To Jonathan Cohn, policy director for Progressive Mass, which is backing Nguyen, candidates are trying anything to distinguish themselves in a race that “has the feeling”of the 2018 primary for the Third Congressional District, located just to the west along the northern Massachusetts border. In that race, a crowded field of Democrats pitched themselves as an antidote to President Trump. (Koh was a candidate in that primary, too, which was won by the current incumbent, Lori Trahan.)
(1) Questionnaire: Every cycle, Progressive Mass’s Elections and Endorsements Committee (EEC) puts together comprehensive policy questionnaires for federal and state candidates, which we publish on our website. Only candidates who fill out these questionnaires are eligible for endorsement. Find all questionnaires collected this cycle here.
(2) Interviews: For Congressional races, the EEC conducts public interviews of all candidates who submit questionnaires. For legislative races, the EEC conducts research about the various races on the ballot and interviews candidates who submit questionnaires and meet certain criteria (progressive values, viability, etc.).
(3) Recommendations: The EEC then deliberates on whom and whether to recommend for endorsement to the full membership.
(4) Member Vote: The ultimate decision lies with our members. Candidates must receive at least 60% of the vote in a member ballot to receive an endorsement.
~~US Senate~~
Ed Markey for US Senate
Here’s a sampling of what our members turn us why they overwhelmingly supported re-electing Senator Ed Markey:
“Markey has been on the side of regular people (not billionaires) his entire career. I have complete faith in him.”
“Ed has proven he is a strong environmentalist, labor supporter and fighter for women’s rights, LGBTQ rights and all around progressive champion.”
“Senator Markey continues to be such an important policy leader, looking out for us, our communities, and our climate. From the ICE Out of Our Faces Act because he recognizes the threat of becoming a surveillance state, to the FATCAT Act, which would add a fuel tax for people with private jets to reinvest in public transit, and many other bills, he leads the way. He consistently shows that he’s focused on making life better for all of us, not focused on his own ambition.”
“Senator Markey is a proven supporter of Progressive causes. Markey has proven time and time again that he is willing to listen and engage with Progressive groups, the working classes, and society as a whole. I trust Senator Markey to continue standing up against authoritarianism while maintaining connections with the various communities of the commonwealth.”
~~Congress~~
Jeromie Whalen for MA-01
As a public school educator, Jeromie Whalen understands the importance of investing in our future, of building a culture of civic engagement, and of creating a community and a country where all are welcome. He is running to rein in corporate power over our economy and our elections, make sure the wealthy are paying their fair share, and ensure that everyone has access to high-quality health care and higher education without cost. He is running against 37-year incumbent Richard Neal, who is one of Congress’s biggest recipients of corporate PAC money.
Jeromie has also been endorsed by our chapter Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution.
Tram Nguyen has a proven track record of fighting for working families and brings the lived experience of both an immigrant and a union member. As an attorney for Greater Boston Legal Services, she advocated for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, veterans, immigrants, low-wage workers, and people with disabilities. Since defeating a conservative Republican incumbent in the State House in 2018, she has been a reliable champion of legislation to protect workers, from expanding unemployment benefits during the pandemic to increasing the minimum wage to protecting injured workers from retaliation. At a time when immigrants’ rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, workers’ rights, and climate action are under attack every day from the Trump administration, Tram can be counted on to fight back.
Patrick Roath is a democracy and voting rights advocate, having served as the former board chair of Common Cause Massachusetts. In that role, he was active in the rights for automatic voter registration, universal vote-by-mail, and same day registration. He is running on an omnibus Working Families Affordability Package, including tackling the costs of health care, housing, and child care, and Trump-proofing our government in order to rein in corruption and the abuse of power.
He is running against 22-year incumbent Stephen Lynch, one of the few Democrats left in the US Congress to have voted against the Affordable Care Act. Lynch is the only member of the Massachusetts delegation to have voted for the Laken Riley Act and has repeatedly voted with Republicans this Congressional session to roll back protections for our immigrant communities.
Patrick has also been endorsed by our chapters JP Progressives, Neponset Valley Progressives, True North Action Alliance, and Progressive West Roxbury/Roslindale.
Craig Swallow is a former teacher, hospitality professional, and co-founder of a local Indivisible chapter. He is running to fight for universal health care through Medicare for All, break up corporate monopoly power, and restore trust in government by reining in the outsize influence of money in politics.
Craig has also been endorsed by our chapter Indivisible Upper Cape.
