Massachusetts politics

Reynolds Douglass Graves, CEO of The Graves Group lobbying firm, is hoping to help elect more Black Democratic candidates to local government offices in Massachusetts.

In the fields of politics and public policy, Boston’s communities of color made historic gains in 2022, with former City Councilor Andrea Campbell’s elevation to attorney general, Michelle Wu’s first full year as mayor and, for the first few months, a majority of people of color on the City Council.

Andrea Campbell made the jump from a little-known Boston city councilor to the Democratic nominee for attorney general in just six years.

Democratic candidates vying to represent the Massachusetts House of Representatives’ 11th Suffolk District that comprises Chelsea and part of Everett came together in a virtual forum last week hosted by the progressive political group Our Revolution Massachusetts.

At some point in August 2020 while the COVID-19 pandemic was raging, Denise Lauers exhausted her savings and began looking for help feeding herself and her two sons.

The three Democrats running for the Massachusetts attorney general seat being vacated by Maura Healey faced off last Thursday in their first debate, with candidates seeking to differentiate themselves from the pack by citing their experiences using the law to fight injustice.

Roxbury activist Dianne Wilkerson appears to be restarting her political career. Earlier this year, she said she was contemplating a run for the 2nd Suffolk District seat, which is being vacated by gubernatorial candidate Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz.

Surrounded by elected officials and supporters in Roslindale Square on Tuesday, District 5 City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo announced he is running for Suffolk County District attorney.

When City Councilor Lydia Edwards entered Spinelli’s in East Boston, where she held her election night party, it was with tears of joy on her face and her campaign team in tow to announce victory in the special primary election for the vacant First Suffolk and Middlesex seat in the state Senate.

The race for the newly-drawn 2nd Suffolk District seat is open and state Reps Liz Miranda and Nika Elugardo are in.

Since Rep. Chynah Tyler took over the Caucus, many of the body’s longstanding practices have been upended. The body has not agreed on an agenda for the year, has not held regularly scheduled meetings and has passed up opportunities to weigh in on key issues.

Sponsored by Rep. Liz Miranda, Sen. Jamie Eldridge and Rep. Ruth Balser, the Safe Communities Act limits state law enforcement’s involvement in federal immigration enforcement. Advocates consider this a part of public health policy as well as immigration policy, since so many of Massachusetts’ immigrants are essential workers during the pandemic.