The Race That Overshadowed Everything. In Low Key Massachusetts Primary Season Democratic Ag Contest Ends With Fireworks

“This is the race that has overshadowed everything else,” said Mary Anne Marsh, a longtime Democratic operative in Boston. “The real question, with seven full days to go, is who has the organization to make a difference in this race, which is by all accounts dead?” Palfrey joins a list of heavy-hitting Democratic supporters in a rare race that has divided some of the state’s most prominent progressives. Last week, after a barrage of TV ads, Liss-Riordan won the support of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, former incumbent Mayor Kim Janey and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Campbell has the support of Sen. Ed Markey, Representative Ayanna Pressley and Attorney General Maura Healey, who is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor. Palfrey, a voting rights attorney, had the support of the state Democratic Party and some progressive groups, but he struggled to gain traction in the race, trailing his opponents consistently in fundraising and in the polls. Seeing no way to victory, Palfrey withdrew and threw his support behind Campbell, whom he had sharply criticized for her policy positions and her decision not to publicly reject financial support from outside PACs. Palfrey, who will remain on the ballot, acknowledged in an interview Tuesday that he and Campbell differ on some issues, but said he chose to support her now because “she has the right kind of experience and approach to take on this role . » “It’s a very difficult decision to suspend a campaign, but I also feel some sense of responsibility to try to express what I think is best for the office going forward,” Palfrey said. “And I’m sure that’s Andrea Campbell.” Palfrey will campaign with Campbell in the final stretch, her campaign said. But not all of Palfrey’s supporters are following him in Campbell’s candidacy. Some said Tuesday they would support Campbell, while others defected to Liss-Riordan. Prominent groups such as the Massachusetts Progressive Party, which has endorsed Palfrey, were debating how to move forward Tuesday as members rallied behind the two candidates. “I don’t think there is a clear one-to-one. . . that inherently brings any supporters along” to Campbell, said Jonathan Cohn, policy director at Progressive Massachusetts. “There is something wrong with his strategy of relentlessly attacking a candidate for months and then flipping and endorsing him in the last week.” Some supporters of Liss-Riordan argue that she is the true progressive in the race and thus should inherit Palfrey’s support. Her campaign manager, Jordan Meehan, criticized Palfrey’s decision to endorse Campbell as “petty politics.” The position of attorney general in Massachusetts is a high-profile and powerful political position. Healey used the role to build a national reputation, filing lawsuit after lawsuit against Donald Trump’s administration and big companies like Purdue Pharma and ExxonMobil. The race has seen many twists and turns since February, when Campbell — who was running for mayor of Boston in 2021 — announced her candidacy and became the likely front-runner. In the first few months, both Palfrey and Liss-Riordan attacked Campbell relentlessly, with blows that at times seemed coordinated, arguing that Campbell was not progressive enough for Massachusetts and criticizing her support of charter schools and some of the financial supporters of her campaign. Liss-Riordan, who is known for her success as a class action lawyer and entered the race as an underdog, has narrowed the gap in the polls with Campbell in recent months with an eye-catching television ad. Her support among likely Democratic primary voters rose from just 6 percent support in June to 26 percent in August, according to a poll. It will eventually spend at least $5 million on advertising, almost all of it with its own money. By contrast, in 2014, the last open race for attorney general, the three candidates spent a combined $4.3 million. Opponents accused Liss-Riordan of trying to buy the election. She maintains that she’s just doing what it takes to make sure voters hear her message. Campbell has received support from a super PAC affiliated with the Environmental League of Massachusetts, an outside group that is not subject to the same contribution limits as the campaigns themselves. But political observers say her biggest supporter is Healey. Marsh said Healey’s get-out-the-vote operation could give Campbell the lead in a tight race. Campbell said Tuesday that she and Palfrey share a mutual respect and “align with our values.” His support, she added, will give her an advantage despite coming so close to Election Day. “This endorsement is timely and speaks to Quentin’s character. I am honored to have his support,” Campbell said. “There are a lot of voters who haven’t voted yet.” Palfrey served as acting general counsel at the US Department of Commerce in the Biden administration and was the only nominee to have worked in the Massachusetts attorney general’s office, heading the health care division from 2007 to 2009. Campbell and Liss-Riordan present very different sets of credentials. Raised in Roxbury, Campbell has built her political career on personal tragedy. On the campaign trail, she contrasts her story — Boston Latin School, Princeton, UCLA Law School and the Boston City Council — with that of her twin brother, Andre, who was caught in the school-to-prison pipeline and died at 29 the custody of the Department of Correctional Services. Campbell has worked at a major law firm and as a lawyer on Beacon Hill, and was the first black woman to be elected president of the Boston City Council. In an interview Tuesday, Liss-Riordan said she was confident in her position despite Palfrey’s support for her opponent. “We know from the polls that this race is tight, but we have the momentum on our side,” Liss-Riordan said. “Next week is like closing arguments in a jury trial, which I’ve done many times. I’m just out there to make my final statement – my last step.” Emma Platoff can be reached at [email protected] Follow her on Twitter @emmaplatoff.