Djuna Perkins for Norfolk County District Attorney
Norfolk County voters who want to see a progressive reformer as their next District Attorney should vote for Djuna Perkins. Djuna will bring professionalism, accountability, a trauma-informed approach, and a commitment to building community trust to an office that desperately needs it, and her decades of experience show her strong commitment to fairness and justice.
She has been endorsed by Progressive Brookline, Progressive Mass Western Norfolk County, and Neponset Valley Progressives.
A working mom and active BPS parent, trained as a lawyer and social worker, Persis Yu is an experienced consumer rights attorney and champion for families and workers. During her nearly two decades as a consumer rights attorney and advocate, she has secured billions of dollars in student debt relief, filed class action lawsuits that directly cancelled hundreds of thousands of dollars in predatory employer debt, and led campaigns that resulted in worker protection laws in more than a dozen states. She combines expert knowledge, a proven track record, and strong progressive values. Learn more about Persis at https://www.electpersis.com/.
Persis Yu has also been endorsed by our chapters JP Progressives and Progressive West Roxbury/Roslindale.
Latoya Gayle for First Suffolk State Senate
The District: Boston: Downtown / Chinatown (Ward 3 Pcts 8, 14; Ward 5 Pct 1); Back Bay / South End / Bay Village (Ward 3 Pcts 7, 15, 16; Ward 4 Pcts 1 – 5; Ward 5 Pcts 13 & 14; Ward 8 Pcts 1 & 2; Ward 9 Pcts 1 & 2); South Boston (Wards 6 & 7); Dorchester (Ward 8 Pct 6; Ward 13 Pcts 3, 5-10; Wards 15-17)
Latoya Gayle has an impressive background in activism and advocacy, a clear commitment to social justice and progressive values, and a rootedness in her community. She is currently the Senior Director of Advocacy and Family Partnerships at Neighborhood Villages, where she advocates for early education and child care investments and empowers parents to do the same. She is a former chair of the BPS City-Wide Parent Council and organized March Like a Mother—a 1,000-person rally and vigil after the murder of George Floyd. She is an organizer who understands the urgency of addressing the housing crisis, the climate crisis, and the growing inequality in the state. Learn more about Latoya at https://www.latoyaforsenate.com/.
Carey McDonald is a Malden City Councilor who led the process to create Malden’s climate action plan, passed policies to protect renters and invest in affordable housing, and championed policies to protect Malden’s immigrant communities. Carey also brings a background as a nonprofit leader who has built voter outreach programs and an education funding expert. They are running to fight for bold solutions to address our housing crisis and climate crisis, to invest more in our public schools, and to make state government more transparent and accountable. Learn more about Carey at https://www.careymcdonald.com/.
Carey has also been endorsed by our chapter Mystic Valley Progressives.
Daniel Lander has worked for progressive campaigns up and down the ballot and most recently worked at Boston City Hall on issues like using city-owned land for affordable housing, expanding access to Boston’s cultural sites, and helping small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. He understands that Massachusetts can and must do more to make Massachusetts an affordable place for people to live at any stage of life, increase access and reliability of public transit, and tackle the climate crisis and that we have resources to turn big and policy ideas into action. Learn more about Daniel at https://www.daniellander.com/.
Daniel has also been endorsed by our chapter Allston-Brighton Progressives.
Shannon Teabo for Worcester and Hampshire
The District: Barre, Brookfield, East Brookfield, Gardner, Hardwick, Holden, Hubbardston, Leicester, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Paxton, Phillipston, Princeton, Rutland, Spencer, Sterling, Templeton, Ware, West Brookfield, Westminster, Worcester (W7 Pcts 2, 4-6; W9 P3&4)
Shannon Teabo is an activist, organizer, and mom running to fight for affordable childcare, funding for education, and equitable access to quality healthcare. She is running against Republican incumbent Peter Durant, who has an 8% on our Legislative Scorecard and a racist, xenophobic, and anti-worker record as a state senator and previously as a state rep. Learn more about Shannon at https://www.teaboforsenate.com/.
Mike Zullas is a former Member and former Chair of the Milton Select Board. On the Select Board, he led the creation of the town’s Climate Action Planning Committee and Advisory Committee on Equity and Justice for All and led the effort for Milton to opt in to the Community Preservation Act. He was among the Select Board members who voted to support compliance with the MBTA Communities Act. He is running to be a champion of more transparent government and more robust supports to address the fiscal crises hitting our cities and towns. Learn more about Mike at https://www.votezullas.com/.
