For a moment in August, it seemed like the race for Springfield’s Ward 1 Council seat was over. The incumbent, Maria Perez, had just filed a suit against her now-former employer, the New North Citizens Council (NNCC), and her election opponent, Joesiah Gonzalez. Yet before the month was out, he was campaigning again and marched in Springfield’s Puerto Rican parade.
After a two-cycle reprieve, Springfield Congressman Richard Neal, the top Dem on one of Congress’s most powerful committees, will face a primary. Teacher Jeromie Whalen made the local media rounds this past week, confirming speculation that had been percolating at least since spring.
Senator Ed Markey has already received support for his reelection from the commonwealth’s east and west. That support is now meeting in its (geographic) center. In a video, Worcester Congressman James McGovern, who also represents much of Franklin and Hampshire counties, announced his support for Markey adding “there is no better fighter in the Senate.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren kicked it off. In a video, she announced her support for the reelection of her Senate colleague, Ed Markey. Since then, a bevy of pols in Southeastern and Western Mass have come out for the incumbent. Such an early show of force—and
Republicans in the United State House of Representatives jammed through their budget and spending bill this week. Given their rank in the Democratic caucus, both reps for Western Massachusetts featured prominently in the debate.
SOUTH HADLEY—Western Mass joined Saturday’s nationwide protests panning the dismantling of government, the Constitution and now the economy under Donald Trump and his ostensible vizier Elon Musk. Layoffs at federal agencies, including at Social Security, has raised public anger, provoking one of the largest rounds of demonstrations since Inauguration Day.
The Democratic party’s new chairman, Ken Martin, gave the day-to-day job of running the party to Roger Lau. The longtime political hand has worn many hats for Massachusetts Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has selected a site for a rail station in Palmer, marking a significant step for the project. The choice may bring some controversy. The agency chose “Site B,” a location on the south side of a CSX railyard half of a mile from downtown Palmer. The state will now proceed to a conceptual design phase.
Donald Trump has launched a trade war with Canada and Mexico. Elon Musk is doing his best to play aviation gremlin to the federal airship midflight. Both ongoing acts of economic and civic vandalism touch the jurisdiction of the Ways & Means Committee and therefore its ranking member Springfield Congressman Richard Neal.
UPDATED 1/8/25 8:14PM: To include confirmation of Boyle’s status on another committee and to note Democratic assignments for subcommittees. As the 119th Congress and its House of Representatives settles in, the latter’s committees are beginning to take shape. Neither party changed leaders on the Committee.