News: On to November

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

On to November

Sep 07, 2022

DONE DIEHL — It's Maura Healey versus Geoff Diehl in a governor's race that will be a referendum on former President Donald Trump's legacy and rhetoric in a historically anti-Trump state.

Trump-backed Diehl clinched the Republican nomination over more moderate political newcomer Chris Doughty, setting up a November clash between the conservative former state representative and the two-term attorney general who burnished her profile by repeatedly suing the Trump administration.

Republicans will "bring Trumpism to Massachusetts," Healey declared in her victory speech, delivered before the GOP primary was called. She painted her Republican rival as someone who will "oppose abortion rights" — Diehl says he's "pro-life" — and is generally "out of touch with the values we stand for."

Diehl, in turn, cast Healey as "the people's worst nightmare" in his speech. " We are going to be redefining politics as usual here in Massachusetts. For the first time in our state's history, we are going to run a campaign focused specifically on we the people, our freedoms, our rights and our prosperity."

Maura Healey and Geoff Diehl are pictured.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, left, addresses the audience at a watch party on Sept. 6, 2022, in Boston. Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl, right, speaks to reporters at his primary night victory party in Weymouth, Mass. | Chris Christo/The Boston Herald via AP and Josh Reynolds/AP Photo

The lieutenant governor race on the Republican side remained too close to call early Wednesday morning.

But Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll cruised to victory over state Sen. Eric Lesser and state Rep. Tami Gouveia on the Democratic side, setting up a two-woman ticket for November that could make national history. Healey and Driscoll will make their first appearance as running mates this afternoon in Worcester.

History also appears to be in the making in the attorney general race: Andrea Campbell, who won a hard-fought Democratic primary over Shannon Liss-Riordan, will be the first Black woman elected to the job in Massachusetts if she defeats Republican Jay McMahon in November.

"We have turned our movement into a moment, a historic moment," an emotional Campbell told supporters in Quincy. "It is not lost on me that it is the first time a Black woman has ever been elected as nominee not only for attorney general of Massachusetts but for any statewide office."

Not quite. An unopposed Rayla Campbell won the Republican nomination for secretary of state Tuesday night. She'll face incumbent Bill Galvin, who handily fended off a primary challenge from NAACP Boston Branch President Tanisha Sullivan, in November as he tries for a record eighth term.

In a somewhat surprising finish, state Sen. Diana DiZoglio bested Chris Dempsey in the Democratic race for auditor. The Methuen lawmaker will now face Gov. Charlie Baker-backed Republican Anthony Amore.

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Here are some other takeaways from primary day:

MONEY CAN'T BUY YOU EVERYTHING — Liss-Riordan poured at least $9.3 million of her own money into her bid for attorney general to fuel more than $5.5 million in advertising. Doughty spent at least $2 million of his own dough to similarly help get his message across. Both lost.

mass dem ag primary results

Unofficial results in the Massachusetts Democratic primary for attorney general. | POLITICO screenshot

THE OBAMA CONNECTION — Lesser and Quentin Palfrey both made their time working for Barack Obama core components of their campaign messaging. But that didn't seem to resonate with voters, perhaps because the former president didn't actually campaign for either candidate. Lesser is on track to finish second in his lieutenant governor race. Palfrey dropped out of his attorney general race before primary day.

PROGRESSIVES' BAD NIGHT — All of the statewide candidates endorsed by key progressive activists groups Progressive Massachusetts and Our Revolution Massachusetts — state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, Gouveia, Palfrey, Sullivan and Dempsey — either lost their races or didn't make it to primary day. Progressive Massachusetts-backed candidates also saw mixed results in state legislative races.

TODAY — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito is in Shrewsbury at 9:30 a.m. Diehl holds a media availability at 10 a.m. at the West Roxbury Elks Club. Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark tours a clean power facility in Woburn at 1:30 p.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on Kiss 108 at 8:30 a.m., speaks at a schools event in Roxbury at 9 a.m., speaks at the NACTO conference at the Hynes Convention Center at 1:30 p.m. and attends a back-to-school haircut event in Dorchester at 2:30 p.m.

