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The Mass. primary down-ballot races that matter most

DA races and Wu-backed Senate challenges are quietly deciding who holds real power in Massachusetts.

Politics

Deehan here with Spill of the Hill, my column unraveling Massachusetts politics.While political news in Massachusetts this cycle has centered on marquee races like the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Democratic U.S. Senate primary" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/08/markey-moulton-debate-massachusetts" data-vars-content-id="6a679057-9069-4761-8ffd-e5dd82bd9cee" data-vars-headline="The Mass. primary down-ballot races that matter most" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/08/markey-moulton-debate-massachusetts" target="_self">Democratic U.S. Senate primary</a>, some of the contests getting the least attention will do the most to shape how power is wielded in Massachusetts.Why it matters: Three things are happening: DA races are testing prosecutorial power, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is pushing for more clout in the state Senate and disputes over how the Legislature actually operates are dominating down-ballot races.

10 Boston etiquette tips for new students and transplants

The stereotype that people are kind, not nice, bears some truth but is often misunderstood.

Culture

Steph here, with some advice for all the college students and transplants moving in this month.The intrigue: The stereotype that people here are kind, not nice, bears some truth but is often misunderstood.

Where Trump's tariffs hit Massachusetts the hardest

States bear wildly different burdens from President Trump's $342 billion in tariffs.

Money

States bear wildly different estimated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tariff" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/economy/tariffs" data-vars-content-id="db19257b-07fb-4b99-a86c-b43ba5fd096d" data-vars-headline="Where Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit Massachusetts the hardest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/economy/tariffs" target="_self">tariff</a> burdens from President <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump&#x27;s " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="db19257b-07fb-4b99-a86c-b43ba5fd096d" data-vars-headline="Where Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit Massachusetts the hardest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump&#x27;s </a>trade actions since the start of 2025, from California&#x27;s<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" $62.8 billion" data-vars-click-url="https://tariffs.org/" data-vars-content-id="db19257b-07fb-4b99-a86c-b43ba5fd096d" data-vars-headline="Where Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit Massachusetts the hardest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tariffs.org/" target="_blank"> $62.8 billion</a> share to Wyoming&#x27;s $107 million.Why it matters: Local industries dictate how and how hard communities have been hit — in this case, the impact on Massachusetts&#x27; health care industry.

Lynch survives Roath's primary challenge

The 71-year-old incumbent outlasted a heavily funded challenger who attacked his record on health care and immigration.

South Boston Rep. Stephen Lynch turned back a stiff primary challenge from attorney Patrick Roath on Tuesday, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Associated Press" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/massachusetts-primary-results/" data-vars-content-id="04f127e7-4151-4ada-9c79-30a2ad3672a0" data-vars-headline="Lynch survives Roath&#x27;s primary challenge" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/massachusetts-primary-results/" target="_blank">the Associated Press</a>.Why it matters: Lynch&#x27;s win, in the Boston and South Shore-based district he&#x27;s held since 2001, shows voters preferred experience and familiarity over new blood.

Cambridge Recipe Club shares accessible home cooking

The Cambridge Recipe Club is amassing subscribers interested in low-cost, accessible meals.

Food and Drink

A Cambridge man is channeling his love of home cooking into a newsletter for neighbors and fellow foodies.The intrigue: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cambridge Recipe Club" data-vars-click-url="https://signup.cambridgerecipeclub.com/" data-vars-content-id="2e6e6e89-1afc-4efe-9b15-79ec2e9c75a2" data-vars-headline="Cambridge Recipe Club shares accessible home cooking" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://signup.cambridgerecipeclub.com/" target="_blank">Cambridge Recipe Club</a> is amassing thousands of subscribers interested in low-cost, accessible ideas for meals.

PickleBOS opens second location in Charlestown

PickleBOS' 23,000-square-foot site has 10 indoor courts, a pro shop, a lounge and free parking.

Business

PickleBOS opened on Rutherford Avenue this week, months after launching their first location in South Boston.The intrigue: The space brings a trendy pickleball club to the Charlestown Labs site owned by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Related Beal," data-vars-click-url="https://www.relatedbeal.com/our-company/properties/charlestown-labs" data-vars-content-id="01281f9f-8699-4884-934e-6919b7af488f" data-vars-headline="PickleBOS opens second location in Charlestown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.relatedbeal.com/our-company/properties/charlestown-labs" target="_blank">Related Beal,</a> just down the road from Hood Park.