~~MA House~~
Jack Richardson for 3rd Barnstable State Rep
The District: Bourne (Pcts 4-6), Falmouth (Pcts 3-5, 7-9), Mashpee
Jack Richardson became the youngest person ever elected to the Falmouth Select Board, and he immediately got to work. He led the effort to ban ICE from town property without a judicial warrant and secured funding for a Portuguese-speaking social worker. He has championed measures to make Falmouth more affordable, vibrant, and more climate-resilient at the local level and is ready to fight for housing affordability and climate action at the State House. Learn more about Jack at https://www.jackprichardson.com/.
Jack Richardson has also been endorsed by our chapter Indivisible Upper Cape.
Zosia VanMeter is a public servant, immigrant, and community leader. She has founded and worked with local nonprofits devoted to combating food insecurity and empowering women and girls. She is running to fight to increase the supply of affordable housing, strengthen tenant protections, and fight legislative inertia. She is running against a 16-year Republican incumbent with a 5% on our Scorecard. Learn more about Zosia at https://www.electzvm.com/.
Celina Reyes for 16th Essex State Rep
The District: Lawrence (Ward A Pcts 2A, 3, 4; Ward E Pcts 1A, 2, 3, 4; Ward F), Methuen (Pcts 3, 7, 13A)
Celina Reyes is a Lawrence City Councilor, a family child care provider, and a leader of her local in SEIU 509. Through her work with SEIU 509, she has championed greater investments in child care and rent stabilization, and organized to help pass the Fair Share Amendment. She is running against a Democratic incumbent who joined Republicans in voting to weaken the protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care in the Shield 2.0 law, owns so many properties that he can’t remember how many, and has opposed efforts like a local option real estate transfer fee to address the housing crisis. Learn more about Celina at http://www.celinareyes.com.
Lora Wondolowski is the Greenfield City Council President, a role in which she has been able to shepherd a number of progressive policy initiatives. She got into local politics to fight cuts to Greenfield public schools, and she has been a reliable champion of public education. She was the founding executive director of the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters, where she helped pass the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act, and currently works for the Peace Development Fund, investing in grassroots organizing efforts. She would bring a much-needed mix of progressive values, policymaking knowledge, and organizing experience to the State House. Learn more about Lora at https://wondoforrep.org/.
Lora has also been endorsed by our chapter Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution.
Tom Hendrickson is an Agawam City Councilor, who has led local initiatives on Community Choice Aggregation and Council transparency, and has worked to elect progressives across Western Mass. He is running to be a champion for public schools, workers’ rights, taking on corporate power, and single payer health care. He is running against a 16-year conservative Republican incumbent who has never broken 28% on our Scorecard. Learn more about Tom at https://www.tomhendrickson.org/.
Michael Lachenmeyer for 12th Hampden State Rep
The District: East Longmeadow (Pcts 1, 2A, 3A, 4A), Monson (Pct A), Springfield (Ward 5 Pcts D, G; Ward 7 Pcts B, C, D, E, F, G, H1; Ward 8 Pcts B1, G), Wilbraham
Michael Lachenmeyer is a teacher, journalist, and organizer who is running to champion policies like reducing wealth inequality, single payer health care, and making state government more democratic and transparent. He is running against a conservative Democratic incumbent who voted against the Fair Share Amendment, the 2020 police reform bill, and the ROE Act. Learn more about Michael at https://electlachenmeyer.com/.
Alison Leary is a Newton City Councilor who has been a strong advocate for transit-oriented development, climate-ready infrastructure, and plastics reduction. She has been active as a member and leader of various environmental organizations and worked for a nonprofit providing transitional housing. She is running to continue the fight for action on climate and the housing crisis, to champion single payer health care, and to make the State House more transparent. Learn more about Alison at https://www.alisonleary.com/.
Ravi Simon brings policy experience, organizing skills, and strong progressive values. As the legislative aide to Rep. Carmine Gentile, he worked on PM priorities like debt-free higher education, a local option real estate transfer fee, and same day registration. He has served as a member of the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee, and he was an organizer with the State House Employee Union, fighting for better workplace conditions for himself and fellow legislative staff. Learn more about Ravi at https://www.ravisimon.com/.
Lorena Betts is first and foremost an organizer. She is the founder of The Peacemakers Network, a grassroots movement of peacemakers in Massachusetts focused on building bridges through education, community building and policy advocacy, and has organized the local No Kings rallies in her community. She has State House experience as a legislative aide, and that experience has led her to understand how badly the State House is broken and the need for organizers inside working with those outside to make real change possible. Learn more about Lorena at https://lorenabetts.com/.
