary ends with Galvin topping Zakim," by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: "Secretary of State William Galvin fended off his fiercest challenge in more than two decades Tuesday, defeating Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim in what had been an unusually heated primary battle for the relatively low-profile seat."
ROSENBERG SEAT PRIMARY - "Jo Comerford has commanding lead over Chelsea Kline in Hampshire-Franklin-Worcester Senate Democratic primary for seat vacated by Stan Rosenberg," by Diane Lederman, Masslive.com: "Write-in candidate Jo Comerford had a commanding lead over Chelsea Kline in the Democratic primary for the Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District state Senate seat early Wednesday morning. ... Both candidates said they would await final results expected later Wednesday morning."
DATELINE BEACON HILL —
- COURT SAYS MASSACHUSETTS CARBON CAP APPLIES TO UTILITIES: Massachusetts' top court on Tuesday ruled that electric utilities are indeed subject to the state's major climate change law, including a shrinking cap on carbon emissions imposed last year following an order from Republican Gov. Charlie Baker. The New England Power Generators Association and GenOn argued that the cap can't apply to the electric generation sector because it is already regulated under another part of the state law. But the seven-member Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the two parts of the law "complement each other," adding: "Given that the electric sector is one of the largest in-State greenhouse gas emission sources, it would make little to no sense for the Legislature to have excluded it from the critical emission reduction requirements."
FRONT PAGE PLAY — Herald: "CHANGE DIDN'T WAIT!" — Globe: "PRESSLEY TOPPLES CAPUANO," "With these results, the waiting is over," "Gonzalez breezes, will take on Baker in November," "Insurer's offer on home repairs sends a family through the roof."
THE LOCAL ANGLE —
- "Scottish-Irish to mark 300 years in Worcester," by George Barnes, Worcester Telegram: "Do you like potatoes with your corned beef? How about a little rhubarb pie after dinner? ... Thank the Scottish-Irish. Centuries ago they brought those things to Worcester."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Rep. Bill Keating; Nicole Herendeen, Public Affairs Associate at Benchmark Strategies; the iconic Michael Ratty; Cannabis Control Commissioner Jen Flanagan; and Guillermo Samuel Hamline, on the board of directors at Somerville Media Center.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? — Yes! The Red Sox bested the Braves 5-1.
ICYMI - THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE HORSE RACE : With less than a week from the MA primary election, you could say we've hit the stretch run. In a jam packed episode, we cover what we can expect from campaigns in the final week before the polls close. ... Principal Sean Curran of Waterville Consulting joins us in the studio to break down what's happening right now with campaign advertising. We're also joined by Mike McLaughlin, an expert in campaign fielding. And finally we bring Bruce Mohl in to discuss a recent article he wrote about campaign spending. ... This week we have a special extended What to Watch with insider tips on how to stay up to date as the polls close next Tuesday. Don't forget to register for our live *winners circle* event. 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.
FOR MORE political and policy news from Massachusetts, check out: http://politi.co/1qNSlWx
SUBSCRIBE to the Playbook family: POLITICO Playbook http://politi.co/2lQswbh ... New York Playbook http://politi.co/1ON8bqW ... Florida Playbook http://politi.co/1OypFe9 ... New Jersey Playbook http://politi.co/1HLKltF ... Massachusetts Playbook http://politi.co/1Nhtq5v ... Illinois Playbook http://politi.co/1N7u5sb ... California Playbook http://politi.co/2bLvcPl ... Brussels Playbook http://politi.co/1FZeLcw ... London Playbook http://politi.co/2xfDPuK ... All our political and policy tipsheets http://politi.co/1M75UbX
POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA
No comments:
Post a Comment