I would like to talk about the MA primary

[msmerymac]

Not because it's meaningful, but because I'm in MA today and GOOD GOD. My in-laws have TEN people running for the congressional seat in their district. (I don't know why it's so popular - it was Ed Markey's old seat, but it's obviously been filled since he went to the senate.) The amount of mail, phone calls and people who have come to their door is astounding. 

Charlie Baker is being primaried from the right by a Trump supporter, but that won't work, and a Republican who is a Trump supporter is gunning to run against Elizabeth Warren, but that won't work. 

Thankfully I figured out my transportation issues and didn't have to drive into Boston during rush hour on both primary day and the first say of public school around here.

[bcv513]

Did you see any of the signs for the guy running against Elizabeth Warren? It's absolutely disgusting

[ufcasey]

Ten people for one seat? That is crazy. 4-5 I could see with the incumbent not running for re-election, but 10 is a whole other ballgame. I'm sure the constituents will all be happy to have this primary over with.

[snshne322]

I voted today in MA3.  I think there was 6 or 7 dems running for Tsongas's seat.  I unfortunately know the Republican running personally.  We're in a pretty solidly blue area, but I'm still freaked out.  I will be so upset if he wins.

I had someone approach me yesterday praising the guy running against Baker. She showed me the check boxes where it's in the pro column that he's firmly pro life, pro gun and anti immigrant. A lot of people took her fliers which was not surprising, but disappointing. However, I did see a bunch look at it and chase her down to give it back.

[scm1011]

It has been an intense primary season in MA for sure. I'm in MA7.

I had a really hard time deciding who to vote for in my district's congressional race (Mike Capuano vs. Ayanna Pressley). I really like Capuano and think he's done a great job, but Pressley's platform is nearly identical and I liked the idea of voting for a black woman (representation matters and all). It really came down to walking into the booth, and in the end I voted for Capuano. I had a discussion over the weekend with a friend who has experience working with both, and her opinion was that while she found Ayanna inspiring and thinks she'd be a great national spokesperson, she wasn't much of a "doer" in her experience. That swayed me, but I'm still second guessing my vote.

I was similarly conflicted on the gubernatorial race (Massie vs. Gonzalez). I voted for Gonzalez, but really I think Charlie Baker is going to win re-election regardless who the Dems put up.

[lovelovelove]

I voted in MA5. Super low turnout so far at our precinct. Less than half the D races had challengers and if they did it was only 1. I haven't checked out the R or libertarian ballots but from the interviews I've heard on the radio and some of yard signs...yikes.

I'm excited to see results tonight though on the D tickets from all over the state. And definitely interested in the Secretary of State contest between Galvin and Zakim.

[seeyalater52]

That MA 3rd race has been a shitshow. I'm a huge Barbara L'Italien fan and I'm annoyed that it looks like Koh is going to win. Chandler I could handle, but Koh bugs me. It's a huge race because it's been a while since there was a truly open House seat with no one waiting in the wings to be coronated.

scm1011, I would have voted for Capuano. I feel like a jerk saying that because I would have loved to elect a black woman to the seat but she is one of the worst people in MA politics in terms of abusing her staff (physically and emotionally) and I just couldn't in good conscience support someone who treats people that way. I know multiple people who have had lasting psychological effects from their time in her office. She is also definitely less of a "do"er. I would have loved to see someone a little more effective run instead (Lydia Edwards!)

The only race aside from these that I feel that strongly on is Sec of State. I'm pretty sure Galvin is going to win and I'm bummed about it. He has been the WORST for a long time and although I'm not the world's biggest Zakim fan at this point I just cannot see justifying having someone as anti-voter access as Galvin in that office. We are trailing behind so many blue states in terms of getting people to the polls and it is absolutely fixable but Galvin is just not willing. Having a primary challenger has moved him just a tiiiiiiny bit on some of the issues (AVR) but he's still the same old dinosaur he has been.

[ESF]

What's the dem race looking like for Governor?

What do MA people think of Baker? My liberal parents there, who hated Romney, actually like Baker, though I think they are taking a wait and see approach for the election in November.

[scm1011]

seeyalater52 , that makes me feel much more confident in my vote - thanks for your perspective! Awful to hear that she's abusive to staffers though, yikes.

I voted for Zakim; fingers crossed he surprises us all with a win.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 4, 2018 12:31:01 GMT -5 ESF said:

What's the dem race looking like for Governor?

What do MA people think of Baker? My liberal parents there, who hated Romney, actually like Baker, though I think they are taking a wait and see approach for the election in November.

It's kind of a tossup between Massie and Gonzalez. They're both pretty good candidates, although Gonzalez ended up as the officially endorsed one so I wouldn't be surprised if he ekes out the win. 