Coworking can be costly in Boston, but options abound

Coworking companies promise a haven for productivity and community, but it'll cost you.

Coworking companies, large and small, promise a haven for productivity and maybe even community, but it&#x27;ll cost you.The big picture: Boston coworking spaces must balance the cost of doing business in one of the nation&#x27;s costliest real estate markets with members&#x27; tighter budgets.

Drivers can't figure out new pedestrian crosswalks

What to know about the the solid and flashing lights.

Public Safety

Massachusetts drivers are struggling to interpret new flashing crosswalks, with nearly a quarter running red lights and most misusing the flashing red phase, according to University of Massachusetts Amherst research.

Goodbye, ugly white flexposts. Hello, Zebra barriers.

Boston is testing new bike lane barriers to replace flexible posts.

News

Boston is getting rid of the flexible plastic posts that separate bike lanes from car traffic and switching to more durable alternatives.Why it matters: Ditching the nasty white posts is a rare middle ground for both activist cyclists and vocal drivers. Both groups tend to dislike the current flexposts that break and bend too easily.

Allston-Brighton festival puts arts (and rats) in the spotlight

One part arts fest, one part rat education initiative

Music

Just like the armies of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rodents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2024/12/04/rats-with-cars-research" data-vars-content-id="cf264446-3b55-4493-8bfe-dd85bdaa7d76" data-vars-headline="Allston-Brighton festival puts arts (and rats) in the spotlight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2024/12/04/rats-with-cars-research" target="_self">rodents</a> that rule Boston&#x27;s neighborhoods, the annual Rat City Arts Festival is back, bigger and better each year.Why it matters: More than 800 people will attend. In its fourth year, the Allston-Brighton-based fest will see significant upgrades and relocate to the Charles River Speedway.

Boston gets a Haitian cultural center, a dream 25 years in the making

The Toussaint Louverture Cultural Center opened this week.

The Toussaint Louverture Cultural Center of Massachusetts — an homage to Boston&#x27;s Haitian community — opened this week in the West End.Why it matters: The center was a dream 25 years in the making in Boston&#x27;s Haitian community, led partly by community leaders Marie and Wilner Auguste.

You can cowork guilt-free — and even borrow a monitor — at this Boston restaurant

The Work From Shy Bird food and drink deal is $18 on weekdays.

Shy Bird is doubling as a coworking space during breakfast and lunch hours.The intrigue: While other restaurants scale back their daytime hours, Shy Bird wants to draw remote workers in for $18 a visit.

With new piano lab, East Boston students straddle two worlds

A Boston school has drawn students to Beethoven, Vivaldi — and superstar Juan Gabriel.

An East Boston school has drawn students to Beethoven, Vivaldi — and the likes of Mexican superstar Juan Gabriel.<ul><li>A new piano lab aims to give a boost to the majority-Latino school&#x27;s bicultural music program.</li></ul>

Harvard Square's iconic "Pit" demolished for plaza renovation

The iconic square has been demolished for plaza renovation.

Education

The Pit, a sunken brick and stone seating area in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Harvard Square" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/02/06/bookstores-boston-cambridge-somerville" data-vars-content-id="f8b900c0-86bc-4f9a-9037-e2372243793b" data-vars-headline="Harvard Square&#x27;s iconic &quot;Pit&quot; demolished for plaza renovation" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/02/06/bookstores-boston-cambridge-somerville" target="_self">Harvard Square</a> beloved by generations of punks, metalheads, hardcore kids and uncategorizable crusty weirdos, has been demolished as part of the area&#x27;s ongoing renovation project.Why it matters: The Pit served as a counterculture hub for decades since its construction in 1982 to accompany the then-new Harvard station Red Line entrance.

Neighborhoods

Cambridge Recipe Club shares accessible home cooking

PickleBOS opens second location in Charlestown

Coworking can be costly in Boston, but options abound

Drivers can't figure out new pedestrian crosswalks

Goodbye, ugly white flexposts. Hello, Zebra barriers.