Without a primary of her own, Governor Maura Healey is playing defense for Beacon Hill’s most vulnerable Democrats this summer.
The first-term governor is jumping into some of the state’s marquee legislative primaries, endorsing state senators Nick Collins and Mike Rush, two Boston Democrats looking to fend off progressive challengers in races that could be a temperature check on voters’ satisfaction (or lack thereof) with how things get done on Beacon Hill.
Collins is facing two Democrats in September, most notably Latoya Gayle, a Michelle Wu-backed activist from Dorchester. Rush is confronting his first primary challenge since winning his Senate seat in 2010, this time from Hyde Park attorney Persis Yu.
Add those to the list of at-risk incumbents Healey is backing this cycle. She has already endorsed state Senator William Brownsberger, a Belmont Democrat facing another Wu-endorsed challenger, Daniel Lander. The governor, according to her campaign, has also lined up behind state Representative Marjorie Decker, who is facing a rematch from Evan MacKay, the Democratic Socialists of America-backed challenger who nearly ousted her in 2024. Earlier this week, Healey endorsed state Representative John Lawn, backing the veteran lawmaker in his primary against Newton City Councilor Alison Leary.
And she’s throwing her support behind state Representative Christine Barber in the crowded race to replace state Senator Patricia Jehlen.
None of those candidates are obvious underdogs, and most are the more moderate picks (relatively speaking) in their respective races. Backing them over insurgent newcomers is also reflective of the realities the Healey is facing in her role as governor. Even if lawmakers occasionally drag their feet on (or ignore) some of her legislative priorities, Healey needs like-minded allies in office in order to get her priorities passed — a circumstance she nodded to in statements Wednesday announcing several of the endorsements.
She said it’s a “privilege to work alongside” Barber. Her administration’s attempts to tackle the state’s high housing costs? She “couldn’t do it without legislative partners” like Collins. And Rush “has been critical in passing laws that help regular people,” she said.
It’s also a notably more cautious approach for the Arlington Democrat, who hasn’t always shied away from political risk. As attorney general, Healey was one of the first high-profile politicians to throw her weight behind Ayanna Pressley in her successful attempt to oust then-US Representative Mike Capuano, a 10-term incumbent.
Four years later, with her own gubernatorial primary all but wrapped up, she deployed her campaign operation to help lift Andrea Campbell to victory in the heated and expensive Democratic primary for attorney general.
Her strategy now sits in sharp contrast to Wu. The Boston mayor spent much of her first term using her political power to elect allies to the city council — which paid off when she needed votes to muscle through priorities or stop proposals in their tracks. Now, she’s seeing just how far that political operation can travel, backing Lander in a district anchored by Boston suburbs and Gayle in another that treads on territory in the city that hasn’t been particularly friendly to her.
Wu is simultaneously escalating a simmering power struggle on Beacon Hill, putting herself on the opposite side of legislative leaders — and now, Healey.
Whether Healey’s endorsements amount to more than a press release remains to be seen. She has a reelection campaign of her own to run, and it’s unclear how much time she’ll devote to, say, appearing at campaign events for legislative allies.
Healey is also notably passing on endorsing in what’s arguably the state’s most closely watched primary: the US Senate contest pitting Senator Ed Markey against Representative Seth Moulton.
“I have respect for both of them,” Healey told WBUR in June, “and that’ll be for the voters of Massachusetts to decide.”
IN OTHER ENDORSEMENT NEWS: House Minority Whip Katherine Clark is endorsing Brownsberger for reelection, the latest Democratic heavyweight to back the veteran state senator’s reelection bid.
The duo have a little bit of history: Brownsberger and Clark squared off in the 2013 scramble for the then-open Fifth Congressional District seat, a Democratic primary that Clark ultimately won. The two had served in the state Senate together for roughly two years to that point.
“Will is one of the most effective legislators I have had the privilege to work alongside,” Clark said in a statement shared by Brownsberger’s campaign. “He shows up, does the work, and never stops fighting for our neighbors.”
CROSSING PARTY LINES: Former governor and NCAA president Charlie Baker is still playing in Massachusetts politics — and not just on the Republican side.
Baker and former lieutenant governor Karyn Polito are headlining a Boston fundraiser for Democratic state Representative Chris Markey next week amid Markey’s run for Bristol County District Attorney, according to an invitation obtained by the Globe.
Markey does have a GOP opponent. Seth Aitken, a Swansea resident and attorney, launched his campaign last summer. But the Dartmouth Democrat and Baker have a history: Markey was one of a handful of Democratic state representatives who endorsed Baker during his successful 2018 reelection campaign.
PROGRE$$IVE CHANGE: Pressley is heading back to her hometown this fall to headline a fundraiser for Citizen Action/Illinois, a public interest group pushing progressive policies in the state.