Lorena Betts has also been endorsed by our chapter Solidarity Lowell.
Harini Aiyer is an immigrant scientist and community activist running to address the housing crisis and the climate crisis, to invest more in our public schools, and to fight for a more transparent and accountable state legislature. She is the only candidate in the race who supported the rent control ballot question and the only candidate in the race to support a moratorium on pipeline expansion and prison construction. Learn more about Harini at https://www.voteforharini.com/.
Harini has also been endorsed by our chapter Solidarity Lowell.
Evan MacKay is a climate and democracy activist, union organizer, and former president of the Harvard Grad Student Union. Evan understands that the best state representatives are good organizers, people who are proactive and responsive and who build welcoming and effective coalitions. Evan is ready to do that work and to fight for tax justice, strong democracy, bold solutions to our housing crisis and the climate crisis, and the rights of everyone at a moment when they are under daily attack. Learn more about Evan at https://www.evanforcambridge.com/.
Mike Connolly has been a strong progressive ally since we first endorsed him in 2016. On our Progressive Scorecard of the State Legislature, his scores have ranged from 95% to 100%. Mike has fought for stronger tenant protections, social housing, and revenue for affordable housing, as well as workers’ rights, bold climate action, voting rights, transparency, and more. Mike is willing to speak out against bad, rushed legislation, and to push the State House to be more ambitious in all of its policymaking. Learn more about Mike at https://www.mikeconnolly.org/.
Ben Ewen-Campen has been a reliable progressive ally and a leader on key issues on the Somerville City Council. As an advocate for affordable housing, he helped found the statewide coalition fighting for a local option real estate transfer fee. He led the passage of Somerville’s Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) District, and he spearheaded the work on Somerville’s rent control home rule petition. He led the passage of ordinances to ban tear gas and heavily restrict the use of other “non-lethal” crowd control techniques, require Council approval of surveillance technologies, and make Somerville the second city in the US to prohibit the usage of facial recognition technology by the local government. Learn more about Ben at https://www.benforstaterepma.com/.
Leila Migliorelli is a Melrose City Councilor who has led on such issues creating the first-ever Melrose Affordable Housing Trust, advocating for critical infrastructure projects, and supporting public schools. She is running to advocate for strengthening public schools’ funding, protecting immigrant rights, expanding access to reproductive health care, and and building more sustainable communities. Learn more about Leila at https://leilaforrep.com/.
Leila has also been endorsed by our chapter Mystic Valley Progressives.
Lisa Lopez for 6th Norfolk
The District: Avon, Canton, Stoughton (Pcts 1, 2A, 4A, 5, 7, and 8)
Lisa Lopez is a former Select Board Member in Canton, the third woman in history to ever be elected to the role. She championed the town’s municipal energy aggregation program (Canton Electrical Choice) and Affordable Housing Trust and played a key role in the town’s response to COVID. She was the initial chair of the Community Preservation Committee in Canton, and she is the current chair of the Canton Housing Authority and the local Affordable Housing Trust. She is running to be an advocate for housing affordability, environmental protection, and health care access. Learn more about Lisa at https://www.lopezforrep.com/.
Tom Melville is a former journalist, having served as Executive News Director at WBUR and News Director at NECN, and someone who as a result values open communication, transparency, and listening. He was inspired to run after seeing the bigoted and divisive way that the incumbent, Republican Marcus Vaughn, responded to the opening of a shelter for migrant families. He is running to be a strong advocate for education funding, civil rights, climate action, health care access, and government transparency. Learn more about Tom at https://www.electmelville.com/.
Tom is also endorsed by Progressive Mass Western Norfolk County.
Lee Meyer is a paramedic who sees the impacts of inequality, the housing crisis, and the gaps in our health care system every day. He is running to reduce health care costs, expand access to reproductive health care, invest in affordable housing, and take on utility profiteering. He is running against the second-most conservative Democrat in the MA House, who has voted repeatedly against expanding abortion access and against common-sense guns safety measures and has a record of hard-line NIMBYism. Learn more about Lee at https://www.lee4themasses.com/.