Neither have a real chance against Baker sadly.

Baker is terrible in a quiet sort of way. He's bleeding the state budget every year with major cuts to social service programs and other supports. He'd do a lot worse if he didn't have huge democratic majorities in the legislature to content with. They don't send him a lot of bad bills so his damage is relatively contained. He's not veto-heavy on the major pieces of legislation, which is a guess a small blessing. Most people I think don't pay attention to the things he has unilateral control over, or the specifics of the budget fights and his line item vetoes, so it's easy to say it seems like he is "fine" - especially compared to the truly crazy GOP governors in some other states, but his tenure will have devastating long-term effects on a lot of things, many of which probably aren't super apparent to the average voter right now. 

[imimahoney]

My state senator is being primaried by a new comer but I hope he pulls it out (Lewis). He really is great.

Baker is super popular and does a great job at not pissing most people off. I think he will easily win reelection.

He spoke at my school when he was running against Deval and gave the lamest answers to an auditorium full of teenagers. He is the most uninspiring politician. A boring, stick in the mud.

[lovelovelove]

I can't stand Baker. But overall it seems he gets a positive review. In my opinion he goes out of his way to not publicly rock the boat which keeps him popular. Involved Ds know he sucks and want him out, but it seems hard to actually dent his approval. Hopefully once the primary is over and there's one D to gather support around we can figure it out.

[shauni27]

Sept 4, 2018 12:08:33 GMT -5 bcv513 said:

Did you see any of the signs for the guy running against Elizabeth Warren? It's absolutely disgusting

my google skills are apparently terrible because I am not finding anything. Would you share?

[msmerymac]

seeyalater52, Rufus seemed to have the most yard signs and mailers for sure, but I told my in-laws that the guy who just won the Florida primary did it mostly with a digital budget, not TV/direct mail, so I don't know. I liked Koh's "Let's go, vote Koh" signs, but I don't know anything about him.

ESF, my in-laws like Baker. They are marginally Dem, liberal in the "we're from Massachusetts" way (though they're originally from Iowa), had trouble deciding between McCain and Obama, and are very anti-Trump/voted for Hillary. They also like Elizabeth Warren and want her to win re-election, so who knows. They're Catholic, but happy for abortion to remain legal, which it will since Baker signed the bill overturning the MA trap law.

[countthestars]

I'm in MA3. There are quite a few Gifford signs in my town, though I see some love for Koh on my Facebook feed. I voted for Trahan, and the two others I spoke to voted Gifford/Trahan. So, we'll see I guess.

[5kcandlesinthewind]

Sept 4, 2018 13:17:31 GMT -5 lovelovelove said:

I can't stand Baker. But overall it seems he gets a positive review. In my opinion he goes out of his way to not publicly rock the boat which keeps him popular. Involved Ds know he sucks and want him out, but it seems hard to actually dent his approval. Hopefully once the primary is over and there's one D to gather support around we can figure it out.

I told someone the other day he basically dulls people into submission - he's so bland and unassuming. I hate him, too, but I know more than a few liberal Ds who think he's fine, and it boggles my mind.

Thanks for the Sec. of State note, seeyalater52! That was the one race I was torn on, but it's an otherwise pretty easy ballot in my district - Katherine Clark is unopposed (and awesome) on the D side, as is our State Rep. There's a competitor for our current State Senator, but I have not seen very much from her (or signs supporting her), where there have been a ton of signs for Jason Lewis everywhere and we've been getting calls and mailers constantly.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with Pressley and Capuano. They keep trying to make the race in my hometown district out in western MA sound competitive as well, but I am pretty sure Richie Neal will die in that seat.  (Though never say never, I guess.)

[5kcandlesinthewind]

Sept 4, 2018 12:12:12 GMT -5 snshne322 said:

I voted today in MA3.  I think there was 6 or 7 dems running for Tsongas's seat.  I unfortunately know the Republican running personally.  We're in a pretty solidly blue area, but I'm still freaked out.  I will be so upset if he wins.

I had someone approach me yesterday praising the guy running against Baker. She showed me the check boxes where it's in the pro column that he's firmly pro life, pro gun and anti immigrant. A lot of people took her fliers which was not surprising, but disappointing. However, I did see a bunch look at it and chase her down to give it back.

Was that Lively? He's a total nutjob. If he gets into the double digits, I'd be surprised.

[ESF]

Sept 4, 2018 12:51:06 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Sept 4, 2018 12:31:01 GMT -5 ESF said:

What's the dem race looking like for Governor?

What do MA people think of Baker? My liberal parents there, who hated Romney, actually like Baker, though I think they are taking a wait and see approach for the election in November.

