GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Thanks for the warm welcome yesterday. I'm glad to be in your inbox!
OBAMA BACKS LYONS OPPONENT: Former President Barack Obama is getting involved in the effort to take out one of the legislature's most conservative members, Republican Rep. Jim Lyons. Obama endorsed Tram Nguyen , a family and immigration lawyer, on Monday, adding fuel to her campaign and leaving Lyons asking why a national figure is weighing in on a state legislative race.
In Lyons' view, the Obama endorsement in his race is an example of a "power structure trying to protect the elites on Beacon Hill."
"We've got a former president coming in to interject in a local election. That speaks volumes about the fact the folks on Beacon Hill don't like anybody to stand up to them, and that's what I've done," Lyons told me.
Nguyen explained the demographics of the largely well-off, suburban seat are changing — and Lyons isn't a good fit for the district, which includes parts of Andover, Boxford, North Andover and Tewksbury. "My opponent is a far-right Tea Partier who, frankly, does not hold the values of the people of this district," Nguyen told me. "This is one of the few races in the state where it's very much flippable."
"Right now, given the political climate, given how divisive everything is, from the federal level downward, they want someone who has a track record of getting things done," she said.
So how does one go about getting an endorsement from a former president of the United States? The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee featured Nguyen's campaign, and Nguyen said Obama used that pool when choosing races to endorse. She knew her campaign was being considered for an endorsement, but didn't find out she was chosen until Monday.
Nguyen outraised Lyons by more than 2-to-1 last quarter. She raised $115,270, while Lyons raised $49,041.
Lyons is pro-life, often votes against the state budget and takes a hard line on immigration. He's the complete opposite of his opponent — and of the person who held the 18th district seat before him: progressive state Sen. Barbara L'Italien.
"He's not a regular Massachusetts Republican. He's someone who is so far to the right even other Republicans in the State House aren't voting with him," Nguyen said.
But Lyons has the endorsement of the Massachusetts Republican: Gov. Charlie Baker.
"If you were to put them side by side, I would prefer having Charlie Baker endorsing us, which he's done," Lyons said.
Aside from the DLCC spotlight, Obama drew on his alumni network when selecting candidates to endorse, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor and Obama alum Quentin Palfrey told me. Palfrey netted an endorsement from his former boss, which he knew about ahead of time. Democratic candidate for governor Jay Gonzalez also nabbed an Obama nod in Monday's endorsement sweep.
Obama backed Democratic congressional candidate Ayanna Pressley, state Sen. Julian Cyr and state Senate candidate Katie McBrine in his latest round of endorsements announced Monday. The former president endorsed 260 Democrats acrosst the country, adding to the more than 80 he endorsed this summer.
Not on the list was Democratic candidate Lori Trahan, who faces a challenge from Republican Rick Green in the 3rd Congressional district race this November.
2020 WATCH: For the folks keeping count: Former Secretary of State John Kerry and Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake both brushed off questions about whether they will run for president in visits to New England yesterday. Flake said he's "not really thinking about it" during a trip to Manchester, N.H. on Monday night. Kerry said the focus should stay on the November midterms during an appearance at the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit in Boston on Monday afternoon.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker is a keynote speaker at the Log Cabin Republicans 2018 Spirit of Lincoln event in Washington, D.C. The Supreme Judicial Court holds a special sitting in Worcester. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone talk housing at a press conference in Somerville. Rep. Joseph Kennedy IIIvisits the Brookline Senior Center. GOP Senate candidate Geoff Diehlholds a series of press conferences throughout the state. Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Jay Gonzalez pitches his revenue plan in Brockton.
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- "FBI should conduct 'real investigation' into Kavanaugh, Flake says in Boston" by James Pindell and Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: " With the nation's eyes focused on him, Senator Jeff Flake came Monday to Boston and offered his most extensive remarks yet on why he pushed to delay the Senate's vote on Brett Kavanaugh while the FBI investigates decades-old allegations of sexual assault against the Supreme Court nominee. Flake told the Forbes Under 30 Summit that 'any current, credible allegation that has been made' should be 'fully investigated' during the FBI's weeklong probe."
