POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: TSONGAS-seat recount? — JALSA’s new midterm tactic — WORCESTER ballpark clears hurdle

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TSONGAS-seat recount? — JALSA’s new midterm tactic — WORCESTER ballpark clears hurdle
09/06/2018 06:47 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @laurendezenski)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.

THE TSONGAS ARENA SHOW'S NOT OVER — It's almost fitting that the crowded, chaotic primary contest for Rep. Niki Tsongas' vacant House seat is finishing in a crowded, chaotic way.

The 10-way Democratic primary appears headed for a recount as a razor-thin margin separates Lori Trahan and Dan Koh from the number one spot. Late Tuesday night, Trahan declared victory. The final totals show just 52 votes separate Trahan and Koh, according to the Associated Press vote tallies, and both come in with 21 percent of the vote.

But Koh, former chief of staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, has refused to concede, and his campaign put out word midday Wednesday that "Given the closeness of the results in the 3rd CD — with 85,000 votes cast and only a handful of votes separating the top two finishers — and the fact that all ballots, including possibly hundreds of provisional ballots, have not been counted, it's clear that the final outcome of the election will not be known for a few days."

A recount appears in the cards, according to the Koh campaign, which said it "will be reviewing the process for a recount to ensure everyone who voted is properly counted." Trahan, meanwhile, is adamant she is the victor — saying so in a brief press conference where the former chief of staff to Rep. Marty Meehan did not take reporters' questions.

The 52-vote difference between Trahan and Koh is small enough to kick off a recount should the candidates request it — it falls within the .5 percentage point margin of victory required for a recount. If the recount does take place, 500 signatures from registered Democratic voters must be filed with the secretary of state's office by 5 p.m. on Friday. The eventual victor of the Democratic primary still has another race to win before he or she reaches Congress — the winner will face Republican Rick Green in November.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com..

 TODAY — Ayanna Pressley returns to public events a day after canceling her schedule due to symptoms of dehydration and exhaustion. She's got one appearance on the books today: A countdown to kindergarten event in East Boston late this morning — LG Karyn Polito visits the Pelham to join western Mass officials, Comcast executives and leaders from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute to celebrate the completion of the MBI's nine-town Broadband Extension Program — Mayor Marty Walsh, Interim BPS Superintendent Laura Perille , and volunteers will welcome Boston Public Schools students, teachers, and staff back to their schools to begin the 2018-2019 school year.

ON THE STUMP —
NEW THIS MORNING - The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action has formed a 501(c)4 organization, JALSA Impact, that will engage the progressive Jewish community of Massachusetts in electoral organizing ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, according to JALSA : JALSA Impact will also be reaching out to the Massachusetts Congressional delegation to create opportunities for connection to the progressive Jewish community. "These times call for us to use every tool in our toolkit to dismantle hate and stand up for our Jewish values," said Cindy Rowe, Executive Director of JALSA Impact. "It is no longer enough that we work to change public policy. We have reached a point in this country that we must also change the policy makers in Washington. JALSA Impact will harness the power of the Massachusetts progressive Jewish community to take back our democracy and achieve social justice."

- "'This is the first wave of an invasion,'" by David Siders, POLITICO: "Pressley's win capped two weeks of party establishment setbacks, including Gillum's upset last week of former Rep. Gwen Graham in Florida's gubernatorial primary. On Tuesday, the forces of the progressive tea party appeared to leave their mark in another major race — playing at least a supporting role in Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's decision not to seek a third term."

- "Baker's Democratic challenger calls for outside cash limits," by the Associated Press: "Baker's campaign seemed initially cool to the idea of a so-called 'people's pledge,' saying only that it planned to abide by the state's campaign finance laws."

- "Boston philanthropist Jack Connors, a Democrat, will chair Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker's re-election campaign," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "Connors said he is a 'lifelong Democrat,' who voted in the Democratic primary on Tuesday. He left his ballot blank in the Democratic primary for governor, because, he said, 'I already have my governor.'"

- "Gov. Charlie Baker on GOP U.S. Senate race: 'It's a secret ballot,'" by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "There's a contested Republican primary election to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, but the state's most powerful Republican isn't saying who he voted for."

SAD FOR YOU BRISTOL COUNTY!
- "Bristol Co. is best region for Gov. Baker's conservative challenger Lively," by Ted Nesi, WPRI: "Republican voters in Bristol County continue to be more aligned with the Donald Trump wing of the GOP than their counterparts in other parts of the Bay State."