It's kind of a tossup between Massie and Gonzalez. They're both pretty good candidates, although Gonzalez ended up as the officially endorsed one so I wouldn't be surprised if he ekes out the win. 

Neither have a real chance against Baker sadly.

Baker is terrible in a quiet sort of way. He's bleeding the state budget every year with major cuts to social service programs and other supports. He'd do a lot worse if he didn't have huge democratic majorities in the legislature to content with. They don't send him a lot of bad bills so his damage is relatively contained. He's not veto-heavy on the major pieces of legislation, which is a guess a small blessing. Most people I think don't pay attention to the things he has unilateral control over, or the specifics of the budget fights and his line item vetoes, so it's easy to say it seems like he is "fine" - especially compared to the truly crazy GOP governors in some other states, but his tenure will have devastating long-term effects on a lot of things, many of which probably aren't super apparent to the average voter right now. 

That all makes sense. My parents did say he's been good in working with the democratic legislature, so this fits with what I think their impression is.  I think what they like most is that he hates Trump. 

[seeyalater52]

Sept 4, 2018 15:17:18 GMT -5 ESF said:

Sept 4, 2018 12:51:06 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

It's kind of a tossup between Massie and Gonzalez. They're both pretty good candidates, although Gonzalez ended up as the officially endorsed one so I wouldn't be surprised if he ekes out the win. 

Neither have a real chance against Baker sadly.

Baker is terrible in a quiet sort of way. He's bleeding the state budget every year with major cuts to social service programs and other supports. He'd do a lot worse if he didn't have huge democratic majorities in the legislature to content with. They don't send him a lot of bad bills so his damage is relatively contained. He's not veto-heavy on the major pieces of legislation, which is a guess a small blessing. Most people I think don't pay attention to the things he has unilateral control over, or the specifics of the budget fights and his line item vetoes, so it's easy to say it seems like he is "fine" - especially compared to the truly crazy GOP governors in some other states, but his tenure will have devastating long-term effects on a lot of things, many of which probably aren't super apparent to the average voter right now. 

That all makes sense. My parents did say he's been good in working with the democratic legislature, so this fits with what I think their impression is.  I think what they like most is that he hates Trump. 

I think you'd find many in the legislature who would strongly disagree with that statement. He is definitely not Trump, but he's a pretty conservative Republican even so. I have trouble seeing him as a true moderate even if he kind of looks like one in comparison to his nutjob colleagues. 

[seeyalater52]

Sept 4, 2018 15:03:57 GMT -5 5kcandlesinthewind said:

Sept 4, 2018 13:17:31 GMT -5 lovelovelove said:

I can't stand Baker. But overall it seems he gets a positive review. In my opinion he goes out of his way to not publicly rock the boat which keeps him popular. Involved Ds know he sucks and want him out, but it seems hard to actually dent his approval. Hopefully once the primary is over and there's one D to gather support around we can figure it out.

I told someone the other day he basically dulls people into submission - he's so bland and unassuming. I hate him, too, but I know more than a few liberal Ds who think he's fine, and it boggles my mind.

Thanks for the Sec. of State note, seeyalater52 ! That was the one race I was torn on, but it's an otherwise pretty easy ballot in my district - Katherine Clark is unopposed (and awesome) on the D side, as is our State Rep. There's a competitor for our current State Senator, but I have not seen very much from her (or signs supporting her), where there have been a ton of signs for Jason Lewis everywhere and we've been getting calls and mailers constantly.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with Pressley and Capuano. They keep trying to make the race in my hometown district out in western MA sound competitive as well, but I am pretty sure Richie Neal will die in that seat.  (Though never say never, I guess.)

You might be from where I am from! That's my hometown district too. I would love for Neal to lose the seat because Tahira is AMAZING. Also LOVE Katherine Clark. One of my colleagues used to work for her. Notably she has not, to my knowledge, ever thrown a hard object at a member of her staff!  

[snshne322]

Sept 4, 2018 15:06:14 GMT -5 5kcandlesinthewind said:

Sept 4, 2018 12:12:12 GMT -5 snshne322 said:

I voted today in MA3.  I think there was 6 or 7 dems running for Tsongas's seat.  I unfortunately know the Republican running personally.  We're in a pretty solidly blue area, but I'm still freaked out.  I will be so upset if he wins.

I had someone approach me yesterday praising the guy running against Baker. She showed me the check boxes where it's in the pro column that he's firmly pro life, pro gun and anti immigrant. A lot of people took her fliers which was not surprising, but disappointing. However, I did see a bunch look at it and chase her down to give it back.

Was that Lively? He's a total nutjob. If he gets into the double digits, I'd be surprised.

