Republican governor's race gets rowdy

PARTY POLITICS — There are more than 400 days before voters head to the polls to pick their gubernatorial nominees, but on the Republican side, things are already getting heated.
The two former members of Gov. Charlie Baker's administration seeking the state's top office — Brian Shortsleeve and Mike Kennealy — have been trading barbs in recent days over early fundraising numbers.
Shortsleeve, who helped run the MBTA under Baker, touted his first month's fundraising numbers in a press release that featured a not-so-subtle nod to Kennealy's own first month announcement. It touted that Shortsleeve's more than $400,000 haul broke 'the previous non-incumbent record' for post-launch fundraising — the same boast Kennealy's campaign previously made about its first-month figures.
And the hits kept coming in an internal memo from Shortsleeve's campaign on the state of the money race.
'[Kennealy's] early claims of fundraising success following his first report quickly backfired after reporting in the Boston Herald that his numbers were inflated by illegal campaign contributions,' one of Shortsleeve's consultants, Jim Barnett, wrote in the memo, per a copy obtained by Massachusetts Playbook. 'It's been all downhill since.'
A spokesperson for Kennealy, the former housing and economic development secretary, downplayed the fundraising haul when Shortsleeve first announced it. 'No amount of money Brian Shortsleeve raises can erase his failures at the MBTA — or recover the millions wasted on a rail deal with the Chinese Communist Party and an utterly botched Green Line Extension,' Logan Trupiano said in a statement.
It's some (very) early jockeying in a primary race with an election that's more than a year out. Just how early? Baker didn't even launch his first campaign for governor in 2010 until July of 2009.
Still, Bay State Republicans have been bullish about their chances to win back the governor's office (See: reaction to the latest University of New Hampshire poll.} after getting shut out of every statewide office in 2022.
GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. MassDems Chair Steve Kerrigan waved off the UNH poll over the weekend.
'Governor Healey is going to earn re-election because she understands Massachusetts people need someone who's going to fight to lower costs for them, going to fight to increase housing opportunities for them, going to fight back against Donald Trump,' Kerrigan said during an interview on WBZ's 'Keller @ Large' that aired Sunday. 'And frankly, neither Mike Kennealy nor Brian Shortsleeve are willing to do any of that.'
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com.
TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey tours a housing development at 2:30 p.m. and visits a hospital at 4:10 p.m. on Martha's Vineyard. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu signs the Fiscal Year 2026 budget at 9:45 a.m. at City Hall. Sen. Ed Markey addresses business leaders at a New England Council breakfast at 10 a.m. in Boston.
CALIFORNIA v. TRUMP
— Newsom calls National Guard deployment 'unlawful' as immigration clashes rock L.A. by Blake Jones, POLITICO: 'Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration called the Trump administration's deployment of National Guard troops to the Los Angeles area 'unlawful,' urging Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday to back down as demonstrators clashed with law enforcement. The Trump administration's extraordinary deployment of the Guard to quell immigration protests in Southern California came without necessary coordination with California officials, Newsom's legal affairs secretary wrote in a letter to Hegseth.'
— Escalating ICE raids pull California Democrats back into immigration fight by Dustin Gardiner, POLITICO.
THE LOCAL ANGLE — Monday rally at Boston City Hall to protest ICE detention of union leader via Universal Hub.
DATELINE BEACON HILL
— Gov. Healey touts WalletHub rankings. Reality is more complicated by Chris Van Buskirk and Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: 'Gov. Maura Healey promoted a ranking last week that claimed Massachusetts had 'the best state economy' in the United States. The first-term Democrat, who is up for reelection next year, touted the ranking as a 'testament to the incredible businesses, universities, and research institutions that drive our innovation economy and to the top-notch talent that continues to choose Massachusetts as the place to grow their careers and their futures.' But the reality of residents' lived experiences and the reliability of the ranking is more complicated, including the fact that WalletHub does not guarantee the accuracy of the information it publishes.'
— Lawmakers weigh ban on religious vaccine exemptions by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Daily Times: 'Religious exemptions for most vaccinations for school-aged children would be banned in Massachusetts under a proposal being considered by state lawmakers, but critics say the move would be discriminatory and violate religious rights. The legislation, heard by the Legislature's Public Health Committee on Friday, would eliminate a section of the state's vaccine law that allows parents with 'sincere religious beliefs' to be exempted from a requirement to submit proof of vaccination to enroll their children in public schools.'
— Tarr, Newburyport student propose CPR bill by Matt Petry, The Newburyport Daily News.
— Healey urges U.S. Senate to reject Pell Grant cuts, touting success of Massachusetts program by Tonya Alanez, The Boston Globe.
THE RACE FOR CITY HALL
— Ward 6's Lane not seeking reelection, McCauley running for mayor by Jim Sullivan, The Newburyport Daily News: 'There will be a new face representing Ward 6 this winter after Councilor Byron Lane announced Thursday he would not be seeking another term this fall. The Hart Road resident joined the council five years and although he took out nomination papers last month for a potential fourth term, Lane said he doesn't intend to return them to City Hall. Instead, he wants to devote more time to his growing limousine service as well as his 12-year-old son.'
PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES
— Driver's licenses in limbo: Government debts jeopardize thousands of Massachusetts drivers by Laura Crimaldi, The Boston Globe: 'Thousands of Massachusetts drivers each year face the possibility of losing their legal authority to drive, and sometimes the only fix carries an insurmountable cost. The state Registry of Motor Vehicles placed driver's licenses in non-renewal status nearly 3 million times during a five-period because of unpaid tolls and other debts unrelated to road safety, according to agency data reviewed by the Globe. The designation means that once those driver's licenses expire, they cannot be renewed, unless the entire debt, sometimes thousands of dollars, is paid in full.'