Jen Heck is a documentary filmmaker who led the successful campaign to bring Sutton into MBTA Communities Act compliance, turning early opposition into near-unanimous support. She is running to be a champion for tackling the housing affordability crisis, investing more in our public schools, and establishing clear ethical guardrails around the use of AI. She is running against Republican Joe McKenna, who has a 0% on our Legislative Scorecard. Learn more about Jen at https://www.heckyeah2026.org/.
Governor’s Council
The Governor’s Council is the most important office that you may have never heard of. The Massachusetts Governor’s Council consists of eight individuals elected from districts each consisting of five state senate districts. The Council is responsible for confirming judges and members of the Parole Board, among other nominees, and of approving pardons and commutations. If you care about the present and future of courts in Massachusetts, then you should care about the Governor’s Council.
We are proud to endorse four incumbents facing contested elections.
The Massachusetts state primary is just under four weeks away on Tuesday, September 1, and the general election is just three months way on Tuesday, November 3. That time will fly by.
Over the past few months, our Elections Committee has been hard at work developing our candidate questionnaires, researching candidates, and interviewing candidates.
As a member-based organization, all of our endorsements are ultimately decided by member votes, and we’re proud to announce the next batch of endorsements.
About Our Endorsement Process
Our endorsement process contains a few steps.
(1) Questionnaire: Every cycle, Progressive Mass’s Elections and Endorsements Committee (EEC) puts together comprehensive policy questionnaires for federal and state candidates, which we publish on our website. Only candidates who fill out these questionnaires are eligible for endorsement.
(2) Interviews: For Congressional races, the EEC conducts public interviews of all candidates who submit questionnaires. For legislative races, the EEC conducts research about the various races on the ballot and interviews candidates who submit questionnaires and meet certain criteria (progressive values, viability, etc.).
(3) Recommendations: The EEC then deliberates on whom and whether to recommend for endorsement to the full membership.
(4) Member Vote: The ultimate decision lies with our members. Candidates must receive at least 60% of the vote in a member ballot to receive an endorsement.
Carey McDonald is a Malden City Councilor who led the process to create Malden’s climate action plan, passed policies to protect renters and invest in affordable housing, and championed policies to protect Malden’s immigrant communities. Carey also brings a background as a nonprofit leader who has built voter outreach programs and an education funding expert. They are running to fight for bold solutions to address our housing crisis and climate crisis, to invest more in our public schools, and to make state government more transparent and accountable. Learn more about Carey at https://www.careymcdonald.com/.
Carey has also been endorsed by our chapter Mystic Valley Progressives.
Daniel Lander has worked for progressive campaigns up and down the ballot and most recently worked at Boston City Hall on issues like using city-owned land for affordable housing, expanding access to Boston’s cultural sites, and helping small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. He understands that Massachusetts can and must do more to make Massachusetts an affordable place for people to live at any stage of life, increase access and reliability of public transit, and tackle the climate crisis and that we have resources to turn big and policy ideas into action. Learn more about Daniel at https://www.daniellander.com/.
Daniel has also been endorsed by our chapter Allston-Brighton Progressives.
~Progressive Mass also polled members on the Second Middlesex Senate race. Although Erika Uyterhoeven received the most votes, no candidate reached 60%. Find questionnaires from all candidates here.~
Alison Leary is a Newton City Councilor who has been a strong advocate for transit-oriented development, climate-ready infrastructure, and plastics reduction. She has been active as a member and leader of various environmental organizations and worked for a nonprofit providing transitional housing. She is running to continue the fight for action on climate and the housing crisis, to champion single payer health care, and to make the State House more transparent. Learn more about Alison at https://www.alisonleary.com/.
Harini Aiyer is an immigrant scientist and community activist running to address the housing crisis and the climate crisis, to invest more in our public schools, and to fight for a more transparent and accountable state legislature. She is the only candidate in the race who supported the rent control ballot question and the only candidate in the race to support a moratorium on pipeline expansion and prison construction. Learn more about Harini at https://www.voteforharini.com/.
Harini has also been endorsed by our chapter Solidarity Lowell.
Evan MacKay is a climate and democracy activist, union organizer, and former president of the Harvard Grad Student Union. Evan understands that the best state representatives are good organizers, people who are proactive and responsive and who build welcoming and effective coalitions. Evan is ready to do that work and to fight for tax justice, strong democracy, bold solutions to our housing crisis and the climate crisis, and the rights of everyone at a moment when they are under daily attack. Learn more about Evan at https://www.evanforcambridge.com/.