Yep! That's the one.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

Sept 4, 2018 12:08:33 GMT -5 bcv513 said:

Did you see any of the signs for the guy running against Elizabeth Warren? It's absolutely disgusting

He has the face of someone that would be a jackhole in a John Hughes movie.

[MixedBerryJam]

Sept 4, 2018 12:04:04 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Not because it's meaningful, but because I'm in MA today and GOOD GOD. My in-laws have TEN people running for the congressional seat in their district. (I don't know why it's s....

I'm wicked tired so I could be misremembering but don't think it's Ed Markey's old seat because he was my rep and that's not my rep (Kathrine Clark won that seat at the time and it's still in it.) This is Nikki Tsongas' seat with the 10 candidates. (I'm tired because AFTER I voted today I did the 9+ hour drive from my home to Youngstown OH.)

[seeyalater52]

I’m dyyyyiiinnnggg!!! Both my wife’s campaigns are doing well so far. One of them is potentially unseating a pretty powerful incumbent who isn’t that great so I’m thrilled.

[msmerymac]

Sept 4, 2018 20:01:53 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

Sept 4, 2018 12:04:04 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Not because it's meaningful, but because I'm in MA today and GOOD GOD. My in-laws have TEN people running for the congressional seat in their district. (I don't know why it's s....

I'm wicked tired so I could be misremembering but don't think it's Ed Markey's old seat because he was my rep and that's not my rep (Kathrine Clark won that seat at the time and it's still in it.) This is Nikki Tsongas' seat with the 10 candidates. (I'm tired because AFTER I voted today I did the 9+ hour drive from my home to Youngstown OH.)

Okay, I guess technically this district isn't. Markey was most recently the 5th (Katherine Clark) and previously in the 7th, but my in-laws WERE in one or both of those districts before and are now in the 3rd, which used to be situated more south, like Attleboro area, I guess. They were redistricted to Nikki Tsongas's district in 2013. Never mind!

ETA: LOL they were in Markey's district before 2003 on closer inspection. My husband was likely under the impression they were in his district more recently, but in reality, it was when he was in college and potentially voted for him. (I know my H voted in MA at some point in college because he voted for Ted Kennedy, but he also went to college in New Hampshire, which is always a big deal in presidential election years.)

[MixedBerryJam]

Sept 4, 2018 15:23:51 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Sept 4, 2018 15:03:57 GMT -5 5kcandlesinthewind said:

I told someone the other day he basically dulls people into submission - he's so bland and unassuming ...

You might be from where I am from! That's my hometown district too. I would love for Neal to lose the seat because Tahira is AMAZING. Also LOVE Katherine Clark. One of my colleagues used to work for her. Notably she has not, to my knowledge, ever thrown a hard object at a member of her staff!  

I'm not a huge Charlie Baker fan but he hasn't been awful and in any other cycle might actually have voted for him but this year? If you're still a republican you belong to the party that is enabling that shit stain in Washington and you don't deserve my vote.

I had a really hard time choosing between Massie and Gonzalez, and actually had decided on Maggie based on his history on single payer. Then my son reminded me that gonzalez was in the Patrick administration. Going with an outsider with no political experience simply because no political experience was a supposed to be a good thing got us that fucking shit stain in the White House, so that flipped me to Gonzalez in the end. 

[MixedBerryJam]

Sept 4, 2018 20:09:30 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Sept 4, 2018 20:01:53 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

I'm wicked tired so I could be misremembering but don't think it's Ed Markey's old seat because he was my rep and that's not my rep (Kathrine Clark won that seat at the time and it's still in it.) This is Nikki Tsongas' seat with the 10 candidates. (I'm tired because AFTER I voted today I did the 9+ hour drive from my home to Youngstown OH.)

Okay, I guess technically this district isn't. Markey was most recently the 5th (Katherine Clark) and previously in the 7th, but my in-laws WERE in one or both of those districts before and are now in the 3rd, which used to be situated more south, like Attleboro area, I guess. They were redistricted to Nikki Tsongas's district in 2013. Never mind!

ETA: LOL they were in Markey's district before 2003 on closer inspection. My husband was likely under the impression they were in his district more recently, but in reality, it was when he was in college and potentially voted for him. (I know my H voted in MA at some point in college because he voted for Ted Kennedy, but he also went to college in New Hampshire, which is always a big deal in presidential election years.)

I was going to challenge you to a duel over it! 

[seeyalater52]

That feeling when the public vote margin and what campaigns are reporting with the individual precinct counts are not the same and you’re trying to figure out if you know more or if they know more...

Eeeek.

[5kcandlesinthewind]

HOLY SHIT CAPUANO CONCEDED!  With something like 4% of the vote in.

[seeyalater52]

I may not survive the night. Send help.