Tips? Scoops? Primary reactions? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com.

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PRIMARY SOURCES

Andrea Campbell at her primary night party

Democratic nominee for Massachusetts attorney general Andrea Campbell at her primary night party in Quincy on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO

— "With AG primary win, Andrea Campbell emerges as a statewide force," by Katie Lannan and Mark Herz, GBH News: "Andrea Campbell made the jump from a little-known Boston city councilor to the Democratic nominee for attorney general in just six years."

— "Bill Galvin wins Democratic race for secretary of state; Sullivan concedes," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Secretary of State William F. Galvin fought off his second primary challenge in as many election cycles on Tuesday, besting Tanisha M. Sullivan, the president of the NAACP's Boston branch, to capture the Democratic nomination and inside track to becoming the longest-serving secretary in Massachusetts history. … A dean among Democratic secretaries of state nationwide, Galvin pitched himself as a steady hand to oversee the state's elections, overcoming Sullivan and her arguments that an office with the same leader since 1995 needed a fresh, more proactive voice."

— "Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll wins Democratic primary for lieutenant governor," by Samantha J. Gross, Boston Globe: "Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, who parlayed decades of municipal experience and deep relationships with local officials into a strong victory, will join gubernatorial nominee Maura Healey leading the Democratic ticket after winning the Democratic nomination for Massachusetts lieutenant governor Tuesday night. The voter-arranged partnership sets the two college basketball players — Healey was a point guard at Harvard University and Driscoll played at Salem State — on a nine-week sprint to Election Day, when they could make national history."

mass dem lg results

Unofficial results in the Massachusetts Democratic primary for lieutenant governor. | POLITICO screenshot

— "Eric Lesser's political gamble comes up short," by Ron Chimelis, MassLive: "When a new Senate is inaugurated in January, Lesser will be outside of elective office for the first time since he was in his 20s. He sounded nothing like a defeated candidate whose days were done."

— "Four Massachusetts primary races with no contest end as expected," by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: "Deborah Goldberg has been the state treasurer since winning office in 2014. She will exit November the presumptive winner of that job, as the Republican party did not put up a candidate to run against Goldberg, who did not have a primary opponent. Jay McMahon has run a quiet, unopposed campaign from Cape Cod, where he practices law, and will head into a long-shot contest to beat out the Democrats for outgoing Attorney General Maura Healey's job. Republican Rayla Campbell took the country by surprise with remarks she made at the Republican Convention, but that hasn't stopped her unopposed nomination for secretary of state from propelling her to November. Investigator Anthony Amore is the only candidate for whom outgoing Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has voiced his support during the 2022 election cycle, and he ran unopposed for the Republican nomination for state auditor."

— "Voting extended through midnight in Barnstable after vault issue delayed opening of polls," by WCVB.

ON THE STUMP

THE VICTORY SPEECHES (AND STATEMENTS):

— HEALEY: "The choice in this election could not be more clear. It's a choice between partisanship and progress, between dividing people and delivering for people. You see, our campaign is about making this state more affordable, growing the economy, growing opportunity for all, and protecting reproductive freedom."

— DIEHL: "This is a race for the future of the commonwealth and it's very clear the choice that we're going to have: our campaign, which is focused on freedom and prosperity, and Maura Healey, who will put big government before individual freedom."

— DRISCOLL: "With your help, for the first time, Massachusetts will elect the first governor and lieutenant governor on an all-woman ticket. That's right — not one, but two women in the corner office."

— CAMPBELL: "For all of those who have felt unseen, this victory is for you. For all those who have felt marginalized, this victory is for you. For all those who have felt left out and left behind and undervalued, this victory is for you. For all those who felt re-traumatized by not all, but some, progressives, this victory is for you."