Ticket prices for the Sept. 18 event in Chicago range from $250 to $10,000, according to a copy of the invite the Globe’s James Pindell got a hold of.
CHECK IT: A lot of accusations were lobbed during Markey and Moulton’s chippy debate Monday. WBUR’s Anthony Brooks fact-checked some of the biggest claims each candidate made — including Moulton’s Epstein files comments.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: Suffolk DA candidates Linda Champion, Rachael Rollins defend their residency ahead of election by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: Suffolk DA candidate and Norfolk County homeowner Linda Champion said she moved to Boston in April, but didn’t achieve full occupancy until May. She confirmed to the Herald that she registered her campaign and took out nomination papers to run for Suffolk DA while using her new Hyde Park address before the home was issued an occupancy permit by the City of Boston.
Rachael Rollins, the former Suffolk County district attorney seeking the office again, is listed on the state elections website as being registered at a Roxbury address for the Sept. 1 Democratic primary, though property records show that she has declared her homestead or primary residence in Medford since 2003.
LOWELL REPORT: Massachusetts House primary spotlights Lowell’s growing Cambodian political influence by Trajan Warren, GBH News: In recent years, one Massachusetts House district in Lowell has become a contest of Cambodian leadership. This fall’s primary will be no different. Tara Hong, the 26-year-old incumbent, is a first-term state representative. He ousted state Representative Rady Mom in 2024 after trying to unseat the incumbent two years before, at age 22. But Sokhary Chau could keep Hong from a second term. The 53-year-old, a Lowell city councilor, was the first Cambodian to become mayor of an American city when he was chosen by the Lowell City Council in 2022.
SAFETY FIRST: Downtown attacks prompt civic leaders to hold new meetings on public safety by Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe: The mood seemed cautiously optimistic, maybe even hopeful, when civic and business leaders gathered at Emerson’s Cutler Majestic Theatre to discuss public safety in the downtown last October. The takeaway: Concerted efforts to address everything from shoplifting to drug dealing in Boston’s central business district seemed to be working.
But flash forward nine months, and the same old concerns are reemerging — concerns that could get in the way of ensuring downtown Boston is a thriving residential and commercial hub. Downtown’s prominent stakeholders in government, nonprofits, business, and law enforcement will gather again on Wednesday in the biggest summit to address the issue since that event at the Cutler last fall.
CAM COURTERS: Boston police, district attorney sued over fatal shooting video by Sean Cotter, The Boston Globe: A progressive advocacy group is suing the Suffolk County district attorney’s office and Boston Police Department, seeking the release of impounded video showing a police officer shooting a man to death earlier this year.
Lawyers for Civil Rights is seeking the release of the police body-worn camera footage showing the death of Stephenson King, a 39-year-old man Officer Nicholas O’Malley shot during a traffic stop on March 11 following a reported carjacking. The shooting led to a public outcry for more information — and to criminal charges. The Suffolk DA’s office announced a manslaughter charge against O’Malley less than two weeks after King’s death. It was the first time in three decades a police officer was charged with an on-duty killing.
WU ON STREETS: ‘I am furious’: Wu reflects on city planner killed while cycling, talks about street safety plans by Shannon Larson, The Boston Globe: The death of Louisa Gag, a Roslindale native who was responsible for helping improve roadways and expand city bikes, sparked furor from residents and cycling advocates. They demanded swift action from Wu, who ran for mayor as a champion for transit infrastructure, and said the tragedy could have been prevented.
“I’m never going to get over it,” an emotional Wu said on “Morning Edition” Tuesday. “I will always have Louisa on my heart as long as I am able to do anything to try to fix and improve our community.”
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: In spring, Cambridge officials turned ShotSpotter off. Now, they’re turning it back on. by Spencer Buell, The Boston Globe: Depending on the audience, it was either a flip-flop under pressure, or a show of humility from elected leaders willing to give the public more say in how decisions are made.
This company should be in Massachusetts by Emma Platoff, The Boston Globe.
Nearly 15 years after student discipline reform, school suspensions in Mass. are falling. Are emergency removals taking their place? by Hallie Claflin, CommonWealth Beacon.
Liberty Junction defends its Springfield courthouse bid in legal filing by Jeanette DeForge, The Republican.
2 hospital operators in talks to take over Norwood Hospital, says Lynch by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, WBUR.
Advocates frustrated over lawmakers’ failure to pass PFAS legislation by Craig LeMoult, GBH News.
Amherst accessory dwelling unit fight tests attic loophole by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette.
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This newsletter was edited and produced by Matt Stout.
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Kelly Garrity can be reached at kelly.garrity@globe.com.