Leventhal ponders run with assist from Rubin

As Alan Leventhal, the founder of a Boston-based real estate investment firm, considers a 2026 run for governor, he apparently has a veteran political consultant by his side.

Doug Rubin, who has worked for Gov. Deval Patrick and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, is assisting Leventhal, according to a source familiar with the relationship.

Leventhal, who served as the U.S ambassador to Denmark under Joe Biden, is working with Regan Communications Group, which has taken the lead in circulating Leventhal’s name and pushing him out in public.

In the waning days of August, the Boston Herald reported that Leventhal was weighing a run, with a featured quote from the public relations firm’s founder George Regan. “He’s disappointed in the lack of leadership in the state and city,” Regan told the newspaper. “Alan loves this state and city, and is looking to help.”

Leventhal is expected to be at this weekend’s rededication of a Yarmouth bridge, honoring a fallen Marine Corps veteran, after the bridge was vandalized twice. Leventhal is donating American flags to replace the ones that were destroyed as part of the vandalism.

Regan aside, Leventhal has also turned to a top strategist in Rubin.

Rubin has typically worked for Democrats, though it’s an open question whether Leventhal would run in a primary or as an independent, according to the Herald. Leventhal’s political donations over the years have overwhelmingly gone towards top Democrats, including Marty Walsh and Michelle Wu.

Rubin’s client list has included Tom Steyer, who ran for president in 2019, and Stephen Pagliuca, the businessman and Celtics co-owner who ran the 2009 race to replace Ted Kennedy in the U.S. Senate. Ralph de la Torre, the Steward Health Care leader, also turned to Rubin last year while dealing with the collapse of his company.

Rubin said he had not been retained by anyone in the 2026 race for governor, and he declined further comment when asked about Leventhal.

Regan was also recently asked by MASSterList about Rubin’s involvement. “Doug who?” Regan said.

Anybody else expressing interest in possibly jumping into 2026? Let me know if you know: gin@massterlist.com.

HAPPENING TODAY

9:00 | The Joint Committee on Housing holds a public hearing on more than 20 bills focused on zoning and Chapter 40B. The 1969 law has helped facilitate housing production and affordable housing development particularly in communities that have not attained minimum affordable housing thresholds. | Room A-2, State House, Boston | Agenda & Livestream

10:00 | Economic Assistance Coordinating Council meets. Agenda includes proposed economic development incentive program projects, including for Hasbro, Inc. that plans to relocate its headquarters to Boston. Hasbro could receive tax credits of $20,000 per job relocated to the commonwealth; with plans to relocate 700 jobs, that could translate into $14 million. | McCormack Building, One Ashburton Place, 21st floor, EOED Conference Room A, Boston | Agenda and Livestream

12:00 | MassDOT Board meets. | 10 Park Plaza, MassDOT Board Room, Boston | More Info

12:00 | Gov. Maura Healey hosts a ceremonial signing of the Chapter 90 bill, which the governor signed on Aug. 8. The enhanced local road funding bond package combined $300 million for one year of the Chapter 90 program with an additional $885 million for a road and bridge lifecycle asset management program, culverts, small bridges and congestion hotspots. She’ll be joined by Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Mass. Municipal Association officials. | Polish American Club, 171 Kendall Pond Road W., Gardner

PRELIM ROUND-UP

Two-term incumbent Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, a two-term incumbent who had the endorsement of Gov. Maura Healey, lost the preliminary to Willie Burnley Jr. and Jake Wilson, two councilors, according to the Cambridge Day.

Another incumbent mayor, Gloucester’s Greg Verga, came in second to former City Council President Paul Lundberg, and now both are advancing to the November election, per the Gloucester Times.

Two Brockton city councilors at-large, Moises Rodrigues and Jean Bradley Derenoncourt, made it through the mayoral prelim, in that order, and face off on Nov. 4, according to the Enterprise.

Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra outdistanced her competitors in Tuesday’s preliminary and is the “heavy favorite” heading into November, MassLive reported.

D.C. DOWNLOAD

AUCHINCLOSS OUT:Three-term Congressman Jake Auchincloss said he won’t run against Sen. Ed Markey in a 2026 Democratic primary. The decision comes after Markey has moved aggressively to lock down endorsements from a wide array of elected officials across Massachusetts, and particularly in Auchincloss’s district. – Boston Globe

PRICE-GOUGING BILL: Sen. Elizabeth Warren has signed on to a bipartisan bill to cut back on military contractors price-gouging on basic materials, like soap dispensers, and spare parts. – MassLive

FROM BEACON HILL

NEW ECON DEV CHIEF: In an interview with the Boston Business Journal, Gov. Healey’s new economic development chief, Eric Paley, talks about what he learned when interning in Congress and why AI is like a “pretty good intern.” – Boston Business Journal

LOBBYING LIST: Health care interests remain the driving forces behind Beacon Hill lobbying. Big spenders this year include the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association and the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans. – CommonWealth Beacon

FLAGGING STATE LAW: Attorney General Andrea Campbell said Gov. Maura Healey was following state statute when she lowered flags after the death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. But Campbell added that there should have been an explanation of needing to lower flags when the federal government lowers flags. – GBH News

EV GOALS: Massachusetts was behind electric vehicles goals, and has fallen even more behind since President Trump retook the White House. – StreetsBlogMass

NEWS NEXT DOOR

ICE FACILITY: The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Burlington has detained hundreds of people over multiple days despite the agency acknowledging it wasn’t set up to do so. – WBUR

COLLEGE CUT: A year into free community college, need-based stipends for some students are getting reduced. The stipends cover books and supplies, among other items. – MassLive

WHITE STADIUM DEAL: The pro women’s soccer team planning to use Franklin Park’s White Stadium says it has secured the needed $100 million in financing from Bank of America to complete work on the facility. – Dorchester Reporter