— DIZOGLIO: "Our campaign began way back in June of last year, built on a foundation of opening up state government to everyone — no matter our background, bank balance or zip code — and it's been the guiding light of this journey. I'm so incredibly grateful to all the people we met with, learned from and worked alongside."

THE CONCESSION SPEECHES (AND STATEMENTS):

— LESSER: "All of our time in the state Senate has been about a vision, a vision to connect our commonwealth. To get (west-east rail) done. And to make sure the promise of Massachusetts is there for all our families. Visions outlive election cycles. We are going to keep at it."

— GOUVEIA: "There's a lot to cry about. There's a lot to be proud of. … We joined this race before it was politically convenient."

— LISS-RIORDAN: "I got into this race because I believed I was the best person to fight for the people of Massachusetts. … Throughout my career, I have proven that I am not afraid of anyone or anything. As one of the relatively few women in my field, I'm proud to have made national headlines and paved new legal ground in the fight for justice."

— DEMPSEY: "While we came up short in this race, I am proud of what we have accomplished. … I believe in a bright future for this commonwealth and look forward to finding additional opportunities to contribute."

FROM THE HUB

— "Kevin Hayden declares victory in nasty Suffolk DA race over Ricardo Arroyo," by Sean Philip Cotter and Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald: "Kevin Hayden has declared victory in the Suffolk County district attorney race, saying he's earned four years as the top prosecutor in Boston after a brutally nasty and scandal-plagued race against City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo. … A tearful Arroyo, addressing supporters, didn't concede shortly before midnight, saying there's just 'too much out' of the ballots for him to concede. The count was stretching deep into the night."

— "Miranda wins five-way primary for Roxbury-based state Senate seat," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "State Rep. Liz Miranda, the daughter of Cape Verdean immigrants, who grew up in a troubled Roxbury neighborhood and went on to Wellesley College, will move on from the Massachusetts House to the Senate after winning Tuesday's five-way Democratic primary for the Roxbury-based Second Suffolk Senate seat. Miranda, 42, who worked as a community organizer and was inspired to seek public office four years ago after her brother Michael was shot and killed in 2017, is poised to take the seat being vacated by Sonia Chang-Diaz, who gave up the post to run for governor. No Republican is vying for the seat in November. … Miranda outpaced a field that included a fellow lawmaker, state Rep. Nika Elugardo of Jamaica Plain, minister and retired housing official Miniard Culpepper, activist James Grant, and former state senate Dianne Wilkerson."

Christopher Worrell, the brother of Boston City Councilor Brian Worrell, won the Democratic primary to replace Miranda in the 5th Suffolk state House district. Samantha Montaño won the four-way Democratic race to replace Elugardo in the 15th Suffolk.

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THE DOWN-BALLOT RACES

— HOW HEALEY FARED: Unopposed in her primary for governor, Attorney General Maura Healey expended her political capital down the ballot. Many of the state legislative candidates she endorsed won their primaries, including state Rep. Tommy Vitolo, who beat Raul Fernandez in Brookline, South Coast state Reps. Bill Straus and Christopher Markey, Provincetown state Rep. Sarah Peake and Manny Cruz of Salem, who won a three-way primary for the 7th Essex state House district. State Rep. Paul Donato and First Essex state Senate candidate Lawrence City Councilor Pavel Payano also appeared headed for victory Tuesday night. Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins also won his primary.

Healey suffered at least one loss: Defense attorney and former prosecutor Timothy Shugrue defeated Healey-backed incumbent Andrea Harrington in the Berkshire district attorney race.

Here are some other down-ballot highlights:

— SEPTEMBER SURPRISE IN WORCESTER: Former YWCA of Central Massachusetts executive Robyn Kennedy bested six-term Worcester Mayor Joe Petty in the race to succeed retiring Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler in the First Worcester District. More from the Telegram & Gazette.

— "State Rep. Jake Oliveira wins Democratic primary for Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester senate district," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "State Rep. Jacob R. 'Jake' Oliveira, of Ludlow, won the Democratic nomination for the state Senate seat being vacated by four-term incumbent Eric P. Lesser. Newcomer Sydney Levin-Epstein conceded Tuesday night."

