Did PACs pay off?

From: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook - Thursday Nov 09,2023 12:42 pm

Nov 09, 2023

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MONEY CAN’T BUY EVERYTHING — Super PACs spent roughly half a million dollars trying to influence the outcome of this week's municipal elections. They didn't get full returns on their investments.

Let's start with Boston's City Council races. The Forward Boston PAC, seeded mostly by New Balance Chair Jim Davis, spent $279,171 to support seven candidates. Roughly two-thirds of that amount was spent on six candidates in the general election. Three of them — John FitzGerald and incumbents Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy — won.

But the three who lost were all shut out by candidates backed by Mayor Michelle Wu and the quartet of unions that poured $100,000 into a PAC to help boost them. Bold Boston PAC spent $93,432 on Enrique Pepén, who defeated Jose Ruiz in District 5; Ben Weber, who bested William King in District 6; and Henry Santana, who edged out Bridget Nee-Walsh for the only at-large seat not held by an incumbent.

It’s the second time in as many cycles that a PAC funded by Davis has gone up against Wu and lost. Davis funneled more than $1 million into an outside group backing then-Councilor Annissa Essaibi George against Wu in the 2021 mayoral race. Both PACs also paid firms associated with public relations maven George Regan for advertising. Remember that this past summer, Regan's PR firm sent out — and then walked back — an email teasing a campaign to “Save Our City” from Wu and the City Council’s “ultra-progressive policies.”

Two education-focused PACs also made last-minute plays to mixed success. Democrats for Education Reform spent $3,376 to support Murphy, a former teacher, and $30,969 on text messages, digital ads and mailers to boost Ruiz. The Boston Teachers Union Unity PAC spent $4,874 to promote another former teacher, Joel Richards, who lost to FitzGerald in D3.

Over in Worcester, the power of incumbency beat the power of the purse.

Progress Worcester, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce-aligned PAC, spent a total of $27,266 backing Mayor Joe Petty and District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson (who both won), and challengers Jose Rivera and David Peterson, who both lost.

The Worcester Working Families PAC, which spent $13,078 supporting progressive candidates, notched wins with newcomer Jennifer Pacillo in the open District 1 race and incumbent Councilors Etel Haxhiaj, Thu Nguyen and Khrystian King.

But King fell short in the mayoral race. And the five other challengers the PAC backed all failed to pick off any incumbents.

Results were similarly mixed in Cambridge. Two PACs in Cambridge notched some wins, but neither saw their chosen candidates oust an incumbent — and neither was able to claim victory in all three open seats. The Cambridge Bicycle Safety PAC — which formed, you guessed it, to support candidates who want to improve bike and pedestrian safety — spent $15,354 on 12 candidates, five of whom won. And the Cambridge Citizens Coalition PAC put $25,524 behind 11 candidates to see four of them win.

Some perspective: All of this is chump change compared to the $3.5 million that outside groups spent trying to influence the 2021 Boston mayor's race.

GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Pro-Palestinian groups are planning to protest Kamala Harris when the vice president returns to Boston today.

Several groups are staging an “emergency rally” at noon outside the Ritz Carlton where Harris is slated to attend a Democratic National Committee fundraising event. They plan to “demand an end” to U.S. aid for Israel, organizers said. Harris is also in town for a conversation on apprenticeship programs.

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Wu attend the Greater Boston Food Bank’s annual Chain of Giving event at 10 a.m. Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announce new legislation to support veterans at 2 p.m. in Braintree. Auditor Diana DiZoglio attends a Merrimack Valley Chamber breakfast at 8 a.m. in Methuen and events in Boston in the evening.

Tips? Scoops? Email us: kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com.

A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts:

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

ON THE CUSP — House lawmakers voted to funnel $250 million more toward the emergency shelter program that was just 12 families shy of its cap yesterday.

As Aaron Michlewitz, the House Ways and Means chair, said: “It’s no blank check.” The money would come with stipulations, like $50 million specifically for overflow sites to shelter waitlisted families. If a site isn’t operational within 30 days, Michlewitz said, the governor’s 7,500-family capacity limit “will be removed.”

House Speaker Ron Mariano suggested to reporters that the state could look into using the Hynes Convention Center as a potential overflow site. But it would be up to the Healey administration to make that call. A spokesperson for the convention center authority told the Boston Herald it has “not been engaged” about housing an overflow site. The Healey administration continues to call on the federal government to help stand up a large-scale shelter.

The shelter money is moving on to the Senate as part of a $2.7 billion spending bill to close the books on the last fiscal year. Senate President Karen Spilka pledged her chamber would take it up in short order.

— “Mass. lawmakers vote to move 2024 state primary to day after Labor Day, again shifting political calendar,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “The Massachusetts House voted Wednesday to move next year’s September primary to the day after Labor Day, continuing a biennial — and politically sensitive — practice of shifting the state’s election calendar.” Candidates have challenged the move in the past, arguing that holding the primary too close to the holiday diminishes voter turnout.

— “Democrats override Healey on free prison calls,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Democrats are moving to override Gov. Maura Healey's objections to a plan to provide ‘unlimited’ free phone calls to county and state prisoners. On Wednesday, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives voted 132-26 to reject Healey's proposed changes to the law. A handful of Democrats joined the chamber's Republican minority in voting against the amendment override.”

GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

FROM THE HUB

ON TO 2025 — Wu and her political machine put on a show of force in Boston’s City Council elections. Does she plan to do the same when she’ll be up for reelection in 2025?

