Massachusetts Legislature

Why climate groups deserted Sanchez

Energy/ Politics/ Opinion

Why climate groups deserted Sanchez

We won’t suffer fair weather friends or faux leaders

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A POLITICAL LIGHTNING BOLT hit the Massachusetts State House on September 4. Jeffrey Sanchez, the longtime incumbent and chair of the House Ways & Means Committee, was defeated by Nika Elugardo, a first-time candidate, community leader, and former staffer to Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz. Sanchez outspent Elugardo 3-1 and was backed by much of the establishment,(...)

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Holmes one of few reps willing to buck DeLeo

Politics

Holmes one of few reps willing to buck DeLeo

Says House should run differently, hints at run for speaker

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IT IS TUESDAY MORNING – primary day – and Rep. Russell Holmes is stirring things up, as usual. Trash and grit swirl in the air as the Mattapan Democrat, wearing a gas-powered leaf blower, pushes litter into the path of street sweepers due to arrive later in the day. The weekly chore dates back about(...)

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Voters hand defeats to two key members of DeLeo leadership team

Politics

Voters hand defeats to two key members of DeLeo leadership team

Elugardo tops Sanchez; Santiago takes out Rushing

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ON A PRIMARY NIGHT when Beacon Hill incumbents fared well overall, two members of House Speaker Robert DeLeo’s leadership team from Boston were defeated by newcomers to state politics. Nika Elugardo, a self-described member of the “super left,” defeated Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and a 15-year veteran(...)

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Why some establishment Dems are on the defensive

Politics/ Opinion

Why some establishment Dems are on the defensive

It’s not about ideology; voters want politicians they can trust

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HEADING INTO THE SEPTEMBER 4 primary, there is an undercurrent of voter discontent with establishment Democrats, which activists and candidates propose to fix with more progressive ideology – or at least the appearance of progressivism.  But the real choice isn’t between progressives and centrists; it is between constitutional ideals and an autocratic approach to governing. There(...)

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AG: Towns can’t ban medical pot

Marijuana

AG: Towns can’t ban medical pot

Decision reverses earlier ruling that opened the door for communities to prohibit medical sales

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IN A STARTLING TURNAROUND, Attorney General Maura Healey has reversed her office’s decision that allowed communities to ban medical marijuana dispensaries after opening the door earlier this summer for cities and towns to block the dispensaries from coming to their communities. “The Attorney General’s Office is committed to ensuring that the marijuana legalization law is(...)

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Lobbyists shower DeLeo, Sanchez with donations

Politics/ The Back Story

Lobbyists shower DeLeo, Sanchez with donations

25% of Sanchez’s campaign funds came from lobbyists

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LOBBYISTS POURED MONEY into the campaign coffers of House Speaker Robert DeLeo and one of his top lieutenants, House Ways and Means chair Jeffrey Sanchez, during the first part of this year. Campaign finance documents filed by the two lawmakers on Monday indicate Sanchez took in $59,795 from 301 lobbyists from the beginning of January(...)

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International issues play key role in Lowell rep’s race

Politics

International issues play key role in Lowell rep’s race

Rady Mom, the country’s first and only Cambodian-American legislator, faces an insurrection from within his own community

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RADY MOM IS NOT your typical pol, as anyone who has met the two-term state representative on Beacon Hill can probably attest. He exudes warmth and compassion and often displays a broad smile that seems to express some deeper understanding of the universe. It probably has something to do with the fact that Mom meditates(...)

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Sanchez pulling out all the stops

Politics

Sanchez pulling out all the stops

Powerful lawmaker spending heavily in race against Elugardo

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REP. JEFFREY SANCHEZ appears to be pulling out all the stops in his primary fight against political newcomer Nika Elugardo, enlisting the help of other prominent state leaders and spending more than $200,000 in campaign money. Sanchez filed his preprimary campaign finance report Monday night at 11:04 p.m., which disclosed that he had gone on(...)

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Beacon Hill incumbents flex financial muscle

Politics

Beacon Hill incumbents flex financial muscle

Rep. Sanchez spends nearly $200,000 fending off challenger; Sen. Lewis's tab is $119,000

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UPDATED AT 7 A.M. TUESDAY BEACON HILL INCUMBENTS facing a primary challenge from within their own party outspent their opponents by an overwhelming margin this year, according to campaign finance documents filed Monday. Incumbents rule on Beacon Hill, with nearly four-fifths of the House and Senate members facing no challenge in the primary on September(...)

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Filling the liberal black hole

Politics

Filling the liberal black hole

Four candidates – only 1 on ballot – seek to replace Rosenberg

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THOUGH IT’S DRAWN LITTLE NOTICE east of I-495, the race to succeed former senator Stanley Rosenberg of Amherst has captured the rapt attention of many voters here, who see their representation on Beacon Hill as an ever-widening black hole. The area, where 160,000 people live in a district that includes Amherst, Hadley, Hatfield, Greenfield, Northampton,(...)

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