— "Rady Mom wins 18th Middlesex District Democratic primary," by Cameron Morsberger, Lowell Sun: "Incumbent state Rep. Rady Mom has won the 18th Middlesex District Democratic primary by only 68 votes over challenger and first-time candidate Tara Hong. According to unofficial results released by the city of Lowell, Mom received 1,023 votes to Hong's 955. Dominik Lay received 352 votes."

— "Reyes elected to House in tight primary," by Christopher Roberson, Eagle-Tribune: "With 51% of the vote, Lawrence City Councilor Estela Reyes secured a narrow victory in the Sept. 6 State Democratic Primary Election and will lead the new Fourth Essex District in the House of Representatives starting early next year. … She was opposed by former Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua and Methuen City Councilor James McCarty."

— "Framingham's new majority-minority district has an incoming state representative," by Lillian Eden, MetroWest Daily News: "Priscila Sousa has won the Democratic nomination for the new majority-minority 6th Middlesex District. According to preliminary results posted to the city's website, Sousa collected 1,647 votes (51.7%) to Margareth Shepard's 1,409 votes (44.2%). Dhruba Sen, who announced at the conclusion of a candidates forum on Aug. 22 that he was withdrawing from the race, nonetheless got 129 votes (4%)."

— "State Rep. Bud Williams secures path to reelection with primary win," by Jonah Snowden, Springfield Republican.

— "Shirley Arriaga wins state representative race in Chicopee over Joel McAuliffe," by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican.

— "Paul Mark wins Democratic primary for state Senate; John Barrett III appears poised for victory in 1st Berkshire District," by Tony Dobrowolski, Berkshire Eagle.

— "Armini takes lead in 8th Essex primary," by Caroline Enos, Salem News.

— "Brockton's Rita Mendes secures Democratic nomination over Asack for new 11th Plymouth seat," by Chris Helms, Brockton Enterprise.

— "Cape Cod primary election: Peake wins 4th Barnstable race, Higgins holds lead in DA race," by Donna Whitehead, Asad Jung and Rachael Devaney, Cape Cod Times.

— "Quinn claims victory for 3rd term as district attorney; Heroux claims sheriff's race win," by Dan Medeiros, Herald News.

FROM THE DELEGATION

— WHO THEY'RE FACING: The Bay State's all-Democratic U.S. House delegation sailed through Tuesday's primary unopposed. But Rep. Jake Auchincloss is the only one without a Republican challenger in November.

Rep. Richard Neal will face Dean Martilli; Rep. Jim McGovern will face Jeffrey Sossa-Paquette; Rep. Lori Trahan will face former state Sen. Dean Tran; Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark will face Caroline Colarusso in a rematch; Rep. Seth Moulton is facing Bob May; Rep. Ayanna Pressley is facing Donnie Palmer; and Rep. Stephen Lynch is squaring off against Robert Burke, who won Tuesday's GOP primary. The Republican primary between Jesse Brown and Dan Sullivan to take on Rep. Bill Keating in MA-09 was uncalled early Wednesday morning. See the results.

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING

— "Poftak says T riders still riding but taking fewer trips," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said on Tuesday that nearly all of the transit authority's riders are back riding the T, but traffic is off because they are not taking as many trips as they previously did. … At the briefing on Wednesday, which was held on the Orange Line tracks at Community Station near Bunker Hill Community College, Poftak said the MBTA was on the 18th day of the 30-day shutdown and 59 percent of the planned work is done."

— "August revenue up over last year's excessive haul, according to DOR," by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: "August's taking was $2.6 billion, $124 million more than was taken in 2021, an increase of 5%. About $1.4 billion of that came from income taxes, $1.3 billion from withholdings, and $825 million in sales tax."

HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Rep. Seth Moulton alum Eric Kanter and Maralee Schwartz.

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