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Healey ties Minogue to Trump; he presses her on accountability in first governor debate

Healey cited the president on costs, schools and immigration. Minogue pressed her record on taxes, spending and a Springfield courthouse deal.

Politics

Gov. Maura Healey invoked the specter of President Trump on nearly every issue in her first debate with challenger Mike Minogue, tying her reelection bid to national trends instead of state government work.Why it matters: Minogue tried to keep the conversation on state-level results to make voters&#x27; choice on Nov. 3 more of a referendum on Healey&#x27;s performance over the past four years.

Boston official used PPP loan for rent, Uber Eats and child support, feds say

Authorities say he filed a PPP loan claiming to be a mechanic. He's head of city security.

Federal authorities say the city of Boston&#x27;s head of security filed a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fraudulent pandemic loan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/30/54-billion-covid-aid-fraud-social-security-numbers" data-vars-content-id="652d1be5-0d21-4c49-8e70-0c9151d22e9f" data-vars-headline="Boston official used PPP loan for rent, Uber Eats and child support, feds say" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/30/54-billion-covid-aid-fraud-social-security-numbers" target="_self">fraudulent pandemic loan</a> application and used over $20,000 in taxpayer funds on personal expenses.Between the lines: U.S. Attorney Leah Foley&#x27;s office announced the charges and plea agreement in one fell swoop Thursday afternoon, weeks after quietly proposing a plea agreement.

Mass. couple wants to bring Bolivian food back to Boston

Sandra Roque and her husband sell Bolivian and Dominican food in Raynham. But Boston's home.

Food and Drink

Sandra Roque was hard-pressed to find empanadas and other dishes from her native Bolivia.<ul><li>So, she started selling them herself.</li></ul>

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Mass. Sen. William Brownsberger wins recount against Daniel Lander

Brownsberger will retain his seat on Beacon Hill.

Mass. Sen. William Brownsberger survived <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a primary challenge" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/08/31/middlesex-suffolk-da-state-senate-primary-massachusetts-brownsberger-collins-decker-mackay" data-vars-content-id="157d746f-7359-4ae8-bd37-c8981b2fedae" data-vars-headline="Mass. Sen. William Brownsberger wins recount against Daniel Lander" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/08/31/middlesex-suffolk-da-state-senate-primary-massachusetts-brownsberger-collins-decker-mackay" target="_self">a primary challenge</a> against Daniel Lander, a former Wu administration aide, election officials found Thursday.Why it matters: The narrow race, which triggered a recount, was seen as a proxy battle between Senate leadership and Mayor Michelle Wu after their clash over a property tax relief bill.

Feds vs. states mail-in voting fight comes to a head

Massachusetts voting rights groups are leading one of several lawsuits over a new federal rule.

The Supreme Court must decide whether to let the U.S. Postal Service overhaul states&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mail-in voting systems" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/09/02/mail-in-voting-usps-massachusetts-lawsuit" data-vars-content-id="6146ae3a-83ec-4898-a9be-8d172899d640" data-vars-headline="Feds vs. states mail-in voting fight comes to a head" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/09/02/mail-in-voting-usps-massachusetts-lawsuit" target="_self">mail-in voting systems</a> this fall.The big picture: The U.S. Postal Service&#x27;s plans, which the Trump administration says are meant to curb voter fraud, have sparked legal battles by voting rights groups and state officials who say this would derail their elections and likely disenfranchise voters.

Mass. voting rights groups fight USPS mail-in voting overhaul

Voting rights groups argue the change could disenfranchise voters.

Attorneys on Thursday will make their case for why a federal judge in Boston should stop the Trump administration from overhauling <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mail-in voting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/04/06/massachusetts-mail-in-voting-trump" data-vars-content-id="50764fe8-7847-42ad-804a-a1982e113552" data-vars-headline="Mass. voting rights groups fight USPS mail-in voting overhaul" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/04/06/massachusetts-mail-in-voting-trump" target="_self">mail-in voting</a> this November.The big picture: The lawsuit, one of several legal challenges nationwide, could determine whether the states or the federal government can regulate mail-in ballots in a process that voting rights groups argue could disenfranchise voters.

Mass. has thousands of jailed voters. Few had votes counted in 2024.

Some jailed voters can still cast their ballots, but advocates say several barriers stand in the way.

Just 5% of eligible incarcerated voters in Massachusetts cast their ballots in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2024 election," data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2024/10/01/massachusetts-voter-guide-2024-general-election" data-vars-content-id="026b3222-5d45-44e8-8d4d-5adc8e22a1a4" data-vars-headline="Mass. has thousands of jailed voters. Few had votes counted in 2024." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2024/10/01/massachusetts-voter-guide-2024-general-election" target="_self">2024 election,</a> according to a long-awaited report on jail-based voting.The big picture: The report, which Secretary of State William Galvin released after a court-ordered settlement, highlights barriers to participating in elections while locked up, voting rights advocates say.

Mass. joins growing list of lawsuits against Trump's mail-in voting order

Massachusetts joined a 23-state lawsuit, while a Massachusetts voting rights group filed another.