title: " The Race That Overshadowed Everything. In Low Key Massachusetts Primary Season Democratic Ag Contest Ends With Fireworks Klmat" ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-19” author: “Marisa Hill”

“This is the race that has overshadowed everything else,” said Mary Anne Marsh, a longtime Democratic operative in Boston. “The real question, with seven full days to go, is who has the organization to make a difference in this race, which is by all accounts dead?” Palfrey joins a list of heavy-hitting Democratic supporters in a rare race that has divided some of the state’s most prominent progressives. Last week, after a barrage of TV ads, Liss-Riordan won the support of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, former incumbent Mayor Kim Janey and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Campbell has the support of Sen. Ed Markey, Representative Ayanna Pressley and Attorney General Maura Healey, who is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor. Palfrey, a voting rights attorney, had the support of the state Democratic Party and some progressive groups, but he struggled to gain traction in the race, trailing his opponents consistently in fundraising and in the polls. Seeing no way to victory, Palfrey withdrew and threw his support behind Campbell, whom he had sharply criticized for her policy positions and her decision not to publicly reject financial support from outside PACs. Palfrey, who will remain on the ballot, acknowledged in an interview Tuesday that he and Campbell differ on some issues, but said he chose to support her now because “she has the right kind of experience and approach to take on this role . » “It’s a very difficult decision to suspend a campaign, but I also feel some sense of responsibility to try to express what I think is best for the office going forward,” Palfrey said. “And I’m sure that’s Andrea Campbell.” Palfrey will campaign with Campbell in the final stretch, her campaign said. But not all of Palfrey’s supporters are following him in Campbell’s candidacy. Some said Tuesday they would support Campbell, while others defected to Liss-Riordan. Prominent groups such as the Massachusetts Progressive Party, which has endorsed Palfrey, were debating how to move forward Tuesday as members rallied behind the two candidates. “I don’t think there is a clear one-to-one. . . that inherently brings any supporters along” to Campbell, said Jonathan Cohn, policy director at Progressive Massachusetts. “There is something wrong with his strategy of relentlessly attacking a candidate for months and then flipping and endorsing him in the last week.” Some supporters of Liss-Riordan argue that she is the true progressive in the race and thus should inherit Palfrey’s support. Her campaign manager, Jordan Meehan, criticized Palfrey’s decision to endorse Campbell as “petty politics.” The position of attorney general in Massachusetts is a high-profile and powerful political position. Healey used the role to build a national reputation, filing lawsuit after lawsuit against Donald Trump’s administration and big companies like Purdue Pharma and ExxonMobil. The race has seen many twists and turns since February, when Campbell — who was running for mayor of Boston in 2021 — announced her candidacy and became the likely front-runner. In the first few months, both Palfrey and Liss-Riordan attacked Campbell relentlessly, with blows that at times seemed coordinated, arguing that Campbell was not progressive enough for Massachusetts and criticizing her support of charter schools and some of the financial supporters of her campaign. Liss-Riordan, who is known for her success as a class action lawyer and entered the race as an underdog, has narrowed the gap in the polls with Campbell in recent months with an eye-catching television ad. Her support among likely Democratic primary voters rose from just 6 percent support in June to 26 percent in August, according to a poll. It will eventually spend at least $5 million on advertising, almost all of it with its own money. By contrast, in 2014, the last open race for attorney general, the three candidates spent a combined $4.3 million. Opponents accused Liss-Riordan