Read:  Recent Print Commentary

The 19th

• "Boston will elect someone other than a white man as mayor for the first time." by Barbara Rodriguez.  September 15, 2021.

Associated Press, AP

• "NCAA President Charlie Baker drawing on lessons learned as GOP governor in Democratic Massachusetts." by Steve LeBlanc.  December 21, 2023.

• "2022 could be a political watershed for Massachusetts women." by Steve LeBlanc.  September 18, 2022.

• "Pandemic takes a political toll on Massachusetts Governor."  by Steve LeBlanc.  March 23, 2021.

• "Kennedy Loss in Massachusetts May Mark End of ‘Camelot' Era."  by Steve LeBlanc.  September 2, 2020.

• "Kennedy Mystique Could Factor Into Massachusetts Senate Race."  September 20, 2020.

• “12 Vie in Boston Mayor Race."  September 21, 2013.

Axios Boston

• "Massachusetts takes a step toward one-party rule."  by Mike Deehan.  September 7, 2022. 

Bloomberg News.

• "Why Labor Chief Walsh Has Dodged Harm from Boston Police Drama." by Ben Penn.  June 9, 2021. 

• Marty Walsh’s Dealmaker Brand Faces Major Test as Biden DOL Pick." by Ben Penn.  February 2, 2021.

• "Labor Secretary Pick Walsh Is ‘Biden-esque’ Consensus-Builder." by Ben Penn.  January 8, 2021.

• "Impatient Kennedy Pushing to Oust Fellow Democrat From Senate."  by Adrianne Appel.  August 24, 2020.  

Boston Globe

• "AG Campbell sued Trump more than a dozen times in his first 100 days, saying 'courts are out strongest tool.'"  by Anjali Huynh.  April 28, 2025. 

• "In reversal, developer Thom O'Brien says he won't challenge Mayor Wu after all." by Catherine Carlock and Niki Griswold. March 31, 2025.

• "An elected incumbent mayor of Boston hasn't been ousted since 1949. Here are the odds Kraft faces in bid to unseat Wu." by Niki Griswold.  March 13, 2025.

• "Following Michael Flaherty's departure, questions and controversy engulf Boston Water and Sewer Commission." by Danny McDonald and Niki Griswold. March 10, 2025. 

• "Request to testify before Congress on immigration puts Boston -- and Michell Wu -- back in national GOP's crosshairs." by Emma Platoff and Samantha Gross. January 28, 2025. 

• "‘Giving her opponents political ammunition’: Governor Healey spent at least 76 days out of state in 2024." by Matt Stout and Samantha Gross.  January 22, 2025.

• "Boston City Council has a long history of legal entitlements and scandals." by Danny McDonald and Jeremiah Manion.  December 16, 2024.

• "'A disappointing outcome': With property tax bill, Mayor Wu took on the real estate indutry and lost -- again." by Anjali Huynh and Catherine Carlock.  December 10, 2024.  

• "Trump, Wu, and Josh Kraft: How last week's election will shape next year's race for Boston Mayor." by Shirley Leung. November 14, 2024. 

• "A rare challenge to the machine in our one-party state." by Jeff Howe. October 5, 2024.

• "Turnout for the Mass. primary elections was once again poor, but it has been worse." by Danny McDonald. September 10, 2024.

• "In wake of Trump shooting, Mass. AG doubles down on gun reform: 'I meant what I said.'" by Danny McDonald. July 15, 2024. 

• "Who are the 'courageous women' now?" by Joan Vennochi. May 15, 2024.

• "Why conservatives are turning against college, even in New England." by Angelina Parrillo.  April 11, 2024. 

• "The Newton teachers strike ends, returning students to school Monday." by Mandy McLaren, Christopher Huffaker, and Deanna Pan. February 3, 2024. 

• "The Newton strike is over. Was it worth it?" by Mandy McLaren and Christopher Huffaker. February 3, 2024. 

• "Teachers increasingly willing to put up with costs of strikes to gain better pay." by James Vaznis and Mandy McLaren. January 26, 2024. 

• "The big winner in Tuesday night's elections: Mayor Michelle Wu." by Danny McDonald. November 8, 2023.

• "With McCarthy ouster, Congress is entering uncharted territory, experts say." by Tonya Alanez. October 3, 2023. 

• "The $1 billion tax reform package is a big win for Governor Maura Healey." by Matt Stout and Samantha Gross. September 28, 2023. 

• ‘Dysfunctional normalization’: Massachusetts is starting its fiscal year without an annual budget — for the 13th straight time." by Matt Stout. June 30, 2023.

