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Boston's Morning Newsletter
Here's where Trump, Haley, Biden and 'no preference' did best in the Mass. primary
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
If you were expecting fireworks out of the Massachusetts primaries — or Super Tuesday in general — you haven’t been following the election results this year. President Joe Biden and Donald Trump both cruised to victory in the commonwealth and (nearly) every other primary contest in the country yesterday. Now, they’re closing in on the delegate threshold needed to clinch their nominations (and a 2020 rematch).
Meanwhile, Nikki Haley is expected to suspend her Republican primary campaign today.
Before we dig deeper into this national view, here’s a closer look at how things went down in Massachusetts:
Mapping the Massachusetts results: Biden and Trump both look slated to leave Massachusetts with all of its pledged primary delegates. With over 80% of the votes counted as of this morning, Trump won 60% of all Republican ballots — well above the 50% needed to secure the state’s 40 delegates. Meanwhile, Biden is currently at 83% of the vote, enough to keep Rep. Dean Phillips, Marianne Williamson and “no preference” all below the 15% threshold for a delegate. (If that holds, Biden will get all 92 of the state’s Democratic delegates.)
- Trump towns: The former president racked up some of his biggest margins in working class communities on the North Shore, pockets of southeastern Massachusetts and some of the state’s Gateway Cities. For example, Trump earned around 80% of the GOP vote in Revere, Saugus and New Bedford, while also winning well over 70% in Springfield, Taunton and Brockton. Explore the town-by-town GOP results map here.
- Haley holdouts: Haley did best in Boston’s wealthier suburbs, including much of the MetroWest. She got 69% in Cambridge, 65% in Wellesley and 62% in Newton. But ultimately, the margins weren’t enough. Plus, most voters in those areas pulled Democratic ballots. (Haley’s biggest — and only — win Tuesday came just north of the border in Vermont).
- Preferring no preference: Biden wasn’t sweating the results in Massachusetts, but the last-minute “no preference” protest campaign over Gaza did earn noticeable numbers in the state’s more liberal corners. Nearly 23% of Somerville — the only city where Biden got less than 70% — voted “no preference” in the Democratic primary. “No preference” also got over 15% in Cambridge, Everett and Northampton. (Statewide, the campaign received over 9% of the vote, compared to 13% in Michigan). See the full town-by-town map of Democratic results here.
- The big picture: Read NPR’s four Super Tuesday takeaways here.
On Beacon Hill: Remember the possible changes to the state’s family shelter system we mentioned last week? They’re now knocking. The Massachusetts House is slated to vote today on new limits on how long people can stay in the overwhelmed program. House Speaker Ron Mariano says the “temporary reforms” — part of a larger supplemental budget that includes another $245 million for the system — are “essential” for the shelter program’s long-term survival. “By ensuring that folks exit the shelter system in a timely manner, after receiving ample support aimed at helping them to successfully enter the workforce, this bill will help to ease the strain being placed on our shelter system over time,” Mariano said.
- The details: Under the proposal, most people would be limited to a maximum stay of nine consecutive months — though certain groups could stay as long as 12 months. Read more about the proposed rules and reactions to the plan on our website.
- What’s next: If the bill gets a vote, it means House leaders expect it to pass. Gov. Maura Healey has also said she’s “open” to time limits, but it’s TBD how the Senate feels about the changes.
- FYI: The House’s supplemental budget bill would also allow local restaurants to sell takeout alcoholic drinks permanently.
On the picket line: MASS MoCA workers are set to go on strike today. WBUR’s Arielle Gray reports that unionized workers at the Western Massachusetts museum are walking off the job after months of contract negotiations with museum leaders failed to bear fruit. Arielle has more on the gap between the two sides’ latest offers.
- If you were planning a visit: MASS MoCA expects to remain open during the strike, but workers will be picketing daily.
P.S.— New Yorker writer Michael Schulman will be at CitySpace tonight to talk about a (slightly) less cutthroat contest than primary politics: The Academy Awards. The “Oscar Wars” author will talk to Here & Now host Robin Young about Hollywood gossip, history and this Sunday’s awards show. You can still snag tickets here.