of trying to buy the election. She maintains that she’s just doing what it takes to make sure voters hear her message. Campbell has received support from a super PAC affiliated with the Environmental League of Massachusetts, an outside group that is not subject to the same contribution limits as the campaigns themselves. But political observers say her biggest supporter is Healey. Marsh said Healey’s get-out-the-vote operation could give Campbell the lead in a tight race. Campbell said Tuesday that she and Palfrey share a mutual respect and “align with our values.” His support, she added, will give her an advantage despite coming so close to Election Day. “This endorsement is timely and speaks to Quentin’s character. I am honored to have his support,” Campbell said. “There are a lot of voters who haven’t voted yet.” Palfrey served as acting general counsel at the US Department of Commerce in the Biden administration and was the only nominee to have worked in the Massachusetts attorney general’s office, heading the health care division from 2007 to 2009. Campbell and Liss-Riordan present very different sets of credentials. Raised in Roxbury, Campbell has built her political career on personal tragedy. On the campaign trail, she contrasts her story — Boston Latin School, Princeton, UCLA Law School and the Boston City Council — with that of her twin brother, Andre, who was caught in the school-to-prison pipeline and died at 29 the custody of the Department of Correctional Services. Campbell has worked at a major law firm and as a lawyer on Beacon Hill, and was the first black woman to be elected president of the Boston City Council. In an interview Tuesday, Liss-Riordan said she was confident in her position despite Palfrey’s support for her opponent. “We know from the polls that this race is tight, but we have the momentum on our side,” Liss-Riordan said. “Next week is like closing arguments in a jury trial, which I’ve done many times. I’m just out there to make my final statement – my last step.” Emma Platoff can be reached at [email protected] Follow her on Twitter @emmaplatoff.

title: " The Race That Overshadowed Everything. In Low Key Massachusetts Primary Season Democratic Ag Contest Ends With Fireworks Klmat" ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-08” author: “John Hiraldo”

“This is the race that has overshadowed everything else,” said Mary Anne Marsh, a longtime Democratic operative in Boston. “The real question, with seven full days to go, is who has the organization to make a difference in this race, which is by all accounts dead?” Palfrey joins a list of heavy-hitting Democratic supporters in a rare race that has divided some of the state’s most prominent progressives. Last week, after a barrage of TV ads, Liss-Riordan won the support of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, former incumbent Mayor Kim Janey and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Campbell has the support of Sen. Ed Markey, Representative Ayanna Pressley and Attorney General Maura Healey, who is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor. Palfrey, a voting rights attorney, had the support of the state Democratic Party and some progressive groups, but he struggled to gain traction in the race, trailing his opponents consistently in fundraising and in the polls. Seeing no way to victory, Palfrey withdrew and threw his support behind Campbell, whom he had sharply criticized for her policy positions and her decision not to publicly reject financial support from outside PACs. Palfrey, who will remain on the ballot, acknowledged in an interview Tuesday that he and Campbell differ on some issues, but said he chose to support her now because “she has the right kind of experience and approach to take on this role . » “It’s a very difficult decision to suspend a campaign, but I also feel some sense of responsibility to try to express what I think is best for the office going forward,” Palfrey said. “And I’m sure that’s Andrea Campbell.” Palfrey will campaign with Campbell in the final stretch, her campaign said. But not all of Palfrey’s supporters are following him in Campbell’s candidacy. Some said Tuesday they would support