• "Robert F. Kennedy Jr., leader in antivaccine movement, announces longshot bid for president." by Emma Platoff. April 29, 2023. 

• "Elected as a fixer, Charlie Baker leaves a legacy marked by crises and an enduring trust in him to navigate them." by Emma Platoff and Matt Stout. December 31, 2022. 

• "In state legislative races, Democrats keep wide majorities in House, Senate." by John Hillard.  November 9, 2022.

• "Despite its progressive reputation, Massachusetts has lagged in women's representation." by Stephanie Ebbert. October 28, 2022. 

• "Miranda wins Democratic primary for state Senate seat; newly drawn voting maps tested." by John Hillard.  September 7, 2022.

• "With clear path in Democratic primary, Healey takes on another role: Helping allies survive theirs." by Matt Stout. August 28, 2022. 

• "Boston mayors have had as open-door policy with real estate developers. Not Michelle Wu." by Shirley Leung, Jon Chesto, and Catherine Carlock. August 6, 2022. 

• "'I was called to be the DA':  Teenage wish propelled Kevin Hayden to attain dream job." by Tonya Alanez. July 24, 2022.

• "The Senate failed to pass voting rights legislation.  Where does that leave Democrats?"  by Jazmine Ulloa. January 21, 2022. 

• "Maura Healey launches campaign for governor, promising to 'continue with what's working and fix what's not'" by Emma Platoff and Matt Stout.  January 20, 2022.

• "For Essaibi George, husband’s real estate holdings present a quandary." by Andrew Ryan. October 16, 2021. 

• "From Puerto Rico to Hawaii, out-of-state donors flock to Wu's mayoral campaign." by Elizabeth Koh.  October 7, 2021. 

• "Crush of mail-in ballots caught official flat-footed, leading to Election Night frustration in Boston." by Andrew Ryan, Elizabeth Koh, and Andrea Estes.  September 16, 2021. 

• "Acting Mayor Kim Janey was absent from 30 of 60 mayoral forums since April." by Meg Irons. September 1, 2021. 

• "As COVID cases rise, Charlie Baker back in unenviable position: Should he impose new restrictions or not?" July 29, 2021.

• "Geoff Diehl announces bid for governor; he’s first Republican to enter race" by Nick Stoico.  July 5, 2020.   

• "Boston councilors pass rule change that would allow them to remove a council president, including Acting Mayor Janey." by Danny McDonald. June 9, 2021.  

• "Walsh tries to keep White controversy from spilling into his new life as a Cabinet secretary."  by Jim Puzzanghera.  May 30, 2021.  

• "For Baker, the Mass. vaccine rollout has gone from a political nightmare to point of pride.  Still, racial inequities continue."  by Emma Platoff.  May 11, 2021.

• "What will Acting Mayor Kim Janey do about Boston police?"  by Danny McDonald.  May 2, 2021.

• "Pivots and reversals mark Governor Baker’s vaccine rollout." by Emma Platoff.  March 16, 2021. 

• "WAKANDA II seeks to back sole Black candidate for mayor: The effort works to unite the Black vote in a crowded field."  by Meghan Irons.  February 21, 2022.

• "Pressure on Baker keeps mounting over state’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccine."  by Emma Platoff.  February 16, 2021. 

• "Ben Downing, Former State Senator, Launches Campaign for Governor."  by Victoria McGrane.  February 8, 2021.

• "Is it a Foregone Conclusion that Boston’s Next Mayor Won’t be a White Male?" by Shirley Leung.  February 7, 2021.

• "What Will Walsh Say During Annual State of the City Address?" by Dan MacLeod.  January 11, 2021.   

• "Katherine Clark rises to fourth-ranking House Democrat."  By Jess Bidgood.  November 18, 2020. 

• "Trump’s firing of Krebs denounced by Boston-area scholars, Dems." By Jeremy C. Fox.  November 17, 2020.

• “Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell announces run for mayor.”  by Danny McDonald.  September 25, 2020.

• "How Rhode Island brought most students back for in-person learning — and Massachusetts did not." by Bianca Vazquez Tonness and Dan McGowan.  September 18, 2020 

• "Walsh leads Wu in GBH poll on 2021 Boston mayoral race." by John Ellement and Danny McDonald.  September 17, 2020.

• "In confirming Michelle’s Wu run for mayor, Marty Walsh committed a political faux pas." by Shirley Leung.  September 9, 2020.

• "New poll finds Marley with margin-of-error lead as Kennedy hits back over attacks on family." by Victoris McGrane.  August 18, 2020.

• "A new law allows Mass. residents to vote by mail. Here’s how that’s already changing things." by Matt Stout.  July 30, 2020.

