WESTFIELD—Following years of political malpractice and perhaps poor judgment of electoral strength, Democrats are in a prime position to take back the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district from Senator Don Humason, who won the seat in a special election last year. However, Democrats first must
UPDATED 5/29/14: For updates, including the state AFL-CIO’s endorsement on May 28. All such references to the AFL-CIO are new and remainder of material dates to May 20 publication date. Although its counterpart has received a great deal of attention so far, the 2nd Hampden
BOSTON—Four new state representatives were sworn into the Massachusetts House of Representative in what will likely be the penultimate ceremony of its kind before legislature’s formal session ends in July. Among those sworn was John Velis, a Westfield Democrat, whose historic win earlier this month
UPDATED 4/5/14 1:28: For clarification of third parties impression of the race. WESTFIELD—In a blistering loss for the Massachusetts Republican party, Democrat John Velis defeated the GOP’s Dan Allie in a special election to fill the 4th Hampden seat vacated by Don Humason last year.
This Tuesday, April 1st, Westfield faces a choice that is no laughing matter. It will choose its next representative in the Massachusetts General Court, filling the seat Don Humason vacated to become State Senator. While Humason still represents Westfield in the Senate, his constitency now
The story of a veteran running for office is a common one in American politics, but often one based on little more than hagiography of service to one’s country. Too rare are the actual skills and experiences from that service offered as a qualification in
UPDATED 12:54PM: For confirmation Brewer is retiring and a previous version of this story indicated that Ludlow School Committee Member Chip Harrington would enter the 1st Hampden & Hampshire race as an independent. New information says he will run as a Democrat, setting up a primary
UPDATED 12/30/13 8:47: NEPR’s Henry Epp and The Boston Globe’s Joshua Miller report the Speaker of the House has approved dates to fill the Fourth Hampden seat. The Election division in Secretary Galvin’s office confirms. Signatures are due January 21, the primary will be held
UPDATED 11:44PM: For grammar and an omitted detail of Leahy’s work history . As the Valley’s largest city gazes into the maw of possibly several legislative contests on top of county races, little attention has been paid to the legislative races elsewhere in Hampden County.
UPDATED 11/9/13 2:17PM: For grammar This is the first part in a series on analyzing the results of the 2013 election. On balance liberals did fairly well in Tuesday’s election. Both of Boston’s mayoral candidate were thought to be progressives, but Rep. Martin Walsh was