- "Evidence verifying assault allegations would disqualify Kavanaugh, Flake says," by Stephanie Murray, POLITICO: "Evidence that corroborates the sexual assault allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh would disqualify him from serving on the nation's highest court, Sen. Jeff Flake said on Monday night, adding that he hoped the Senate could 'move on from bitter partisanship' after the fight over the Supreme Court nomination."
- "Kavanaugh Will Not Return to Teach at Harvard Law School," by The Crimson News Staff, The Harvard Crimson: "Embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh will not return to teach at Harvard Law School in January, according to an email administrators sent to Law students Monday evening. 'Today, Judge Kavanaugh indicated that he can no longer commit to teaching his course in January Term 2019, so the course will not be offered,' Associate Dean and Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs Catherine Claypoole wrote in the email, which she sent on behalf of the Law School's Curriculum Committee."
- "Thoughts from the Field," by former Gov. Deval Patrick, Medium: "On the Kavanaugh/Ford hearing last week, it's hard to know what to say that hasn't already been said. It was a source of anguish for all those who have survived sexual assault, including loved ones in my own family. And it was a source of embarrassment for all those who wish for more order and integrity in our democratic institutions and confirmation processes. "
- "City Hall Plaza protest calls on Senator Flake to reject Kavanaugh for Supreme Court" by Travis Andersen and Steve Annear, Boston Globe: "Demonstrators rallied at City Hall Plaza in Boston Monday to demand that Senators reject Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's bid for a seat on the nation's highest court, citing decades-old sexual assault and misconduct allegations leveled at the appellate judge."
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- "GE ousts CEO John Flannery as it announces $23b writedown," by Jon Chesto and Larry Edelman, Boston Globe:"Financial problems at General Electric Co. prompted the long-ailing company on Monday to tap the first outsider CEO in its 126-year history to lead yet another turnaround. The Boston-based industrial conglomerate ousted John Flannery as chairman and chief executive after just 14 months, a dramatic and unexpected move aimed at reversing a deep slide in the company's fortunes and restoring investors' faith in a stock that lost roughly half its value during his tenure."
- "Choking on growth: More Boston traffic fuels poorer air quality," by Brooks Sutherland, Boston Herald: "Environmental experts and activists are sounding the alarm on Boston's air quality, with high asthma rates as an economic boom fuels the region's worsening traffic congestion. 'This is not going to get better on its own,' MASSPIRG Transportation Director Matt Casale told the Herald yesterday. 'If we don't do these things and the city continues to grow, I am very concerned about the air quality.'"
- "State leaders call for transparency in closed-door criminal hearings," by Nicole Dungca and Matt Stout, Boston Globe:"Governor Charles Baker and legislative leaders called Monday for greater transparency within the state's closed-door clerk magistrate system, the private criminal sessions highlighted in a Boston Globe investigation published Sunday. Baker, House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, and Senate President Karen E. Spilka told reporters they would support further study of the concerns raised in the Spotlight report, called 'Inside our secret courts,' which detailed how the private criminal hearings allowed some suspects to leave court without any charges for serious crimes — even though police had substantial evidence."
- "Baker not concerned by shakeup atop GE," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "General Electric's sudden removal of its CEO Monday did not appear to rattle Gov. Charlie Baker, who said the state 'did not write a big check' to the company as part of the incentive package that lured it here. 'The headlines don't concern me, no,' Baker said when asked about the news that GE had removed its chairman and CEO John Flannery. 'Like I said, the company is still worth about $100 billion and has a big footprint in a whole bunch of spaces that matter a lot here.'"
- "Slow rollout shrinking state's estimate of marijuana taxes," by Michael P. Norton, State House News Service: "Saying Massachusetts has missed out on $16 million in marijuana taxes, officials behind the 2016 legal marijuana ballot question on Monday pointed to staffing levels and bureaucracy at the Cannabis Control Commission as potential reasons for the slow rollout of retail sales in Massachusetts."