• “As Tension with Trump Grows, Harvard, MIT Sue to Protect Foreign Students Studying in US.”  by Deirdre Fernandes.  July 9, 2020.

• Elizabeth Warren tiptoes into Markey-Kennedy primary fight.  by Victoria McGrane  July 8, 2020.

• “Women react with anger, dismay to Warren’s departure,” by Jazmine Ulloa and Laura Krantz.  March 5, 2020.

• "On Warren’s home turf, a high-stakes battle with Sanders,”  February 25, 2020.

• “Ayanna Pressley hits the campaign trail with Elizabeth Warren in a move that could be mutually beneficial,” by Laura Krantz.  November 7, 2019.

• "After a summer surge, Elizabeth Warren could be a target in Thursday’s debate,"  September 11, 2019.

•   “Walsh Ramps Up His Campaign by Hiring Key Democratic Strategists,” by Meghan Irons. April 3, 2017.

•  “Democrats Are Seeing a Surge in Local Activism,” by Akilah Johnson. February 24, 2017.

Boston Herald

• "Delta variant injects movement into Boston mayoral race." by Sean Philip Cotter. August 11, 2021.

• “Pundits Say Clinton-Trump Rematch is Unlikely.”  October 25, 2019. 

• “Hillary Clinton’s PAC Power Play May Undermine Dems’ Disarray.” By Chris Cassidy. May 16, 2017.

• “Political Watchers Say Youth Vote Key in Bid for City Council Seat.” by Dan Atkinson. March 25, 2017.

Boston Magazine

• "Katherine Clark is the Adult in the Room."  by Tom McGrath.  March 2, 2021.

Cape Cod Times

• "Brown faces Keating in congressional race this November." September 27, 2022. 

• "Five new books by Cape Cod authors."  by Kathi Scizzi Driscoll.  July 25, 2022.

• "Biden banking on old-school politics of Tip and Ted."  By Doug Fraser.  November 9, 2020. 

Christian Science Monitor

• “Caught in Trump Impeachment Storm, Joe Biden Holds Steady,”  by Jessica Mendoza.  October 11, 2019.  

• "To impeach or not? Why Democrats have been keeping things fuzzy,"  by Jessica Mendoza.  September 20, 2019

CNBC

• "Petition calling on Biden to cancel student debt gets more than 1 million signatures."  by Annie Nova.  May 4, 2021. 

CommonWealth Beacon (formerly CommonWealth Magazine)

• "For Campbell, case against Malden charter school is also good politics." by Michael Jonas.  August 4, 2023.

• "Dems' aversion to debates becoming campaign issue."  by Michael Jonas.  September 21, 2022.

• "The non-race for Massachusetts governor." CommonWealth staff. August 22, 2022.

• "For GOP candidates, no new apparently good news." by Michael Jonas. May 4, 2022.

• "Poll shows big lead for Wu in Boston mayor’s race." by Michael Jonas. October 13, 2021.

• Voters shrug at Boston’s ‘historic’ mayor’s race. by Michael Jonas. September 15, 2021

• Debate over special elections heated — and complicated"  by Michael Jonas and Bruce Mohl.  January 19, 2021.

• "Pandemic Turns Markey-Kennedy into a Virtual Showdown."  by Michael Jonas.  May 31, 2020.

Courthouse News

• "In Massachusetts primary, the view left is a lonely one." by Thomas Harrison.  August 20, 2022.

The Daily Beast

• "Biden’s Traveling Economic Hype Man Has a Message. Will Voters Listen?" by Jackie Kucinich.  June 10, 2022.

DigBoston

• "'Hedging Their Bets.' Cops, Cop Contractor Fill Campaign Coffer."  by Dan Atkinson.  October 15, 2021. 

Economist  

• "Democrats are overreaching in their defence of abortion rights." March 15, 2022.

• "A Kennedy may be a hard sell in Massachusetts, of all places," October 3, 2019.

GBH News

• "What would a successful congressional testimony look like for Mayor Wu?" by Adam Reilly and Lisa Wardle. March 5, 2025

• "Harris campaign needs to 'make America ready' to elect a woman, says UMass Boston expert." by Gal Tzioerman Lotan and Boston Public Radio Staff. July 22, 2024. 

• "How to know who deserves your vote in a new dessert." by Hannah Reale. November 3, 2023.

• "Politics: Dianne Feinstein." by Saraya Wintersmith. May 4, 2023.

• "US Rep. Katherine Clark elected second ranking House democrat, continuing her national rise." by Katie Lannan. November 30, 2022. 