Campbell, while others defected to Liss-Riordan. Prominent groups such as the Massachusetts Progressive Party, which has endorsed Palfrey, were debating how to move forward Tuesday as members rallied behind the two candidates. “I don’t think there is a clear one-to-one. . . that inherently brings any supporters along” to Campbell, said Jonathan Cohn, policy director at Progressive Massachusetts. “There is something wrong with his strategy of relentlessly attacking a candidate for months and then flipping and endorsing him in the last week.” Some supporters of Liss-Riordan argue that she is the true progressive in the race and thus should inherit Palfrey’s support. Her campaign manager, Jordan Meehan, criticized Palfrey’s decision to endorse Campbell as “petty politics.” The position of attorney general in Massachusetts is a high-profile and powerful political position. Healey used the role to build a national reputation, filing lawsuit after lawsuit against Donald Trump’s administration and big companies like Purdue Pharma and ExxonMobil. The race has seen many twists and turns since February, when Campbell — who was running for mayor of Boston in 2021 — announced her candidacy and became the likely front-runner. In the first few months, both Palfrey and Liss-Riordan attacked Campbell relentlessly, with blows that at times seemed coordinated, arguing that Campbell was not progressive enough for Massachusetts and criticizing her support of charter schools and some of the financial supporters of her campaign. Liss-Riordan, who is known for her success as a class action lawyer and entered the race as an underdog, has narrowed the gap in the polls with Campbell in recent months with an eye-catching television ad. Her support among likely Democratic primary voters rose from just 6 percent support in June to 26 percent in August, according to a poll. It will eventually spend at least $5 million on advertising, almost all of it with its own money. By contrast, in 2014, the last open race for attorney general, the three candidates spent a combined $4.3 million. Opponents accused Liss-Riordan of trying to buy the election. She maintains that she’s just doing what it takes to make sure voters hear her message. Campbell has received support from a super PAC affiliated with the Environmental League of Massachusetts, an outside group that is not subject to the same contribution limits as the campaigns themselves. But political observers say her biggest supporter is Healey. Marsh said Healey’s get-out-the-vote operation could give Campbell the lead in a tight race. Campbell said Tuesday that she and Palfrey share a mutual respect and “align with our values.” His support, she added, will give her an advantage despite coming so close to Election Day. “This endorsement is timely and speaks to Quentin’s character. I am honored to have his support,” Campbell said. “There are a lot of voters who haven’t voted yet.” Palfrey served as acting general counsel at the US Department of Commerce in the Biden administration and was the only nominee to have worked in the Massachusetts attorney general’s office, heading the health care division from 2007 to 2009. Campbell and Liss-Riordan present very different sets of credentials. Raised in Roxbury, Campbell has built her political career on personal tragedy. On the campaign trail, she contrasts her story — Boston Latin School, Princeton, UCLA Law School and the Boston City Council — with that of her twin brother, Andre, who was caught in the school-to-prison pipeline and died at 29 the custody of the Department of Correctional Services. Campbell has worked at a major law firm and as a lawyer on Beacon Hill, and was the first black woman to be elected president of the Boston City Council. In an interview Tuesday, Liss-Riordan said she was confident in her position despite Palfrey’s support for her opponent. “We know from the polls that this race is tight, but we have the momentum on our side,” Liss-Riordan said. “Next week is like closing arguments in a jury trial, which I’ve done many times. I’m just out there to make my final statement – my last step.” Emma Platoff can be reached at [email protected] Follow her on Twitter @emmaplatoff.

