National Grid brings energy to power possibilities across Massachusetts, supporting homes, businesses, and communities every day. Through continued investment in reliable electric and natural gas systems, the company helps keep energy flowing when it matters most. National Grid is strengthening the energy system to support communities, economic growth, and future development across the region. - Learn more.
Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll wore New Balance sneakers for, as she said, a bit of home-court advantage as she and Gov. Maura Healey visited Lawrence Thursday for campaign stops that included a visit to the nonprofit Sueños Basketball.
Lawrence made local and national news in 2024 for shifting to the right as President Donald Trump made gains among Latino voters. While Kamala Harris still won the city with 57% of the vote, Trump netted 40%, up from 25% in 2020 and 15% in 2016. The number of ballots cast for him in Lawrence more than doubled from 2016 to 2024.
If Healey and her Latinos con Maura coalition had that dynamic in mind as they gathered with community members, her supporters gave no sign that they think the former point guard is now playing defense in the city.
“We’re not very concerned about it,” said Rep. Frank Moran, after the Lawrence Democrat and member of House leadership joined Healey and other electeds for a roundtable discussion. “I think that was just a one-time deal.”
Healey’s not the only one who’s been in Lawrence lately. Mike Minogue, the MassGOP’s endorsed candidate for governor, held a Women for Minogue event Sunday at the riverfront restaurant Salvatore’s. Minogue also has philanthropic ties to the community — the Michael and Renee Minogue Foundation supports Lawrence Catholic Academy.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the campaign trail:
- A new survey from the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance, a business coalition that supports a ballot question designed to trigger more frequent tax refunds, asks former Bay Staters now living in Florida, New Hampshire and North Carolina why they left. The two-day poll, conducted by text message last week, got 1,151 responses. Just over half pointed to a high tax burden as a top reason they left, with dissatisfaction with state government (48%), general cost of living (44%) and weather (39%) also popular selections. Eighty-one percent said the state’s taxes are too high.
- A TV spot out today from Brian Shortsleeve answers a pressing question — what length are his sleeves, anyway? Part of a $1 million ad buy, the commercial features shots of the Barnstable Republican in long sleeves, a Cape Cod tank top, and rolling up the sleeves of his blue button-down to show he's ready to get to work. It also highlights his ties to the last GOP governor. "The T was in crisis, and Charlie Baker called me," Shortsleeve says. "We audited everything. Balanced the budget. Put fraudsters in jail. That’s exactly what I’ll do as governor."
- Congressman Jake Auchincloss is a yes on 7, backing the Legalize Starter Homes ballot campaign to allow smaller lot sizes for single-family houses. "Young Americans who work hard and plan ahead should be able to own their home by the time they're 30 years old," Auchincloss said. "That's not possible in Massachusetts — and Bay Staters are leaving because of it. Starter homes are one of the solutions."
- Democrat Patrick Roath has the endorsement of national organization Indivisible in his primary challenge to Congressman Stephen Lynch, after six of its affiliated local groups recommended him. “At a time when we see this administration continue to infringe on voting rights and mail-in voting, Patrick has the record and determination to stand up to authoritarianism,” Indivisible co-executive director Ezra Levin said of the attorney and voting rights advocate.
- New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill is returning the favor, endorsing Congressman Seth Moulton in his bid against Sen. Ed Markey. Moulton’s Serve America PAC supported the former Navy helicopter pilot in her 2018 run for Congress, and Moulton stumped for her last year. "When I first decided to run for Congress, Seth was in my corner. He didn’t care about party establishment games — he cared about helping to elect leaders who put people first," Sherrill said in a statement. "That’s who Seth is: someone who puts service over self and gets big things done."
- Markey and 6th District congressional hopeful Jamie Belsito each see encouraging signs from Dr. Abdul El-Sayed’s win in Michagan’s Democratic Senate primary this week. Markey’s campaign said it “proves what we already know — Americans want a Senator who supports Medicare for All, is committed to getting big money out of politics, and will fight to lower costs for working people.” Belsito said it shows voters “are sick and tired of establishment Democrats touting progressive ideals and failing to deliver when they get to Washington.”