- "Calling immigrants 'vital' to Mass. economy, business leaders launch coalition to advance sensible immigration policies," MIRA Coalition: "Leaders from some of Massachusetts' top business sectors came together today to launch the Massachusetts Business Coalition on Immigration, focused on advancing federal and state policies that enable talent from around the world to continue to thrive in our Commonwealth."
- "Long wait for Red, Orange Line improvements" by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "THE MBTA'S OVERSIGHT BOARD on Monday awarded the final major contract needed to complete an overhaul of the Red and Orange Lines, but the milestone agreement was another reminder of how long it takes to implement change on the state's transit system."
- Workplace giving program Commonwealth of Massachusetts Employees Charitable Campaign is officially underway.
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- "As Warren Steps Closer To Running, Could Her Anti-Corruption Campaign Get Her To The White House?" by Anthony Brooks, WBUR: "Warren has done a lot to fuel speculation that she's preparing to run for president: She's raising a lot of money and campaigns frequently across the country for fellow Democrats, raising her national profile. And she's pushing big national policy proposals, including anti-corruption legislation, which she introduced in August. That initiative is the focus of one of her political spots in which she casts herself as the would-be sheriff who wants to clean up Washington."
- "Elizabeth Warren's consideration of presidential bid may put her on road to Iowa, N.H.," by Hillary Chabot, Boston Herald:"Expect to see U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren start courting voters in early presidential contest states such as New Hampshire and Iowa in November if not sooner, after her starter-pistol announcement Saturday that she'll 'take a hard look' at a White House bid. 'Everybody I've talked to in New Hampshire fully expects her to be a candidate,' said Jim Demers, a New Hampshire Democratic consultant who said Warren will likely visit immediately after the Nov. 6 election. ' It's been the worst-kept secret out there.'"
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- "Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to hear appeal of Michelle Carter's texting suicide conviction on Thursday," by Dan Glaun, Masslive.com: "The Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial Court will address questions of manslaughter, suicide and free speech on Thursday, as justices hear arguments in the appeal of Michelle Carter — the Plainville woman convicted last year of pressuring her boyfriend into killing himself. Carter was 17 years old when she sent 18-year-old Conrad Roy III a barrage of texts and Facebook messages encouraging him to kill himself. He was found dead on July 13, 2014, after filling the cabin of his truck with carbon monoxide in a Fairhaven Kmart parking lot."
- "BU Law to Develop Counter-Terrorist Financing Training Program with Qatar University College of Law," Boston University: "Boston University School of Law (BU Law) entered into an agreement with Qatar University College of Law today to develop a Counter-Terrorist Financing Training Program, an intensive one-week course designed to enhance the capacity of Qatar's legal professionals and government officials to combat the global threat of terrorist financing."
- "Worcester emerging as big player, but no rec pot shops till inspections completed," by Prithvi G. Tikhe, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "The wait continues. The opening of the state's first recreational pot shops is still up in the air, but it is clear Worcester will play a central role in the budding industry. During a recent Cannabis Control Commission meeting regulators said final inspections of prospective marijuana businesses have commenced. However, no date was confirmed for the start of recreational marijuana sales."
- "Disaster could be a turning point in energy debate," by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Daily Times: " Environmentalists have been prodding the state for years to curtail the expansion of natural gas pipelines, arguing that money would be better spent accelerating a shift to wind, solar and other renewable energies. But the gas fires and explosions that rocked the Merrimack Valley more than two weeks ago — killing a teenager, injuring more than two-dozen other people and damaging as many as 80 homes — have renewed debate over the state's increasing use of natural gas as a source of fuel."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - Sejal Hathi, resident physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. (h/t Sheel Tyle)
TRANSITIONS - Colin Reed is now a managing director at Definers Public Affairs. He previously was SVP and is a Scott Brown and Mitt Romney alum.
- Ana Vivas is now deputy press secretary for Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. She previously was media relations manager at the Boston Public Health Commission.
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