Covering Massachusetts state politics for @BostonGlobe.com | 🇦🇷🇺🇸 | chris.vanb@globe.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3munctxycwc2dABORTION LAW REPEAL: Tired of the 2026 elections? Start thinking about 2028. Anti-abortion activists filed paperwork to immediately suspend and eventually seek the repeal of a law allowing greater access to abortions later in pregnancy. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/03/metro/activists-file-paperwork-to-repeal-suspend-abortion-law/03 Sep 2026 20:43 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3munctxycwc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mukzq3xk3s2dGENERAL FRAMING: Fresh from their primary coronations, Gov Healey and GOP challenger Michael Minogue both said that they are running against the failed records of their political opponents this fall. The thing is, their foils look very different. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/02/metro/healey-minogue-governors-race-campaign-trail/02 Sep 2026 22:54 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mukzq3xk3s2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3muinsjc5a22yHEALEY WINS: Gov. Maura Healey, who’s fashioned herself as a bulwark against Trump in her bid for a second term, on Tuesday officially captured the Democratic nomination, setting up a general election fight against one of two Republicans. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/01/metro/massachusetts-primary-healey-minogue-shortsleeve/?p1=StaffPage02 Sep 2026 00:16 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3muinsjc5a22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mu7xskqip22tGOP … BLUE? Michael Minogue is running for Massachusetts governor in a campaign bathed in blues. Experts in political branding say it might be an intentional move to make him more appealing in a state that largely elects Democrats. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/08/29/metro/minogue-campaign-governor-blue-republicans/29 Aug 2026 13:21 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu7xskqip22thttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mu5pmefjis2dTOUGH Q'S: Mayor Wu’s name is not on the ballot, but she may be the most high-profile legislative surrogate in recent Boston history. For two of her preferred state Senate candidates, her support comes with a boost, but also tough questions. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/08/28/metro/wu-endorsements-lander-gayle-brownsberger-collins-primary/?p1=StaffPage28 Aug 2026 15:49 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5pmefjis2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3ms2esplvfk2e'MET THE CRITERIA' - Michael Minogue, a GOP gubernatorial candidate and former biotech executive, said he has “met the criteria” for disclosing his vast wealth, including out-of-state assets like a $31M home in an ultra-exclusive club in Montana. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/08/01/metro/michael-minogue-wealth-disclosures/01 Aug 2026 21:07 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms2esplvfk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mruedk5tr22cYELLOWSTONE CLUB: Michael Minogue, a GOP candidate for governor, owns a $31 million home in Montana’s ultra-exclusive Yellowstone Club, a members-only community with 2,900 acres of private ski terrain and a bevy of A-list celebrity members. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/30/metro/mike-minogue-yellowstone-club-big-sky-montana/30 Jul 2026 11:43 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mruedk5tr22chttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mqctlgaxb22uBACK ON BALLOT: A judge reinstated a Republican candidate knocked off the primary ballot amid fraud allegations, ruling that a technical error outweighs the “substantial evidence” his campaign submitted fake signatures in order to qualify. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/10/metro/michael-walsh-signature-fraud-judge-ruling-ballot/10 Jul 2026 19:02 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqctlgaxb22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mqagodueac2dPSYCHEDELICS: Massachusetts legislators are moving to allow for the supervised use of psychedelic substances in some mental health care settings, embracing a proposal that supporters say would offer critical help to veterans suffering from PTSD. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/09/metro/massachusetts-legislature-psychedelic-treatment-pilot-program/09 Jul 2026 20:06 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqagodueac2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mpozmrm5cs2k'DEFINITELY NOT ME' - A dozen people who spoke to the Globe this week said they did not sign nomination papers for the GOP's Michael Walsh and Anne Manning Martin despite their signatures appearing on the papers. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/02/metro/republican-signatures-manning-martin-walsh-voters/02 Jul 2026 21:57 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpozmrm5cs2khttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mpjozm6gys2aBALLOT Q'S: MA House plans to pass legislation targeting the ballot question process and the paid signature gatherers who help campaigns get their proposals before voters, acting on long-held frustrations with a system they view as ineffective. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/30/metro/house-ballot-questions-legislation-campaign-donations/30 Jun 2026 19:04 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpjozm6gys2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mp3b74rnks2yRENT CONTROL: A court ruling striking down a rent control ballot question has “diminished” the possibility of a deal emerging this year on Beacon Hill, lawmakers said, and prompted the real estate industry to declare further talks unnecessary. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/24/metro/rent-control-negotiations-diminished-legislature/25 Jun 2026 01:19 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp3b74rnks2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mozyno7mrk2cCAMPBELL ON INCOME TAX: AG Andrea Campbell acknowledged Tuesday her office got a series of ballot questions “wrong,” leading to two being struck down by the state’s highest court, but argued that “no one should expect us to get a perfect result.” #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/24/metro/andrea-campbell-ballot-questions-supreme-judicial-court/24 Jun 2026 13:14 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mozyno7mrk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mozyfam7ms2yGUN REFERENDUM: Gun rights advocates hope a referendum to repeal a sweeping firearms control law in Massachusetts will serve as a trial balloon of sorts for using the ballot box to peel back restrictive weapons laws. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/24/metro/massachusetts-gun-control-law-ballot-referendum/24 Jun 2026 13:09 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mozyfam7ms2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3moxleoqvtk2kRENT CONTROL: The Supreme Judicial Court ruled this morning that a ballot question to impose rent control in Massachusetts cannot proceed to the November ballot because it relates to religion, religious practices, or religious institutions. #mapoli23 Jun 2026 14:11 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3moxleoqvtk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mov4rvxtxc2tALL PARTY PRIMARIES: The Supreme Judicial Court allows a ballot question establishing a top-two primary system in Massachusetts to advance to the November ballot, ruling it does not violate the state constitution. #mapoli22 Jun 2026 14:44 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mov4rvxtxc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3moqqmyy7hs2jHEALEY DEFENDS ENG: Governor Maura Healey said she supports her interim secretary of transportation, Phil Eng, Saturday after revelations that he pulled an employee’s hair two years ago. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/20/metro/maura-healey-phil-eng-hair-pulling-incident/20 Jun 2026 20:56 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3moqqmyy7hs2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3moqqmdjgvs2jBALLOT QUESTION BREAKDOWN: A state attorney and a private lawyer went back and forth over wording for a summary describing a ballot question to lower the income tax. But what they ultimately settled would spell the end of the proposal. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/19/metro/massachusetts-income-tax-ballot-question-campbell/20 Jun 2026 20:56 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3moqqmdjgvs2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mo3xwlp7j223CANNABIS QUESTION: A ballot initiative that would repeal marijuana legalization for non-medical use will be decided by voters in November, the state’s highest court ruled Friday. Via the Globe's John R. Ellement #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/12/metro/marijuana-ballot-measure-mass-high-court-ruling/?p1=StaffPage12 Jun 2026 14:41 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo3xwlp7j223https://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mnuxrsoql227CLOSE TO HOME: Identified as “Jeanni,” a woman featured in a TV ad Michael Minogue's campaign released touting his bipartisan appeal is also the candidate’s direct neighbor and married to the COO of the company Minogue ran for more than 18 years. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/09/metro/mike-minogue-neighbor-democrat-campaign-ad/09 Jun 2026 19:50 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnuxrsoql227https://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mnrpg7uli22bHELPING HAND: Top Democratic incumbents in Massachusetts — including AG Campbell, Secretary Galvin, and Speaker Mariano — received help from their public employees to get on the ballot in this year’s statewide election. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/08/metro/massachusetts-campaigns-signatures-elected-officials/08 Jun 2026 12:42 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnrpg7uli22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mmzxttdnlk2iHEALEY’S CONVENTION SPEECH: Gov. Healey cast this year’s gubernatorial race as a battle against bringing President Trump’s policies to MA. But she offered few, if any, pledges of what she would seek to accomplish if given another term in office. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/29/metro/healey-democratic-convention-speech-reelection/30 May 2026 02:09 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmzxttdnlk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mmwmdycycc2yLEGISLATIVE AUDIT: The Senate plans to vote Thursday to comply with Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s audit of their finances, offering one of the first signs that lawmakers are willing, to a degree, to acquiesce to her quest to probe the Legislature. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/28/metro/senate-audit-vote-dizoglio-legislature/28 May 2026 18:05 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmwmdycycc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mmm6k4bxfs2aGov. Healey’s reelection pitch hinges on promises to corral the state’s high cost of living. Still, Healey is holding tight to one key societal debate: Abortion rights, she’s argued, remain a clear motivation for residents heading to the polls. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/24/metro/healey-massachusetts-abortion-minogue-shortsleeve/24 May 2026 14:32 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmm6k4bxfs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mmce5fj2522oROBOT WEAPONS: From climate change to economic instability, Massachusetts residents face a range of potential threats. State lawmakers say a flamethrower-wielding android shouldn’t be one of them. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/20/metro/massachusetts-robots-weapons-ban-legislation/20 May 2026 16:45 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmce5fj2522ohttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mm7hjbsoic2xAUDIT FIGHT: State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s effort to audit the state Legislature is a long, winding political tale that can be hard to keep track of — even for those plugged into Beacon Hill. Here's a rundown on the state of play in the audit. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/19/metro/massachusetts-legislative-audit-dizoglio-campbell/19 May 2026 13:08 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm7hjbsoic2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mlvyknzmic2qThe Trump administration threatened to sue Massachusetts, charging that the Healey administration has refused to issue confidential license plates through the Registry of Motor Vehicles to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/15/metro/healey-trump-ice-license-plates/15 May 2026 18:46 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlvyknzmic2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mlsvzusxns2cMassachusetts voters could decide a record number of new laws this November. That is, if the state’s highest court lets them. The SJC is acting as a gatekeeper of sorts for what ends up on the ballot, having already helped knock off one measure. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/14/metro/massachusetts-sjc-ballot-questions-lawsuits/14 May 2026 13:23 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlsvzusxns2chttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mllfterhf22fALL PARTY PRIMARIES: A ballot question this year that would scrap partisan primaries in Massachusetts is sowing fractures among Democrats, pitting progressives and members of the party's governing body against some of their own. #mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/11/metro/party-primaries-ballot-question-democrats/11 May 2026 13:44 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mllfterhf22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/bychrisvan.bsky.social/post/3mkd3k57yoc26MASSGOP: Good morning from Worcester. Mass. Republicans are filing into the DCU Center for their election year convention. The stakes? Three GOP gubernatorial candidates are battling for their party's endorsement and at least 15% of delegates' votes to qualify for the primary ballot. #mapoli25 Apr 2026 12:54 +0000at://did:plc:7572ghbjqplqqc6e2abvkrd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkd3k57yoc26