“Everybody’s bored already?” the mayor laughed when pressed by reporters about her electoral intentions minutes after she declared that Santana had won an at-large council seat. “It’s a little-kept secret at this point that I’m working on long-term projects,” she said. “I hope to be here to have impact for as long as it makes sense for Boston.”

So how did some of Wu’s potential opponents fare in Tuesday’s election? City Council President Ed Flynn breezed to another term unopposed. Councilor Erin Murphy finished second in the at-large race, behind fellow incumbent Ruthzee Louijeune. Earlier on Tuesday, it appeared Murphy might come out on top — much to the excitement of outgoing District 3 Councilor Frank Baker.

“I said to myself: ‘Geez, if we could just have Erin top the ticket that would be a real message to the city of Boston that we're sick of the bullshit that happens on the city council,’” Baker said to Murphy supporters at a Dorchester pub.

— “Boston Medical Center ups security after spike in Mass and Cass dwellers sheltering there,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Boston Medical Center’s top executive said the number of people loitering on the campus and using its emergency department for shelter has spiked since the city began clearing out homeless encampments in the Mass and Cass zone.”

A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts:

CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP

SCORECARD UPDATE — Medford City Councilor Rick Caraviello conceded to Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn. And with that, we’ve got an updated look at how Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll fared in their first big round of municipal endorsements as the state’s top governing team.

— THE WINNERS THEY PICKED: The mayors of Medford, Malden, Quincy, Fall River, Gardner, Somerville, Gloucester and Amesbury, plus the mayor-elects in Haverhill, Melrose, Pittsfield and Revere.

— THE LOSERS THEY BACKED: Incumbent mayors in Greenfield and Fitchburg, and state Rep. Jon Zlotnik in the special Senate election.

While the Democratic duo went 12-3, their Republican predecessors, former Gov. Charlie Baker and former Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, went 9-3 in their endorsements across Tuesday's Senate, mayoral and council races. There was some overlap between the Democrats' and Republicans' picks. But they were on opposite sides in the Senate special and in Melrose's open mayor's race.

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

— “In Revere, Latino victory reflects a changing city,” by Gintautas Dumcius, CommonWealth Beacon: “[Juan] Jaramillo will become the lone Latino and only non-white official serving on the 11-member [city] council. … As in many communities, the racial and ethnic make-up of local elected bodies in Revere has been a lagging indicator of sweeping population change that has been underway for years.”

— “Worcester: Ballots were cast by 22% of the city's 112,326 registered voters,” by Telegram & Gazette staff: “The turnout is a significant increase from the most recent municipal elections: 16.6% in 2021, 17.3% in 2019 and 15.3% in 2017.”

— “Will Barnstable hold a recount? This Town Council candidate won by one vote,” by Heather McCarron, Cape Cod Times.

PLAYBOOK IS GOING GLOBAL! We’re excited to introduce Global Playbook, POLITICO’s premier newsletter that brings you inside the most important conversations at the most influential events in the world. From the buzzy echoes emanating from the snowy peaks at the WEF in Davos to the discussions and personalities at Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to the heart of diplomacy at UNGA in New York City – author Suzanne Lynch brings it all to your fingertips. Experience the elite. Witness the influential. And never miss a global beat. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. SUBSCRIBE NOW.

DAY IN COURT

— “Feds charge 3 with running high-end brothels allegedly frequented by politicians,” by Betsy Woodruff Swan, POLITICO: “The Justice Department said Wednesday it is investigating politicians, military officers and government contractors for buying sex through a high-end brothel network operating in Massachusetts and the D.C. suburbs. Federal prosecutors in Massachusetts charged three people with running the network: Han Lee and Junmyung Lee of Massachusetts and James Lee of California.”

FROM THE 413

— “Northampton City Council will try to corral hate speech at meetings,” by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “The City Council will convene in a special meeting Thursday to discuss steps to address its rules regarding public comment after last week’s meeting was disrupted by numerous racist and antisemitic remarks made over Zoom.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Exclusionary zoning in Mass. led to housing shortage, segregation, report says,” by Tréa Lavery, MassLive: “Exclusionary zoning throughout the last century across Massachusetts has led to the modern housing shortage and racial segregation throughout the state, according to a new report out Wednesday from Boston Indicators. The report, which studied zoning codes from many of the state’s 351 cities and towns and the history of their creation, reveals that many zoning regulations were intended, explicitly or implicitly, to hinder housing growth and prevent lower-class residents and people of color from moving into town.”

— “Mass. lawyer confirmed as 150th Biden-appointed federal judge,” by John L. Micek, MassLive: “Deputy State Solicitor Julia Kobick has a new job and a new title. And it’s one for the record books.”

2024 WATCH

ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM — Nikki Haley was the center of attention in another Donald Trump-less GOP presidential primary debate that will likely do little to dent the former president's lead. Key moments and takeaways from the POLITICO team.

Keep an eye on New Hampshire today, where Gov. Chris Sununu is scheduled to campaign with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Sununu has said the third debate would inform his endorsement in the race.

A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts:

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HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to GBH’s Tori Bedford, Mike Bloomberg of Groundwork Data, Joyce Linehan, Carolyn Casey, Shannon Felton Spence, Pamela J. Johnson and Karen Scott.

NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: ONE MILLION MAYORS — The crew breaks down Tuesday's election results in Massachusetts and beyond. GBH's Katie Lannan joins for a deep dive into the Senate special. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and SoundCloud.

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