Leila Migliorelli is a Melrose City Councilor who has led on such issues creating the first-ever Melrose Affordable Housing Trust, advocating for critical infrastructure projects, and supporting public schools. She is running to advocate for strengthening public schools’ funding, protecting immigrant rights, expanding access to reproductive health care, and and building more sustainable communities. Learn more about Leila at https://leilaforrep.com/.
Leila has also been endorsed by our chapter Mystic Valley Progressives.
Lee Meyer is a paramedic who sees the impacts of inequality, the housing crisis, and the gaps in our health care system every day. He is running to reduce health care costs, expand access to reproductive health care, invest in affordable housing, and take on utility profiteering. He is running against the second-most conservative Democrat in the MA House, who has voted repeatedly against expanding abortion access and against common-sense guns safety measures and has a record of hard-line NIMBYism. Learn more about Lee at https://www.lee4themasses.com/.
Governor’s Council
The Governor’s Council is the most important office that you may have never heard of. The Massachusetts Governor’s Council consists of eight individuals elected from districts each consisting of five state senate districts. The Council is responsible for confirming judges and members of the Parole Board, among other nominees, and of approving pardons and commutations. If you care about the present and future of courts in Massachusetts, then you should care about the Governor’s Council.
We are proud to endorse four incumbents facing contested elections.
✅VOTE YES ON 1 to expand the public records law to cover the Governor and the Legislature. We’re the only state in the country that doesn’t do that already. Let the sunlight in.
✅VOTE YES ON 2 to enable public defenders to collectively bargain. Every worker deserves to have a union, and public defenders, who are often overworked and underpaid, should be no exception.
❌VOTE NO ON 3 to prevent private equity billionaires from rigging our election system in their favor. Top-two primaries empower corporate PACs and self-funders, disadvantage grassroots candidates, and turn MAGA voters into election kingmakers.
✅VOTE YES ON 4 to enable voters to register to vote or update their registration on Election Day. No eligible voter should be turned away due to a clerical error, and this reform is one of the most proven ways to increase voter turnout.
❌VOTE NO ON 5 to protect our state’s ability to invest in health care, transportation, and public education. Billionaires would get to enrich themselves, while the rest of us suffer from underfunded public services.
✅VOTE YES on 7 to enable more starter homes across the Commonwealth. We have a housing crisis, and large lot size requirements mean fewer homes are able to be built.
❌VOTE NO on 8 to protect our state’s cannabis laws. We said NO to the war on drugs back in 2016, and we shouldn’t turn back time and destroy local economies.
✅VOTE YES ON 9 to protect our state’s landmark gun safety law, which cracked down on ghost guns, banned machine gun conversion devices, and strengthened gun violence data collection.
Progressive Mass has not yet taken a position on Question 6, which would dedicate the portion of the sales tax revenue collected from sporting goods, RVs, and golf courses to a nature and water conservation fund.
July 31 is the last day of the formal legislative session for Beacon Hill. That typically produces a flurry of last-minute legislative activity, and it did–but with a twist.
Two years ago, when the sun rose on August 1, the Legislature was left without agreement on a number of key bills, with conference committees having yet to settle on final text. The Legislature got a lot of negative press for that, and deservedly so. However, they came back throughout the fall to finish the work.
Now, two years later, the two chambers again failed to come to agreement on a number of key bills. However, they blessed such procrastination in the rules they adopted last year, enabling themselves to more readily take up bills after July 31 so long as they are able to appoint the negotiators by then.
So what happened these final days?
The two chambers, as we wrote about here, sent a final version of the PROTECT Act to the Governor’s desk yesterday.
The Senate voted in a 15 to 4 standing vote (without formal record) for legislation previously passed by the House to expand abortion access and ensure that no one needs to leave the state to get essential reproductive health care after 24 weeks. The House voted 121 to 35 to enact the bill, as the two chambers sent it to the Governor.
The two chambers also finalized a bill to rein in politically motivated book bans, with the House voting 156 to 1. Republican John Gaskey of Carver was the only NO vote.
What is still in negotiations?
Comprehensive data privacy
Energy affordability
An economic development bill that contains key priorities like Clean Slate (automatic record sealing), Raise the Age, and the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA)
Ballot Spending Transparency Act
Environmental bond bill
A school cell phone ban and (together or separate) teen social media regulations
BRIGHT Act (higher ed infrastructure)
The Legislature also appointed conference committees today to work on bills expanding access to primary care and updating the public records law (but in a way less than this fall’s Question 1).
The Legislature is unlikely to do much work in August with vacations and looming elections, and they have until January 5 to finish their job. They shouldn’t wait.