DAY IN COURT
— Hearing for judge accused of helping man sought by ICE escape begins Monday by Matthew Medsgar, Boston Herald: 'Half-a-decade after she was charged with several serious federal crimes, a Massachusetts judge will finally have her day in court — sort of. In a case bearing striking similarity to a more recent arrest of a judge from Wisconsin, former Newton District Court Judge Shelley Joseph will appear for a Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct hearing on Monday, over allegations she willfully helped a man wanted by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in evading federal authorities. A court assigned hearing officer will examine the courthouse scene of the alleged crime which ultimately led to a judicial complaint against the Bay State judge, before the hearing gets underway over whether she violated the rules of conduct for jurists.'
— MBTA Communities law is not an unfunded mandate, judge rules by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Beacon: 'A Plymouth County judge overseeing a bundle of municipal lawsuits from towns seeking to halt enforcement of the MBTA Communities housing law has denied their motion for a preliminary injunction and dismissed their complaints. In a 40-page decision released Friday afternoon, Superior Court Justice Mark Gildea considered lawsuits brought by the towns of Duxbury, Hanson, Holden, Marshfield, Middleton, Wenham, Weston, and Wrentham, plus a taxpayer suit brought by Hamilton residents.'
FROM THE DELEGATION
— U.S. Rep. Keating demands answers from ICE after roundups on Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket by Denise Coffey, Cape Cod Times: 'U.S. Rep. Bill Keating is demanding answers from federal officials about the specifics of last month's roundup of immigrants on Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Plymouth by agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Officers with ICE and other federal agencies detained about 40 individuals and arrested 12 on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket on May 27. On May 30, ICE agents conducted a sweep in Plymouth. All three areas are in Keating's Ninth Congressional District.'
TRUMPACHUSETTS
— The Trump administration canceled an $87 million award for this MIT startup. But life goes on. by Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe: 'Sublime Systems' vision for creating a high-tech, low-carbon cement factory in Holyoke suffered a setback when the Trump administration's Department of Energy canceled an $87 million award for the project. US Department of Energy secretary Chris Wright recently terminated 24 awards issued by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, mostly during the final weeks of the Biden administration. The list included just one grant in New England, the $87 million for Somerville-based Sublime. The agency said it was cancelling these projects because they were not economically viable, would not generate a positive return for taxpayers, and failed to help the country's energy needs. But Sublime and its 100-person team have an increasing number of private-sector supporters who feel differently about the startup's prospects — and the MIT spinout is still moving ahead with its $150 million project in Holyoke.'
FROM THE 413
— A disabled veteran is accusing a Holyoke city councilor of taking his home. Did he? by Greta Jochem, The Springfield Republican: 'George Golderesi's Springfield house sold to a new owner in February. It took him six weeks to find out. He said he believed a contractor hired to repair damage from a July 2024 fire was moving ahead with renovations so that Golderesi, a disabled veteran in his 50s, could return home. David K. Bartley, a Holyoke attorney and City Council member, orchestrated a sale of Golderesi's Pinta Circle home. Golderesi says he did not want to sell — and wasn't told someone else owned his home for more than a month.'
THE LOCAL ANGLE
— Worcester had 16 homicides in 2024. This year so far: 0 by Craig S. Semon, Telegram & Gazette: 'As the city begins the second week of June, Worcester can boast something that it couldn't this time last year: no homicides so far this year. This time last year, Worcester had seven homicides, six of which were from firearms, Chief Paul Saucier said. … Although no one can know why there have been no homicides in the city this year so far, [Worcester Police Chief] Saucier said he thinks several Worcester Police Department outreach programs have contributed to the drop.'
— Beverly weighs challenges this budget season, and beyond by Carline Enos, The Salem News: 'The City Council is weighing a $173.7 million budget for fiscal 2026, a 4.7% increase of $7.7 million over last year's budget. The proposed budget includes $85 million for schools, a 9.1% increase from the previous year.'
— Town Meeting calls on state legislature to allow real estate transfer fee by Sam Mintz and Vivi Smilgius, Brookline.News: 'Brookline will ask the state legislature to allow the town to enact a real estate transfer fee, after Town Meeting voted this week in favor of a home rule petition. … The petition , led by Town Meeting member Alec Lebovitz, is not binding but lays out the loose parameters of what the policy would look like in Brookline if approved by the state legislature. Town Meeting would need to approve the specific, final details in a future vote.'
— Will Easton voters OK override to avoid dozens of layoffs? Tax impact? by Chris Helms, The Brockton Enterprise: 'Will Easton voters raise the town's taxing power by $7.3 million or accept service cuts? That's one way to see the bottom line as voting on an operational override ends Tuesday, June 10. Those urging a 'yes' vote say Easton's government is caught between inflation-driven cost increases and falling state aid for education. Cost drivers include health insurance for active and retired town employees, pension liabilities, property insurance premiums and utilities. On the revenue side, Easton is one of the state's 'minimum aid districts.' The upshot of that designation is that local taxes have been paying an increasing share of school costs.'
— Steamship Authority considering freight service between New Bedford and Nantucket by Grace Ferguson, The New Bedford Light: 'A Cape Cod construction company is proposing a new freight service between New Bedford and Nantucket. The proposed service would carry recyclables, tires, construction equipment, and other materials two to three days a week, using freight boats that the company bought from the Steamship Authority last year. It would use Steamship Authority dock space for loading and unloading.'
HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former state Rep. Lori Ehrlich, Sheila Ramirez, Jeff Solnet, John Dukakis, 90 West's Harry Shipps and Kelsey Perkins, district director for Rep. Katherine Clark and Ray Salazar of Rep. Katherine Clark's office.

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