- "Ayanna Pressley's victory gives a win to Maura Healey," by Joshua Miller, Boston Globe: "When Ayanna Pressley took the microphone Wednesday morning celebrating her upset victory, a panoply of top state Democratic leaders stood behind her, smiling and applauding.

  ... But only one of them, Attorney General Maura T. Healey, had stood with Pressley the day before, when she was just an insurgent challenger to a 10-term congressman backed heavily by the political establishment."

THE #mapoli TALKER - "The big loser in the primaries? Boston Mayor Marty Walsh," by Joan Vennochi, Boston Globe: "Whatever the source of Walsh's miscalculation, he's the biggest loser, next to Capuano, in a race watched closely around the country. And the Boston mayor, who last month was chatting up Democrats in Iowa, knows it. As Capuano conceded defeat, Walsh tweeted his congratulations to Pressley, noting 'The #MA7 district is in good hands with your vision and leadership.' Too bad he couldn't see that earlier, but no surprise."

- "Jo Comerford wins Massachusetts senate seat held by former Sen. Stanley Rosenberg," by Diane Lederman, Springfield Republican: "Jo Comerford, one of three write in-candidates for the Hampshire-Franklin-Worcester County Senate District, has won the seat held by former Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, according to the Associated Press."

 DATELINE BEACON HILL —
- "DeLeo: "Good night" for House Dems despite Sanchez, Rushing losses," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "The shocking upsets of two prominent House Democrats Tuesday night is being called a strong rebuke of House Speaker Robert DeLeo's leadership, but the veteran House leader dismissed that narrative Wednesday as one that overlooks the success of House Democrats across the state."

- "CCC's environmental workgroup needs to focus on disposal, compostables," by Christine Giraud, Dig Boston: "DigBoston reached out to all the dispensaries in Mass that were approved to sell cannabis before 2018, asking if they have a waste disposal plan in place. None responded to our inquiries about where they are taking their compostables."

DIEHL CAN'T HELP HIMSELF!

FRONT PAGE PLAY — Herald: "Diehl accuses Warren of leading the left's ... OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE" —Globe: "On the day after, Pressley hailed as sign of the times," "Relative held in murders of 3 children, their mother," "25-year quest to find father leads man to Catholic priest."

THE LOCAL ANGLE —
- "Worcester City Council committee OKs ballpark package," by Nick Kotsopoulos, Worcester Telegram: "The proposed deal and financing package to bring the Pawtucket Red Sox to the city cleared its first local legislative hurdle Wednesday night, winning the approval of the City Council Economic Development Committee."

- "Truro shark bite highlights communication limits," by Mary Ann Bragg, Cape Cod Times: "In his participation in a collaboration of the Cape's easternmost towns, Cape Cod National Seashore and the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, Skomal said, public safety responses have been reported as hampered, particularly in the outermost parts of Cape Cod."

- "Sturbridge jeweler takes heat for 'take a knee' billboard," by Elaine Thompson, Worcester Telegram: "The owners of a local jewelry store say they received death threats after a billboard advertising their business included a reference to NFL players who kneel during the national anthem in protest of racial injustices."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanagan, Elizabeth Warren and Marty Walsh campaign alums Gabrielle Farrell, Republican MA-03 candidate Rick Green, WBUR reporter Curt Nickisch, and Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu's chief of staff Dave Vittorini.

DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? — Yes! The Red Sox bested the Braves 9-8.

IN CASE YOU MISSED LAST NIGHT'S HORSE RACE LIVE EVENT, WE'VE GOT ALL THE AUDIO - The Horse Race goes LIVE in this special post-primary "winner's circle." We recorded in front of a live studio audience at WeWork Boston's One Beacon office. President of the MassInc Polling Group, Steve Koczela and Politico Massachusetts' Lauren Dezenski break down all things Massachusetts primaries. ... On this extended episode, we welcomed Meghna Chakrabarti Host of NPR's "On Point" to discuss MA elections up and down the ticket. We then welcomed Gus Bickford, chair of Mass Dems, to talk strategy as we move from primary, to general, and national elections. And finally we have Alex Goldstein, an advisor to Ayanna Pressley campaign, to tell us all about what it was like to be in the Pressley campaign room on election night. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud

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