title: " The Race That Overshadowed Everything. In Low Key Massachusetts Primary Season Democratic Ag Contest Ends With Fireworks Klmat" ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-12” author: “Elizabeth Burell”

“This is the race that has overshadowed everything else,” said Mary Anne Marsh, a longtime Democratic operative in Boston. “The real question, with seven full days to go, is who has the organization to make a difference in this race, which is by all accounts dead?” Palfrey joins a list of heavy-hitting Democratic supporters in a rare race that has divided some of the state’s most prominent progressives. Last week, after a barrage of TV ads, Liss-Riordan won the support of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, former incumbent Mayor Kim Janey and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Campbell has the support of Sen. Ed Markey, Representative Ayanna Pressley and Attorney General Maura Healey, who is the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor. Palfrey, a voting rights attorney, had the support of the state Democratic Party and some progressive groups, but he struggled to gain traction in the race, trailing his opponents consistently in fundraising and in the polls. Seeing no way to victory, Palfrey withdrew and threw his support behind Campbell, whom he had sharply criticized for her policy positions and her decision not to publicly reject financial support from outside PACs. Palfrey, who will remain on the ballot, acknowledged in an interview Tuesday that he and Campbell differ on some issues, but said he chose to support her now because “she has the right kind of experience and approach to take on this role . » “It’s a very difficult decision to suspend a campaign, but I also feel some sense of responsibility to try to express what I think is best for the office going forward,” Palfrey said. “And I’m sure that’s Andrea Campbell.” Palfrey will campaign with Campbell in the final stretch, her campaign said. But not all of Palfrey’s supporters are following him in Campbell’s candidacy. Some said Tuesday they would support Campbell, while others defected to Liss-Riordan. Prominent groups such as the Massachusetts Progressive Party, which has endorsed Palfrey, were debating how to move forward Tuesday as members rallied behind the two candidates. “I don’t think there is a clear one-to-one. . . that inherently brings any supporters along” to Campbell, said Jonathan Cohn, policy director at Progressive Massachusetts. “There is something wrong with his strategy of relentlessly attacking a candidate for months and then flipping and endorsing him in the last week.” Some supporters of Liss-Riordan argue that she is the true progressive in the race and thus should inherit Palfrey’s support. Her campaign manager, Jordan Meehan, criticized Palfrey’s decision to endorse Campbell as “petty politics.” The position of attorney general in Massachusetts is a high-profile and powerful political position. Healey used the role to build a national reputation, filing lawsuit after lawsuit against Donald Trump’s administration and big companies like Purdue Pharma and ExxonMobil. The race has seen many twists and turns since February, when Campbell — who was running for mayor of Boston in 2021 — announced her candidacy and became the likely front-runner. In the first few months, both Palfrey and Liss-Riordan attacked Campbell relentlessly, with blows that at times seemed coordinated, arguing that Campbell was not progressive enough for Massachusetts and criticizing her support of charter schools and some of the financial supporters of her campaign. Liss-Riordan, who is known for her success as a class action lawyer and entered the race as an underdog, has narrowed the gap in the polls with Campbell in recent months with an eye-catching television ad. Her support among likely Democratic primary voters rose from just 6 percent support in June to 26 percent in August, according to a poll. It will eventually spend at least $5 million on advertising, almost all of it with its own money. By contrast, in 2014, the last open race for attorney general, the three candidates spent a combined $4.3 million. Opponents accused Liss-Riordan of trying to buy the election. She maintains that she’s just doing what it takes to make sure voters hear her message. Campbell has received support from a super PAC affiliated with the Environmental League of Massachusetts, an outside group that is not subject to the same contribution limits as the campaigns themselves. But political observers say her biggest supporter is Healey. Marsh said Healey’s get-out-the-vote operation could give Campbell the lead in a tight race. Campbell said Tuesday that she and Palfrey share a mutual respect and “align with our values.” His support, she added, will give her an advantage despite coming so close to Election Day. “This endorsement is timely and speaks to Quentin’s character. I am honored to have his support,” Campbell said. “There are a lot of voters who haven’t voted yet.” Palfrey served as acting general counsel at the US Department of Commerce in the Biden administration and was the only nominee to have worked in the Massachusetts attorney general’s office, heading the health care division from 2007 to 2009. Campbell and Liss-Riordan present very different sets of credentials. Raised in Roxbury, Campbell has built her political career on personal tragedy. On the campaign trail, she contrasts her story — Boston Latin School, Princeton, UCLA Law School and the Boston City Council — with that of her twin brother, Andre, who was caught in the school-to-prison pipeline and died at 29 the custody of the Department of Correctional Services. Campbell has worked at a major law firm and as a lawyer on Beacon Hill, and was the first black woman to be elected president of the Boston City Council. In an interview Tuesday, Liss-Riordan said she was confident in her position despite Palfrey’s support for her opponent. “We know from the polls that this race is tight, but we have the momentum on our side,” Liss-Riordan said. “Next week is like closing arguments in a jury trial, which I’ve done many times. I’m just out there to make my final statement – my last step.” Emma Platoff can be reached at [email protected] Follow her on Twitter @emmaplatoff.