With Republicans holding high-level offices becoming a distant memory in Massachusetts, the state’s top Democrats had only one place left to plant their punches during state Sen. Nick Collins’ annual smackdown St. Patrick’s Day breakfast:
Sure, there were some swipes at John Deaton, the crypto advocate and attorney who recently relocated from Rhode Island to mount a Republican challenge against Sen. Elizabeth Warren. And Warren took some shots at former Gov. Charlie Baker and Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson.
But for the most part, the jabs were Democrat-on-Democrat. And no one, not even those who couldn’t make the event, was safe. The supposedly good-natured ribbing laid bare not only the real points of tension between certain Democrats, but the higher-office ambitions a few of them are harboring — and weren’t doing a great job hiding, anyway. And because not every politician has a great poker face, we saw some tells about who’s spooked by the idea of a little intraparty competition.
Collins opened with a song encouraging Rep. Stephen Lynch to run for Sen. Ed Markey’s seat when the state’s junior senator eventually steps aside. Why would he want Lynch to try again for a seat he’s already lost? Norfolk County Treasurer Michael Bellotti hit the nail on the head when he took the mic about an hour later: “Nick, we know you’re running for Congress. But ‘Yes, Madam President’ isn’t a platform.”
Some actual boxing gloves came out — and several pols onstage squirmed — when Rep. Ayanna Pressley stepped up to the podium to announce a (faux) campaign for Senate. State Senate, that is — and specifically for Collins’ Southie seat. (She even asked Lisa to moderate a debate between the two of them, and, while we know you’re joking, she totally would.) Collins was quick to point out Pressley lives in a different district. A little too quick. And Warren’s pursed lips were a picture worth a thousand words.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu took the brunt of the barbs — over prohibiting most outdoor dining in the North End (some of the neighborhood’s restaurateurs protested her from outside the breakfast), over the annual electeds of color party and for promoting bike and bus lanes. Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who didn’t attend the breakfast, was the butt of multiple jokes about Milton, the town she recently sued for non-compliance with the MBTA Communities law.
