BOSTON—Days before Eric Lesser gave his last speech as a state senator from Western Massachusetts, the commonwealth, jointly with Amtrak, applied for a $108 million federal grant. In the twilight of his Senate tenure, the project took one of its greatest leaps toward reality.
BELCHERTOWN—Eight years ago, Aaron Saunders never got the chance to campaign with a US Senator. Flash forward to the Saturday before Election Day this year that, until the end, looked rough for Democrats. Markey was on hand to rally the troops here, a crucial town for the House district Saunders was running in.
LUDLOW—In a night that showed Democrats holding out better than expected, Massachusetts made history with the election of the first woman as its chief executive. In the 413, the few competitive races sorted in line with expectations.
LONGMEADOW—This well-heeled, even patrician suburb of Springfield was once a Republican paradise. The GOP held sway over nearly every state and local office. Now, it is an as integral part of the local Democratic coalition.
LUDLOW—In what may be the least climactic open Democratic gubernatorial primary in half a century, on Tuesday Attorney General Maura Healey became her party’s nominee to succeed outgoing GOP Governor Charlie Baker.
EAST LONGMEADOW—Given how she envisioned the arc of her life, Sydney Levin-Epstein doubts she would have sought public office if things went differently. Now she is locked in a heated race with Ludlow State Representative Jake Oliveira for one of region’s coveted State Senate seats.
EAST LONGMEADOW—When asked about being in the fight of his political life, Jake Oliveira projects anything but panic. In fact, he argues, it is not nothing new, pointing to the close races and chicanery he faced since first running for School Committee in his native Ludlow over a decade ago.
SPRINGFIELD—Six weeks from the primary, candidates for open local races assembled here for one of the first in-person face-offs of the 2022 primary season. The senate side of the evening happened as Longmeadow Senator Eric Lesser exits the Senate to run for lieutenant governor.
Amid a wave of retirements with varying degrees of shock, the 413 will have several competitive legislative races this year. Campaign finance reports are telegraphing a spectrum of suspense in the local races the September 6 Democratic primary will decide.
LUDLOW—The difference from eight years ago is stark. When the State Senate district hugging Springfield’s east, north and south sides was last open, five Democrats sought the nomination. It looks likely that in 2022, only two will run: Jake Oliveira & Sydney Levin-Epstein.