Howdy!
Our push towards the September 1st primary is ramping up!
Unfortunately for me, I share the fate of many, many renters in the Boston area: I’ll be moving on September 1st. As I sprint between supporting our endorsed candidates and dismantling my closet, I’ve done my fair share of grumbling about this year’s primary date. Lawmakers voted last year to move up their primary date from the date set in our constitution, the third Tuesday of September, to the first Tuesday: September 1st.
September 1st is days before Labor Day weekend. For teachers and working parents, it’s the day before back-to-school, when elections might be the last thing from their mind. For about 70% of renters in the Boston area, it’s the day their lease turns over, when moving trucks choke Boston area streets. College students returning to school will not have had the chance to speak with volunteer canvassers; they may not even be aware that there’s a primary election.
Moving also comes with legal consequences: your address changes. Because our legislature has refused to pass same-day voter registration, state law currently requires people to register to vote 10 days in advance. Therefore, I’m among the voters who will be unable to register in time at my new address, and unable to vote in the primary for the representative and senator who will actually represent me for the next session.
When renters face barriers to voting, the burden falls disproportionately on communities of color. A new study on wealth inequality released this week found that 70% of white households in Massachusetts own their home, compared to 39% of Black households and 32% of Latino households. Therefore, Black and Latino voters are disproportionately represented among those who might find it difficult to vote in their districts on September 1st.
I’ll be blunt—when students, renters, teachers, young parents, and communities of color face barriers to voting, it benefits one thing: the status quo. Incumbent lawmakers coast to re-election on name recognition, and their corporate backers maintain a path to power. Those incumbents may have “good” reasons why they moved the primary to September 1st, but it’s also convenient for re-election. Just one more reason why we need to pass Election Day Voter Registration at the ballot in November.
Although we have an uphill climb, we’re working as hard as we can to get the word out about the fantastic status-quo-disruptor candidates that Act on Mass has endorsed this year. We canvassed in Roslindale today for Persis Yu, and are gathering in Waltham tomorrow to canvass for Alison Leary! We’ll be canvassing for all our endorsed candidates this month, so keep an eye on your inbox.
If you can, join us in Waltham tomorrow!
State House Scoop
As Trump cuts hit, legislature’s underfunding leaves Bay Staters struggling to access SNAP benefits
When Act on Mass presents to community groups about dysfunction in the legislature, we always start by talking about why advocacy at the state level is important. In our current media environment, most Americans’ political focus is taken up by the brouhaha at the national level. In Massachusetts, many voters feel comforted that Democrats are in control of our state and direct their political attention elsewhere. I know that well, because it used to be me!
When presenting, we emphasize a few important things about state government. It’s the source of most laws we interact with in our daily lives. States like Massachusetts can be a crucial testing ground for policies that are later implemented at the national level, like “Romneycare” which inspired Obamacare. In the age of Trump, state policy can be “harm reduction,” marshaling state resources to defend our values and to protect vulnerable populations from the worst of harmful policies coming out at the federal level.
That last one is on my mind this week, with the Legislature on August recess. Congress passed Trump’s “Big B***tiful Bill” last year, which implemented major tax giveaways for corporations and the wealthy, financed by devastating cuts to Medicaid, Obamacare, SNAP benefits, federal student loans, and other programs. In a sneaky move, Republicans ensured that most of the cuts would not be implemented until after the congressional midterm elections this year. With that election just months away, this means that cuts are now coming up the pipe.
Many of these programs are implemented by state governments. In Massachusetts, new Medicaid work requirements will fall on residents on MassHealth. New requirements for SNAP benefits (also known as food stamps) will be processed by the state’s Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).
The federal changes are coming at a time of existing strain for the DTA. Amid high food costs and rising inflation, 40% of Massachusetts households reported experiencing food insecurity in 2025—a record high and more than double pre-pandemic levels. This has led to record SNAP caseloads, straining staffing levels. An analysis by the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute found that almost 80% of calls to the DTA were disconnected without reaching a caseworker.
When families can’t resolve issues and prove eligibility, they lose SNAP. In the last year, 119,000 Massachusetts households have lost SNAP benefits—a rate of decline almost twice the national average. Normally, a shrinking population on SNAP is a sign of good economic conditions. With the current record food insecurity, however, advocates argue that this decline is caused by “the state’s inability to handle the need.” The new work requirements and additional paperwork required by the new federal cuts will only add additional strain on the state’s SNAP caseloads.
