All-party primary debate reanimates talk of ranked choice voting

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Years before Govs. Deval Patrick and Charlie Baker wound up on the same side, both endorsing the ballot question to replace party primaries with a top-two system, Patrick had aligned with one of Baker’s political mentors to back a different election overhaul.

Patrick, a Democrat, and Republican Gov. Bill Weld were among the honorary co-chairs leading the campaign six years ago for a ranked choice voting ballot question. The 2020 ranked choice voting campaign, which supporters pitched as a way to make elections more competitive and give voters more say, would ultimately fall short with 45% of the vote.

While not popular enough to pass, the measure did attract several prominent figures as honorary co-chairs. If they ever decide to hold a reunion, things could get awkward (and not just because Patrick and Weld both also put in some time running for president in 2020.)

Also among the honorary co-chair roster for the ranked choice voting campaign: Danielle Allen, who is leading the all-party primary push for Question 3, and state Rep. Andy Vargas, who spoke at a rally Tuesday opposing it. Allen has said the top-two model is a way to upend a system marked by little competition, accountability or public trust. Vargas, meanwhile, says it would make things worse and disadvantage working-class candidates.

Vargas said a lot of talk about ranked choice voting has come up on the campaign trail for this issue — and that was evident at Tuesday's event, with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang and Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune all pointing to ranked choice as one of their preferred reforms.

Vargas, a Haverhill Democrat, said there's energy around ranked-choice voting, but he's not sure if that will translate to another statewide push.

"I think, obviously during COVID, it was very tough to sort of make that case for RCV," he told MASSterList. "And so I think there's been a renewed interest from constituents, people that I've talked to, to look at it again. But I think we have to respect also that the voters spoke in 2020, and so we've just got to take that into account."

Allen, during a recent Question 3 debate on WBZ-TV, said she’s a “big fan of ranked choice voting” and sees “lots of benefits” from such a system “in the right times and places, and when people are ready for it.”

One key group that’s not ready to embrace ranked-choice voting? The Massachusetts Legislature. Bills that would let cities and towns opt in to ranked choice systems for local elections have been idling in committees, and home rule petitions from several cities — including Boston — seeking to implement ranked choice voting ended up in dead-end study orders.

While ranked choice could potentially come back as a ballot question somewhere down the line, it’s lawmakers who have the final say on that particular voting reform this year.

On all-party primaries, it’ll be the voters who decide next month. And much like some of the original ranked choice voting crew, they too seem to be split — the latest Suffolk/Boston Globe poll shows 47% in support, 41% against, and 10% undecided.

Should Massachusetts take another look at ranked choice voting? Send me your take at [email protected].

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HEARD AROUND TOWN

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HAPPENING TODAY

9:00 | Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual Economic Outlook forum. This year, the forum will assess the 2027 outlook and pay close attention to the state's changing energy landscape. Press and media should RSVP to Mattie Holloway at [email protected] | Fairmont Copley Plaza at 138 St. James Avenue, Boston

10:00 | Students from 12 schools present their research at the Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair State House Day. Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Martinez attends | Great Hall

11:00 | Annual Seafood Day is hosted by Fishing Partnership Support Services, Massachusetts Fishermen's Partnership and Massachusetts Seafood Collaborative. Rep. LaNatra and Sen. Tarr will receive awards at the Grand Staircase at 11 a.m. Fresh seafood samples will be available in the Great Hall, including oysters, lobster and tuna | State House

11:00 | House meets in a formal session for the first time since July 31, with plans to vote on a redraft of Gov. Healey's fiscal 2026 closeout budget. Roll call votes are expected after 1 p.m. following a noontime Democratic caucus | House Chamber

11:30 | No on 8 campaign against ending recreational cannabis sales holds a press conference with Barnstable County Sheriff Donna Buckley, Sen. Moore and others to discuss public safety impacts of the ballot question | State House steps

12:00 | Boston Mayor Wu will be live on GBH News’ Boston Public Radio for "Ask the Mayor" | 89.7 FM and wgbh.org

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

12:00 | Boston holds a flag-raising ceremony in honor of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Independence Day | 1 City Hall Square, Boston

12:00 | Lt. Gov. Driscoll chairs a meeting of the Governor's Council | Council Chambers

1:00 | Gov. Healey speaks at a ribbon-cutting for a $51 million construction project that includes 80 energy-efficient apartment homes for adults 55 and older | 22 Grove Street, Worcester

2:30 | Gov. Healey hosts a roundtable discussion on maternal health with Health & Human Services Undersecretary Amy Rosenthal, Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, Mental Health Commissioner Emily Bailey, leadership from UMass Memorial Health and UMass Chan Medical School, healthcare providers, and patients. Media RSVP to [email protected] | Paul J. DiMare Center, N1-400/1500, first floor, 366 Plantation Street, Worcester

3:45 | Education Secretary Zrike announces a STEM Design Challenge grant at the Greater Holyoke YMCA | 171 Pine St., Holyoke

6:30 | Allston Multimodal Transportation Project Task Force holds a hybrid meeting | Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Board Room, Union Station 2nd floor, 2 Washington Square, Worcester | More Info and Register

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ON BEACON HILL

SURVEY SAYS: In a new UMass poll, 69% of respondents say they strongly or somewhat support a temporary break from the state's gas tax, as House lawmakers prepare to vote Wednesday on a spending bill that dropped Gov. Healey's proposal for a gas tax holiday. | State House News Service (gift link)

SCROLLING TO THE POLLS: As the governor's race ramps up on social media, Mike Minogue's 23-year-old son is overseeing the Republican nominee's digital strategy. In their feeds, Minogue and Gov. Healey each try to relate to voters, criticize their opponent and showcase their travels around the state. | Boston Globe

BOT CHATTER: State government's internal AI assistant tool operates in a "fundamentally different" environment than the artificial intelligence agents that have drawn headlines for going rogue, according to the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security. Data privacy advocates, though, have concerns about the collaboration with OpenAI. | CommonWealth Beacon

YOUNG GUNS: The Supreme Judicial Court says Massachusetts' restriction on gun licenses for people under 21 is constitutional, though two justices said the question should have been returned to a lower court to wade through the issue. | The Republican

NEWS NEXT DOOR

PRIMED FOR A FIGHT: Westborough residents voted 510-13 at a special town meeting to restrict commercial drone deliveries like the ones Amazon wants to launch in their community. Area lawmakers are also asking Gov. Healey to stand up a task force reviewing drone delivery policies. | CBS Boston

LOST CONFIDENCE: The Lawrence City Council voted no confidence in Mayor Brian DePeña, who has said he will not resign as he faces federal and state charges alleging COVID loan fraud and wiretapping. The one "no" vote came from Councilor Marc Laplante, who supports a recall bid and said residents should get to make the call themselves. | Eagle-Tribune

BPS ON BLAST: Parents and city councilors are calling for more transparency from the Boston Public Schools — which says it needs to protect student and family information — around reports of sexual assault, misconduct and bullying involving students. | Boston Herald

NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN: The three-way race for Franklin County sheriff features the former jail superintendent who's held the job on an interim basis since last year, Northfield's police chief and a former corrections officer. | Greenfield Recorder

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