Yesterday, the MA House and Senate sent their final, negotiated version of the PROTECT Act to the Governor’s desk.
The House voted 137-21 to accept the conference report and enact the the bill. Republicans Brad Jones (R-North Reading), Marcus Vaughn (R-Wrentham), David Vieira (R-Falmouth), and Donald Wong (R-Saugus) joined Democrats in voting for it. Note that Jones is retiring, and the other three all have Democratic challengers and represent districts that Harris won in 2024.
The Senate took a standing vote, meaning that the AYEs stood and the NAYs stood but no formal record was taken.
Here’s a run-down of what the bill would do, credit to the Protecting Massachusetts Communities Coalition (and especially Julia Schlozman of the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action):
Restricting state and local law enforcement collaboration with ICE
Limits when law enforcement can ask about immigration/citizenship status, permitting the practice only when “directly material to an element” of felony or trafficking and requiring documentation of any such inquiry
Effectively bans new 287(g) agreements with ICE (i.e., agreements in which state and local law enforcement are deputized as ICE agents)
The bill, unfortunately, leaves in place the existing agreement between the Department of Correction and ICE, the only statewide agreement in a blue state.
The ban is not a “clean” ban, but the elaborate multi-step process for getting a time-limited 287(g) agreement under the bill is designed in such a way that it is unlikely to ever happen.
Bans various types of law enforcement and court staff assistance of ICE, such as participating in civil immigration enforcement, holding someone on a detainer, investigating someone for ICE, stopping or arresting someone based on their status
Restricts certain information sharing with ICE, namely, law enforcement would be prohibited from providing non-public information about custody status, release date, or court appearances to ICE except at the end of a sentence for certain crimes or in response to a request about a specific individual made within the prior 30 days
Protecting Courthouses
Bans warrantless civil arrests in or around courthouses, including in courthouse lawns, plazas, courtyards, steps, ramps, sidewalks, walkways, garages, driveways, parking lots
Protecting Elections and Holding ICE Agents Accountable
Creates civil liability under Massachusetts law for violations of federal laws prohibiting military officers at polling locations and military interference with elections
Allows federal officers to be sued in state court for violations of the US constitution
Protecting Sensitive Locations
Bans warrantless civil arrests at day cares, schools, and health care facilities
Requires day cares, schools, and health care facilities to adopt model plans for interactions with ICE
Protecting Individuals in ICE Detention
Requires that detainees receive notice at intake in their primary language of the right to counsel, to decline interviews, instructions for contacting legal counsel, and procedures for grievances/other communication
Requires various types of written materials provided to detainees (e.g., intake materials, medical interactions, etc.) to be translated
Requires phone confirmation of a detainee’s presence
Requires facility to (attempt to) notify counsel and contact/family within 6 hours of intake and transfer
Requires phone calls and videoconferencing between detainees and attorneys
Prohibits facilities from impeding access to counsel or proceedings
Other Measures
Allows the Governor to prohibit or limit civil immigration enforcement activities in nonpublic areas of state entities
Requires the Governor (in consultation with the Attorney General’s Office) to issue multilingual guidelines regarding how state agencies, “private entities,” law enforcement, and school districts should handle interactions with ICE and what civil rights members of the public have when interacting with immigration agents
Requires employers to provide written notice of an I-9 audit of employee immigration documentation to employees within 48 hours of receipt
Allows pre-appointment of a legal guardian in case of “adverse immigration action against the parent or guardian”
Establishes procedures and timelines for law enforcement agencies to issue certifications for T/U visas for victims of trafficking or crime, with a required response window of 45 days
Allows the State Auditor to audit any sheriff holding ICE detainees, any immigration detention facility, or any “arrangement” that “utilizes” property, services, etc. provided by Massachusetts, a city/town, or a state/local agency
Establishes a three-year standing commission on immigration issues, renewable for up to three more years
“We don’t want past history to be a roadblock for employment, for housing and for many other things where having a record can often lead to people being prohibited,” said Jonathan Cohn, the policy director of Progressive Massachusetts, a statewide organization dedicated to advancing racial and social justice and strengthening democracy.
Unlike petition-based record-sealing laws in states like California and New York, which often take years to complete, Cohn said the Clean Slate bill aims to minimize delays. By automatically sealing records after a period of law-abiding conduct, the bill shifts the focus from procedural hurdles to demonstrated rehabilitation.
