“Liberal groups boost Sanchez challenger” — Michael Jonas, CommonWealth (8/31/2018)

“The impression we’re left with is he’s waiting for instructions from DeLeo on what he can and cannot do,” said Andrew Breton, a member of the steering committee of the local organization JP Progressives, which has thrown its support behind Elugardo. The group is part of the statewide organization Progressive Massachusetts, which also endorsed Elugardo and gave Sanchez a C+ on its legislative scorecard for the first half of the two-year session lawmakers just wrapped up.

“The House always ends up being the place where good legislation goes to die,” said Jonathan Cohn, co-chair of the elections committee for Progressive Massachusetts.

….

“What the speaker of the House wanted is what happened,” said Cohn, the Progressive Mass. leader. “For that to change there have to be systemic reforms in how the House operates, and that requires primary challenges. The House is filled with well-meaning people who at the end of the day will do whatever they’re told. That needs to change, and I think Nika’s candidacy is part of that dynamic.”

“Your Guide to Endorsements in the 2018 Primaries” — Spencer Buell, Boston.com (8/30/2018)

“Given the reactionary policies coming out of the current administration in Washington, we need activist leadership in Congress to fight back and to chart the path forward for a progressive alternative vision. It is no longer enough for legislators to be a reliable vote or a co-sponsor; we need them to be champions and organizers, ready to fight on the front lines. Ayanna Pressley has been such a leader on the Boston City Council, and we know she will be as well in Congress, pushing a bold agenda of equity and social justice.” – Jonathan Cohn, co-chair of the Election and Endorsement Committee of Progressive Massachusetts (source)

“What the Capuano-Pressley Primary Says About Boston” — David Bernstein, Boston Magazine (8/16/2018)

Out of more than 60 yes-no questions on a Progressive Massachusetts questionnaire filled out by the campaigns this summer, Pressley and Capuano differed on just five. They are: Pressley wants to eliminate ICE, while Capuano does not; she agrees with limiting solitary confinement to 15 days and eliminating it for at-risk populations, while he wants to keep it only for protecting an inmate from the general prison population; he supports a federal job guarantee, while she is undecided; she opposes legislation making assault on a police officer a federal crime, while he voted for the Protect and Serve Act in May (explaining that it codified existing laws and did not expand them); and she would make Election Day a federal holiday, while he says there are better approaches to improving the voting process. And that’s all.

…….

“I don’t know any supporters of Capuano who are under 40,” says Jonathan Cohn, a leading millennial activist with Progressive Massachusetts, who adds that his generation has “a mistrust of those who were in power for so long.” Older voters, even self-described progressives, believe in sticking with those who have been good to them; many are offended that Pressley is even challenging Capuano.

“Challengers hit streets in 14th Suffolk District race” — Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner (7/18/2018)

Scaccia, however, stands apart from the other incumbents in both the length of time he’s served — the better part of five decades — and his less-than-progressive record in office. He received an “F” rating on his Progressive Massachusetts scorecard, putting him on par with most of the state’s Republicans.

Scaccia did not respond to requests for an interview with the Banner.

He did turn out for a candidate forum May 4 sponsored by Progressive West Roxbury/Roslindale, an affiliate of Progressive Massachusetts. There, according to the news website Universal Hub, he expressed support for a tax on millionaires and said he’s “somewhat progressive on taxes.”

“Amaad Rivera seizes ‘progressive’ label as sole challenger to state Sen. Jim Welch” — Shira Schoenberg, MassLive (6/24/2018)

Rivera points out that Welch has a “D” rating from Progressive Massachusetts, when the average Senate Democrat scored a “C.” Welch’s rating was based mainly on several criminal justice votes he took, voting in favor of establishing new mandatory minimum sentences for assault and battery on a police officer and for trafficking carfentanil, reimposing mandatory minimums for cocaine offenses and selling drugs in school zones, and raising fines on habitual drunk drivers.

“An idealistic challenger takes on a pragmatic incumbent in J.P./Mission Hill district” — Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner (6/13/2018)

Elugardo says she decided to challenge Sánchez because she is frustrated with the slow pace of progressive change in Massachusetts and the apparent unwillingness of legislators to pass measures such as the Safe Communities Act to counter the Trump administration agenda.

Sánchez, she notes, was given a C+ grade by the group Progressive Massachusetts.

“Candidates face off in JP Progressives debate” — Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner (6/11/2018)

Meanwhile, 15th District resident Jenny Hochstadt borrowed Elugardo’s sentiment in expressing that “this is one of the most progressive states, and Sanchez just isn’t progressive enough.” Elugardo has repeatedly used this phrase and criticized Sanchez for the slow pace of progressive change in Massachusetts, often citing his C+ grade by the group Progressive Massachusetts.

It became clear that the large crowd, comprised of Sanchez’s base supporters and progressives looking to challenge the Legislature’s leadership, would not all fit inside the 140-seater venue, and some residents were turned away.

The debate was hosted by three progressive, political groups: JP Progressives, a grassroots organization affiliated with Progressive Massachusetts, which aims to mobilize the voters of Jamaica Plain; the Boston chapter of Our Revolution, a non-profit organization whose work is inspired by Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign; and Amplify LatinX, a non-partisan group who campaign for increased Latino representation in government and corporate leadership.