Project 2025 school privatization supporters want Massachusetts to opt into Trump’s new federal school voucher scheme that sends PUBLIC taxpayer dollars to PRIVATE schools without accountability, defunding the public schools that serve most kids. Tell Governor Healey: protect Massachusetts students and say ‘NO’ to Trump’s school voucher program! Learn More: ProtectOurPublicSchools.com
Coming tonight to the Worden Theatre at the North Andover Historical Society: a stage production reimagining the 2019 whodunnit “Knives Out.”
OK, not really. It’s the latest debate for the six Democrats running to succeed Seth Moulton in Congress, but the knives will be out and all signs point to it being quite a production.
With the start of early voting just 25 days away, the rivals are sharpening their messages and their steel as each argues they’re the best choice for the Sixth District and definitely not that other guy. And there’s a clear “other guy” or two that each has in mind.
Lynnfield businessman John Beccia is pointing his blade squarely at Dan Koh and a super PAC that’s supporting the former Marty Walsh chief of staff.
New Leadership PAC paid more than $385,000 for digital advertising, media production and direct mail supporting Koh this month, and earlier this year took in a $250,000 donation from DraftKings. Beccia sees a line from that money to the support for DraftKings from City Hall and Koh, back when Massachusetts was first trying to figure out how to regulate daily fantasy sports.
"Ten years ago, Dan Koh was working the phones at Boston City Hall to help a sports betting company dodge regulation, and now that same company is spending a quarter of a million dollars to return the favor,” said Beccia, who's put up $3 million of his own money to run as a political outsider. “This is exactly the kind of pay-to-play political corruption that makes people hate Washington — and it’s the kind of politics I am going to fight against.
The Koh campaign fired back. Campaign manager Olivia Brandon said Koh “has not taken a dime of corporate PAC money in this race, and is focused on fighting Trump and lowering costs, not making baseless attacks against other Democrats.”
Beccia's barb comes after another candidate, Andover state Rep. Tram Nguyen, released her tax returns. Nguyen — who’s out with her first TV ad today, recounting a chase for the American dream that started in childhood after her family fled Vietnam — dropped the tax info with a jab at "those who are eagerly using their insider connections and personal wealth to fund their campaigns,” seemingly referring to Koh's $4.5 million in donations and Beccia's willingness to ante up.
As the Marblehead Independent put it last week, there's a financial chasm between the "two men with millions" and everyone else. Nguyen was closest behind, with $330,000 cash on hand at the end of June, followed by Topsfield's Jamie Belsito, who had $122,000.
Belsito, in an Instagram video posted Monday, had a whole knife roll ready, accusing Beccia of "trying to buy your congressional seat," saying Koh "doesn't trust you to make a decision for yourself" and knocking Nguyen for, among other things, collecting a $22,000 stipend to chair a Beacon Hill committee that doesn't review bills.
"These people are fighting to represent the ultra-wealthy, and I'm fighting to represent you," Belsito says.
"Fighting" is the buzzword this election. Beccia wants to fight the political system. Nguyen says she fights so families like hers can thrive. Koh is eyeing a fight against Trump.
First, they'll have to see who gets out unscathed and makes it to the general.
My mailbox is bursting with congressional campaign mailers lately. What candidates are you hearing from, in which races? Fill up my inbox, too: [email protected]
HAPPENING TODAY
8:00 | Gov. Healey joins interim Transportation Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng to greet commuters at the Belmont Commuter Rail Station, promote the T’s summer fare discounts and announce new and extended discounts for the fall. After a press conference at Belmont Station, they plan to take the 8:33 a.m. train to North Station | 1 Royal Road, Belmont
9:00 | Lt. Gov. Driscoll gives remarks at the celebration of 25th anniversary of Trails and Sails | 2 New Liberty Street, Salem
10:00 | Clean water and land conservation advocates launch the "YES on 6" campaign to build support for the ballot question designed to steer revenues from the sales tax on sporting goods toward environmental initiatives. After a speaking program, supporters will ceremonially launch a boat into the Charles River | Charles River Esplanade, Fiedler Dock
10:30 | Massachusetts State Lottery Commission meets remotely | For access, email [email protected] or call 781-917-6057
5:30 | MBTA hosts a virtual meeting to hear public feedback on changes to proposed bus routes under the bus network redesign | Peabody Institute Library of Danvers, Gordon Room, 15 Sylvan St., Danvers | More Info
6:00 | MassDOT holds a design public hearing on proposed pedestrian and bicycle improvements on Route 123. The project spans Cary Street/Lyman Street in Brockton to Ashland Street in Abington | Register
JOB BOARD
Field Director, Massachusetts Association of School Committees
Human Resources Business Partner, Recruitment & Retention, City of Newton
Mid-Career Fellowship, Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation
Program Analyst, Massachusetts Housing Partnership
Senior Investigator, AOI, Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General
Associate, Shepherd Strategies
Project Accountant, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)
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Colorectal cancer is largely treatable and preventable. Mass General Brigham is encouraging routine screening for patients over age 45 with a wide range of test options. Our providers treat every patient interaction as a chance to educate and offer screening.
FROM BEACON HILL
TAX TIFF TAKES TURN: The feud between state Sen. Nick Collins and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is heating up this election season as Collins calls for a probe into Boston's tax assessment practices. Wu called Collins an "obstacle" to her residential tax relief plan, while Collins says she should come on board with his own alternative measures. | Boston Herald
COURTING THE AUDITOR’S IRE: State Auditor Diana DiZoglio is knocking a public-records bill up for a vote in the Senate this week as an "end run around" a ballot question that would apply the public records law to the Legislature and governor's office. She says she's eyeing legal action if it passes. | Eagle-Tribune
HEALTHCARE HOPES: With just four days left to get major legislation into conference committees, Senate leaders are "working on" a version of the abortion bill the House passed last week and still hopeful they'll see House action on primary care. | State House News Service
SCRATCH AND SCROLL: The Massachusetts Lottery is now online, with profits to be steered toward early education and care. The state budget signed two years ago legalized online lottery games. | GBH News
NEWS NEXT DOOR
TPS FALLOUT: The end of Temporary Protection Status for Haitians threatens to blow a hole in the disability care workforce in Massachusetts. Families are worried about their loved ones' care and advocates urge new protections for caregivers. | WCVB
SENIOR HOUSING, SIDE OF SAUGUS WINGS: Saugus officials continue weigh redevelopment plans that would bring apartments to the iconic Kowloon Restaurant site on Route 1, and one resident is pitching the idea of making it a 55-plus property. | ItemLive
CLERK V. TOWN: Townsend is facing two lawsuits from its town clerk, one over public records and one claiming retaliation for the first suit. Clerk Harrison Mayotte says he's eyeing a change to how the town handles record requests. | Lowell Sun
HEATING UP: A Marlborough city councilor wants to explore geothermal energy after seeing success from a Framingham pilot program. | MetroWest Daily News
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JOB BOARD
Public Affairs Manager, Bentley University
Director, Toxics Use Reduction Institute, UMass Lowell
Legislative Affairs Manager, MassHousing
Legislative Coordinator, Massachusetts Municipal Association
Managing Editor, CommonWealth Beacon
Chief Financial Officer, Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office
Court Administrator, MA Supreme Judicial Court
Executive Director, LivableStreets Alliance