“Society is able to benefit from this process better … if we’re able to offer better employment opportunities, better housing opportunities,” Cohn said. “We should just streamline the process.”
This week is the last week of the formal legislative session for Beacon Hill. Although the current session runs through January 5, 2027, the Legislature is not expected to be coming in for votes or committee work for the rest of the year.
Two years ago, at the end of the last legislative session, the Legislature ended up with a long list of unfinished business, as numerous conference committees tasked with negotiating final bill text were unable to come to agreements by July 31.
The Legislature got a lot of bad press for this — and rightfully so. Those bills were eventually finalized months later and signed into law, but the narrative of the session was set.
At the start of the legislative session, the Speaker and Senate President promised a more transparent and efficient legislative process.
We’re now in the final week of the session, and AGAIN, there’s a long list of unfinished business, as numerous conference committees tasked with negotiating final bill text (for things like the PROTECT Act, data privacy bill, energy affordability bill, and much more) have yet to come to an agreement.
But there’s a difference: the Legislature blessed this failure to finish on time in their new rules. As long as they can get negotiators appointed by Friday, they can keep negotiating until January 5, a long period of legislative limbo for our full-time legislature.
That means that there will still be need for legislative advocacy throughout the fall: to make sure that they finish bills and that the bills they finish are strong.
We’ll keep you posted about actions and opportunities to make sure your voice gets heard.
Late last night, the MA Senate passed its economic development bill after going through 600 amendments.
Of those 600, only 5 received recorded votes. The Senate voted….
31 to 8 to revise the calculation of the state’s revenue cap (known as 62F) to be 7.5% of the combined personal income of the state, as opposed to the existing formula based on the growth of wages and salaries. The new formula would protect the state’s ability to invest and ensure that public services are protected during economic downturns. Democrats Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), Michael Moore (D-Millbury), and John Velis (D-Westfield) joined the five Republicans in voting no.
7 to 32 to reject a Republican amendment to adopt Trumpian tax gimmicks of “no tax on overtime” and “no tax on tips” that put downward pressure on base wages and encourage anti-worker policies. Democrats Nick Collins (D-South Boston) and Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford)
5 to 34 to reject a Republican amendment to eliminate estate tax, a move that would blow a major hole in the state budget and redistribute wealth upwards
7 to 32 to reject a Republican amendment to reduce revenue raised from the state income tax and trigger cuts to essential public services. Democrats Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) and John Velis (D-Westfield) joined the five Republicans in voting yes.
5 to 34 to reject a Republican amendment that would have made the bill’s legalization of duplexes into a local option
Several amendments that we had supported were adopted via voice vote.
Amendment #18: Adjunct Faculty Special Commission, filed by Sen. Jamie Eldridge, which would create a commission to study how much it will cost to cover healthcare and retirement benefits for our adjunct professors
Amendment #495: Juvenile Jurisdiction, filed by Sen. Brendan Crighton, which would shift 18-year-olds into the juvenile justice system, where young people are more likely to be held accountable for their actions by engaging in education and treatment
Amendment #511: Requiring Automated Criminal Record Sealing, filed by Sen. Cindy Friedman, which would take away unnecessary bureaucracy in the criminal record sealing process
Sen. Pat Jehlen’s Amendment #12 (Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act) was adopted after being redrafted twice and limited to a pilot program allowing five communities to adopt ordinances granting tenants the right of first refusal to purchase their building when it goes on market.
One amendment that we supported was rejected via voice vote:
Amendment #193: Data Centers, filed by Sen. Vanna Howard, which would ensure that data centers cover their energy needs with clean energy and do not increase water and electric bills
And several others were simply withdrawn:
Amendment #224: Identification for Youth and Adults Experiencing Homelessness, filed by Sen. Robyn Kennedy, which would ease access to Massachusetts IDs for people experiencing homelessness by waiving the $25 fee for standard Mass IDs
Amendment #268: Fairness for Agricultural Laborers, filed by Sen. Adam Gomez, which would grant agricultural workers basic labor protections historically excluded under state law, such as minimum wage or overtime
Amendment #359: Midwife Reimbursement Parity, filed by Sen. Joan Lovely, which would expand access to care by ensuring equitable reimbursement rates from MassHealth for certified professional midwives
Yesterday, the MA House voted 119 to 33 to strengthen reproductive rights in MA and ensure that no one has to leave the state to access necessary health care.
(Votes are to the left of names)
If your state rep voted yes, thank them. If they voted no, express your disappointment. Find their contact info here.
(Votes are to the left of names)