A struggle between a trainer’s union and enterprise teams over the destiny of the MCAS was the costliest poll query battle in Massachusetts throughout the 2024 election cycle, in accordance with the latest accounting, with almost $20 million spent between the 2 sides for the reason that begin of the 12 months.
The staggering quantity, final up to date in state data on Nov. 5, both {dollars} spent outright by the 2 poll query committees or logged as in-kind contributions for items or companies, underscores the load of the measure, which sought to do away with the MCAS as a commencement requirement for highschool college students.
The Committee for Excessive Requirements Not Excessive Stakes efficiently satisfied voters to finish the usage of the check as a commencement requirement and gained with over 59% of the vote. The committee, largely backed by the Massachusetts Lecturers Affiliation, mentioned it was “truly a collective victory.”
The group argued the check pressured lecturers to slender their curriculum in an try to assist college students move the standardized check. Supporters additionally mentioned the MCAS damage college students with a studying incapacity.
“Change is never easy or swift. When it comes to our children’s education, we must be certain that we are acting in their best interests. But there are no better experts in what our children need to succeed academically than the educators working every day in the classrooms of our public schools,” the union mentioned in an announcement after Election Day.
The committee solely spent $750,000 in 2024 however obtained over $14 million in in-kind contributions from the Massachusetts Lecturers Affiliation for every part from voter outreach to marketing campaign indicators and employees journey bills to promoting buys, state knowledge exhibits.
However opponents mentioned eliminating the testing requirement and not using a substitute was reckless.
“The passage of Question 2 opens the door to greater inequity; our coalition intends to ensure that door does not stay open. Those responsible for our state’s public education system need to have an honest conversation about whether moving forward with this proposal is the right decision for Massachusetts,” the Shield Our Youngsters’ Future: Vote No on 2 coalition mentioned.
The group spent almost $5 million, together with {dollars} logged as in-kind contributions, to oppose the query however fell quick with solely 40% of the vote, in accordance with state knowledge. — Chris Van Buskirk
Ought to Massachusetts Democrats study something from the 2024 election?
The day after the election, when it was clear Donald Trump had efficiently accomplished a sweep to return to the White Home, Massachusetts Home Speaker Ron Mariano urged the Democratic Get together to view the outcomes as a “wake-up call.”
He was one among many in Massachusetts who urged these on the left to refocus themselves on points that drove folks away from the occasion after Trump made positive factors in New England. He additionally mentioned native lawmakers’ jobs could have “heightened importance” underneath a second Trump time period.
Mariano’s remarks got here after a longtime incumbent within the Massachusetts Home misplaced to a Republican and an open seat that was final held by a Democrat was flipped by a conservative. Democrats additionally gained two seats, victories that meant the partisan breakdown within the chamber wouldn’t change.
The Quincy Democrat identified that “net-zero” outcome and appeared to critique the one incumbent Home Democrat to lose, Rep. Pat Haddad of Somerset, when requested Wednesday if there have been any classes to be realized from the election.
“I don’t understand why we need a lesson from two lost seats. What is the catastrophe there that you see that I’m missing,” he mentioned. “I think there’s introspection about the candidates. How hard did they work?”
It was a remark that instantly raised eyebrows as a result of Haddad was caring for her in poor health husband, who died over the summer time, throughout marketing campaign season.
Mariano nearly instantly walked again his remarks, saying in a follow-up assertion that he was attempting to refute the “suggestion that there was a statewide trend towards electing a greater number of Republicans to the House here in Massachusetts.”
He additionally mentioned he thought of Haddad, who he has served with since 2001, a “longtime friend.”
“Over the past few years, Rep. Haddad cared for her family throughout her husband’s illness, and after his passing this summer, limiting her ability to vigorously campaign in a competitive district. The House will be worse off without Rep. Haddad’s valuable, nuanced perspective on so many issues,” he mentioned. — Chris Van Buskirk
Walsh’s Postal Service bid withdrawn
On the heels of Kamala Harris’ election loss, former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s nomination to function a governor of the U.S. Postal Service was withdrawn from the Senate by President Joe Biden, the White Home introduced on Thursday.
Walsh’s title had been submitted for consideration to the U.S. Senate on Feb. 29 for a time period expiring in 2029, a job that may have allowed the longtime union chief from Dorchester to maintain his day job as head of the NHL Gamers’ Affiliation.
The White Home didn’t present a motive for why Biden pulled the nomination for Walsh, who beforehand labored for his administration as secretary of labor earlier than departing for what was reportedly a large pay hike on the NHL gamers’ union.
Biden ended his reelection bid amid public and political stress after a poor debate efficiency that paved the best way for Vice President Kamala Harris to safe the Democratic nomination. He’ll hand over the reins to President-elect Donald Trump, who he defeated in 2020, in January.
Walsh performed a key position in vetting Harris’ potential operating mates, and was floated as a doable chief of employees for her administration, in accordance with a prior report by Politico. — Gayla Cawley