Lawsuits are piling up against <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="President Trump&#x27;s executive order" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/04/03/wa-lawsuit-trump-executive-order-mail-voting-usps-ballots-voter-list" data-vars-content-id="bc16e170-606c-4b8f-8b87-253df41059df" data-vars-headline="Mass. joins growing list of lawsuits against Trump&#x27;s mail-in voting order" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/04/03/wa-lawsuit-trump-executive-order-mail-voting-usps-ballots-voter-list" target="_self">President Trump&#x27;s executive order</a> requiring the feds to create and oversee a &quot;citizenship list&quot; determining who can get an election ballot by mail.Why it matters: The executive order threatens &quot;bedrock principles of federalism and separation of powers,&quot; according to a 23-state lawsuit that Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell joined last week.

Healey: Trump will target elections

Outlined four specific tactics she says the federal government could use to interfere with voting

Gov. Maura Healey used Saturday&#x27;s &quot;No Kings&quot; rally on Boston Common and a subsequent State House press conference Monday to lay out a warning about President Donald Trump: she believes his administration will attempt to interfere with the 2026 elections.Why it matters: Healey, a former attorney general running for a second term as governor, framed federal election interference as a likely scenario, citing incidents involving a California sheriff and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fulton County, Georgia" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/02/05/fulton-county-election-raid-trump-retribution-georgia-voting" data-vars-content-id="f98be720-7001-469a-84c2-75ec33fac825" data-vars-headline="Healey: Trump will target elections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/02/05/fulton-county-election-raid-trump-retribution-georgia-voting" target="_self">Fulton County, Georgia</a>, as showing an emerging pattern.

Willie Burnley Jr. and Jake Wilson face off for Somerville mayor

The two councilors are head-to-head after eliminating the incumbent mayor

With <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mayor Katjana Ballantyne out" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/09/19/why-somerville-fired-mayor-ballantyne" data-vars-content-id="0806eca5-8ad3-4921-a444-881d37e31e84" data-vars-headline="Willie Burnley Jr. and Jake Wilson face off for Somerville mayor" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/09/19/why-somerville-fired-mayor-ballantyne" target="_self">Mayor Katjana Ballantyne out</a> of the race, Willie Burnley Jr. and Jake Wilson are offering different takes on progressive leadership for Somerville.Why it matters: The two city councilors share liberal values but have distinct backgrounds that will play a role in their one-on-one sprint to Nov. 4.

Why Somerville fired Mayor Ballantyne

Ballantyne's defeat shows there's significant voter dissatisfaction in the progressive city.

Somerville voters ousted Mayor Katjana Ballantyne from office after two terms, topped by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="two opponents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/09/19/willie-burnley-jr-and-jake-wilson-face-off-for-somerville-mayor" data-vars-content-id="db3c89e7-4e9b-4155-84ae-e95768ed9fef" data-vars-headline="Why Somerville fired Mayor Ballantyne" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/09/19/willie-burnley-jr-and-jake-wilson-face-off-for-somerville-mayor" target="_self">two opponents</a> who said she lacked responsive leadership in trying times.Why it matters: Delivering city services still matters, even amid a nationalized political atmosphere.

Michelle Wu crushes in prelim election; Josh Kraft faces uphill fight

Kraft has eight weeks to reinvent himself.

Election

Mayor Michelle Wu dominated Tuesday&#x27;s preliminary election for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mayor" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/09/09/boston-election-michelle-wu-josh-kraft-election-preliminary" data-vars-content-id="8b6f3bee-b1ae-4a45-a08e-b4e2c12c0844" data-vars-headline="Michelle Wu crushes in prelim election; Josh Kraft faces uphill fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/09/09/boston-election-michelle-wu-josh-kraft-election-preliminary" target="_self">mayor</a> of Boston with a decisive victory over challenger Josh Kraft that validated predictions showing the incumbent&#x27;s massive popularity with voters.Why it matters: The 48 percentage point margin suggests Wu has replicated and even exceeded the winning coalition she put together in 2021.

Boston goes to the polls in Wu vs. Kraft mayoral race

Today's election narrows the four-candidate field to two finalists

If recent polling holds true, Mayor Michelle Wu has a commanding advantage over challenger Josh Kraft heading into today&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="preliminary election for mayor" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/08/20/mayor-election-issues-michelle-wu-joshua-kraft" data-vars-content-id="a46422d6-49f6-46f2-a723-f98fc82d0821" data-vars-headline="Boston goes to the polls in Wu vs. Kraft mayoral race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/08/20/mayor-election-issues-michelle-wu-joshua-kraft" target="_self">preliminary election for mayor</a>.Why it matters: Today&#x27;s election narrows the four-candidate field to two finalists who will face off in November&#x27;s general election.

Election 🗳️

Mass. Sen. William Brownsberger wins recount against Daniel Lander

Feds vs. states mail-in voting fight comes to a head

Mass. voting rights groups fight USPS mail-in voting overhaul

Mass. has thousands of jailed voters. Few had votes counted in 2024.

Mass. joins growing list of lawsuits against Trump's mail-in voting order