Governing

• "Class if 2022: Meet the Governors about to Be Elected." by Alan Greenblatt. November 8, 2022.

• "Boston Wins Over General Electric." by Jack Encarnacao and Chris Cassidy.  January 14, 2016.

Guardian

• "'We are hungry for change':  Boston on the brink of election of first non-white, female mayor." by Alice Hutton.  August 13, 2021.

Jewish News

• "Meet the candidates vying to make history as Boston's next Mayor."  by Gabby Deutch.  May 25, 2021.  

La Tercera, Chile

• "DeSantis abandons presidential race and further clears the way for Trump in Republican primaries." by Marta Quinteros.  January 21, 2024.

MassLive

• "2022 Massachusetts election results: Democratic Lt. Governor." by Alison Kuznitz. September 6, 2022.

• "Abortion after Roe: Democratic Massachusetts AG candidates outline strategies to protect abortion, reproductive health care." by Alison Kuznitz. July 9, 2022. 

• "AG Maura Healey commits to gubernatorial debates, after facing challenge from state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz." by Alison Kuznitz. March 31, 2022. 

• "Gubernatorial Hopefuls Sonia Chang-Díaz, Danielle Allen must pivot with AG Maura Healey as frontrunner, political analysts say." by Alison Kuznitz .  January 27, 2022.

MASSterList

• "Massachusetts: It's Different Here - Interview published re recent publication of Politics of Massachusetts Exceptionalism: Reputation Meets Reality."  by Matt Murphy. May 4, 2022.

The New Republic

• "Nancy Pelosi's Heir." by Kara Voght. January 2, 2023.

New York Times

• "Does the Democratic Party Want Swagger?  Or Does it Want Michelle Wu?" by Gina Bellafante.  September 23, 2022.  

• "It's a "Brawl in Beantown' as Progressive Allies Clash in Boston." by Ellen Barry.  September 10, 2021. 

• "In a Changing Boston, a New Mayor Challenges the Police." by Ellen Barry.  April 17, 2021.

• "They Survived the Worst Battles of World War II. And Died of the Virus," by Ellen Barry. May 25, 2020.

• “Boston, Long Led by White Men, Votes in New Guard,” by Ellen Barry.  November 6, 2019.

• "Ayanna Pressley Seeks her Political Moment in a Changing Boston," by Katharine Seelye and Astead Herndon.  September 1, 2018.

Politico

• "Mayoral Hopefuls Burn Cash."  by Lisa Kashinsky.  May 6, 2020

Statehouse News

• "Women shake up male-dominated Beacon Hill." by Christian Wade.  November 13, 2022.

• "Healey racks up cash in bid for governor." by Christian Wade.  April 12, 2022.

• "Baker 'formidable' as he weighs third term." by Christian Wade.  July 5, 2021.

• "GOP Faces Backlash Over Capital Riots." by Christian Wade.  February 8, 2021.

• "Mass Raises Big Bucks in Presidential Race."  by Christian Wade.  October 4, 2020.

VOA (Voice of America).

• "In Historic First, Woman of Color Expected to Be Next Mayor of Boston." by Rob Garver. September 14, 2021. 

Vox

• “'It’s been a weird campaign': The confusing Democratic Senate primary in Massachusetts, explained."  by Li Zhou. August 31, 2020. 

• "Joe Kennedy’s potential primary challenge to Ed Markey, explained."  by Li Zhou. 

The Wall Street Journal

• "A Kennedy Mull Whether --and Why-- He Should Run for Senate."  by Natalie Andrews.  September 4, 2018.

The Washington Post

• "Can politics kill you?  The research increasingly says yes." by Akiliah Johnson. December 16, 2022.

• "The GOP thought it could make gains in New England: a blue wave hit instead." by Joanna Slater. November 11, 2022.

• "Boston Doesn't Look Like It Did 20 Years Ago.  Neither Does Its Mayor." November 4, 2021.

• "A more diverse Boston prepares for a true changing of the guard." by Douglas Moser.  September 10, 2021.

• "Pandemic takes a political toll on Massachusetts governor." by Steve Leblanc.  March 23, 2021.

WBUR

• "Outside Super PAC money ramping up in Boston mayoral race." by Walter Wutherman.  April 25, 2025. 

• "The Massachusetts state budget is late (again). Should we care?" by Nik DeCosta-Klipa. October 27, 2022.

• "Where the candidates for governor stand on this year's 4 ballot questions."  by Nik DeCosta-Klipa. October 27, 2022.

Yahoo! Finance

• "Massachusetts Republican Governor Won't Seek a Third Term."  December 1, 2021.