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HAPPENING TODAY
8:30 | DCR Stewardship Council's Stakeholders Committee meets | Agenda and Access
10:00 | MassAbility holds an information session about its services and programs | Greenfield Public Library, 412 Main St., Greenfield
1:30 | Congressman Richard Neal joins Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and local officials to announce federal funding for the Forest Park Horticulture and Learning Center | Forest Park Conference Room, 200 Trafton Road, Springfield
3:00 | Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a public hearing on establishing bundled rates for certain orthodontic services and updating frequency limits for preventive and diagnostic services | More Info and Access
JOB BOARD
Lead Organizer / VISTA and Civic Engagement Project Coordinator — NEW, Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants
Senior Government Relations Specialist, Boston Children’s Hospital
Grants and Development Specialist II, Metropolitan Area Planning Council
Senior Manager of External Affairs, Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate
Transportation Planner, City of Malden
Senior Director, City Talent and Student Career Pathways, Harvard Kennedy School
Director of Public Affairs and Communications, Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
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FROM BEACON HILL
PRIMARY PRIMER: Out of 200 seats in the state Legislature, only 26 incumbents — 25 Democrats and one Republican — face primary opponents on Sept. 1. Much of the competition comes from progressive challengers. In the Senate, the races are clustered around Greater Boston. | State House News Service (gift link)
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 — Learn more.
NEWS NEXT DOOR
TUNED OUT: Some voters say the state's marquee Democratic Senate primary between Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton isn't drawing their interest or excitement. | Boston Globe
DA DRAMA: A lively crowd cheered and heckled as the three candidates for Suffolk district attorney traded jabs during a Thursday night forum. Incumbent Kevin Hayden and fellow Democrats Rachael Rollins and Linda Champion each made the case they’re best-suited to move the office forward. | GBH News
RAT RAGE: Frustrated East Boston residents are calling on city leaders to address a rat problem that one says is at a level their neighborhood has never seen before. | Boston 25 News
RAISING A STINK: Residents and businesses in Worcester take issue with a rank smell in their neighborhood from freight cars full of garbage that are parked on the railroad tracks. | Telegram & Gazette
OPIOID UPDATE: Lowell recorded 17 opioid overdoses in June, the lowest montly total in the city since it started keeping track in 2011. | The Sun
MICROMOBILITY: The Cape and Islands are seeing an uptick in collisions involving e-bikes and scooters, particularly when riders use faster models on bike paths. | WCAI
IN MEMORY: John Monahan, a former State House reporter for the Telegram & Gazette who also won awards for his environmental reporting, died in June at the age of 73. | Obituary
MORE HEADLINES
THE SUNDAY SHOWS
KELLER AT LARGE: 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV. Political analyst Jon Keller's guest is Boston political consultant Scott Ferson, who discusses his book "How the Democrats Lost America," an analysis based on interviews with voters across the country.
@ ISSUE: 9:30 a.m., NBC 10. Reporter Matt Prichard sits down with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
ON THE RECORD: 11 a.m., WCVB. Congressman Seth Moulton is this week’s guest.
Helping a Boston restaurant owner support his team: Running a restaurant means financial pressure and moving parts. At Shy Bird, owner Eli Feldman uses Claude to help solve problems from kitchen organization to manager coaching, so he can give more to the people who make the restaurant run — Learn more.
JOB BOARD
Vice President, Strategic Communications, United Way of Mass Bay
Community Engagement Manager – Fairmount Indigo CDC Collaborative, Fairmount Indigo CDC Collaborative
Federal Policy & Municipal Affairs Director, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Director of Policy and Planning, Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
Deputy Chief Fiscal Officer for Procurement and Contracts, Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General
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)
Public Affairs Manager, Bentley University
Director, Toxics Use Reduction Institute, UMass Lowell
Legislative Affairs Manager, MassHousing
Legislative Coordinator, Massachusetts Municipal Association