When families lose SNAP enrollment, it doesn’t only impact them and their children. SNAP enrollment is also used as a metric to opt in students to free school meals. When a school district has a certain percentage of students on SNAP, they can qualify for federal reimbursement of meal costs for the whole district. By adding funds from the Fair Share Amendment to that existing federal reimbursement, Massachusetts has now funded (and mandated) universal free school meals for all districts—a huge step forward.
Yet, local education blogger Tracy Novick points out that as communities lose SNAP enrollees, they risk losing federal reimbursement, but will still be required to provide universal school meals. SNAP enrollment also factors into the state’s beleaguered Chapter 70 funding formula for calculating state aid to districts; a decline in SNAP enrollment among families could lead to a drop in state aid for a district, even if need hasn’t changed. Both of these factors would strain school budgets which are already in crisis mode, and require yet more funding from the state. In short: Massachusetts could save money in the long run by fixing administrative dysfunction within DTA and preventing lapses in SNAP coverage.
The Governor did establish an “Anti-Hunger Task Force” last year, which released a report in April. The task-force recommended—you guessed it—a bolstering of the state’s SNAP workforce. Governor Healey then requested $147 million for DTA caseworkers in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, a boost over last year in order to hire more caseworkers. However, the Legislature only funded $122 million. Task force members recommended that 200 new caseworkers be hired; just 76 have been.
The dire situation has led one task force member to resort to drastic measures. Liz O’Gilvie, who directs two community food centers in Springfield, was appointed by Governor Healey to the Anti-Hunger Task Force last year. In protest of what she sees as an insufficient response from the state government, she initiated a hunger strike this month, calling on Governor Healey and the state legislature to release emergency funds to support DTA caseworkers. In an interview with the Boston Globe (paywall), O’Gilvie said “I want the governor to know how desperate we all are. What I needed to do was stand in hunger with my neighbors.”
Governor Healey called O’Gilvie last week and told her that the legislature needs to convene a “special session” to allocate additional state funds for DTA hiring. A task force member from the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute attested that “at least $10 million more is needed to stabilize the agency.” So far, we haven’t seen a response from the legislature, which is away on August recess.
This is not the first time that the legislature has failed to prioritize funding for SNAP and other anti-hunger programs. Last November, the Trump administration refused to pay SNAP benefits during the longest federal government shutdown in American history. While other states temporarily put up state funds to ensure that the benefits would not lapse, MA state leaders waffled on accessing the state’s $8 billion rainy day fund and put out a call for private donations.
Reading our Saturday Scoop from last fall, I was reminded of a cruel irony of that time. The same week where state leaders declined to commit state funds to prevent SNAP’s cutoff, they committed $47 million in state funds to a brand new initiative to “bolster the state’s defense industry sector.” More recently, the legislature’s behemoth economic development bill would authorize an additional $100 million in funds to the defense sector, plus $75 million to support “strategic AI deployment.”
When our state leaders face questions about the state’s SNAP response, their comments focus the blame on Trump and the cruel choices of the federal government. That’s not up for debate: it was indeed the decision of Trump and his Republican cronies in Congress to deprive struggling families in order to enrich their wealthy friends.
Nevertheless, in a state like Massachusetts, with the resources we have here, we can afford to soften the blow and reduce the harm as much as possible. And, when we choose not too, while funding other priorities, we are making a tradeoff.
Tell your state legislators and Governor Healey: don’t let Trump make kids go hungry! Emergency funding for the Department of Transitional Assistance now!
Isabel’s Candidate Corner
Happy Saturday!
It was so lovely to see some of you earlier today in Roslindale at the Act on Mass State House 101/canvass for Persis Yu!
While I have Yu on the brain, I’d love to shout her out for this week’s scoop! Persis is running to represent the Norfolk and Suffolk State Senate district, which includes Boston, Dedham, Norwood, Walpole and Westwood. In her law career, she has represented consumers in cases against big banks, loan servicers, and multiple presidential administrations, including the Trump administration. She also has a proven track record in designing sound policy, including key pieces of the Biden Administration’s SAVE plan, student loan forgiveness, and protections for veterans, teachers, and working families. Yu recognizes the lack of progress in our State House and is pushing for a more timely, accountable, and transparent legislative process. “The Massachusetts legislature is failing to meet this moment,” she said. “Beacon Hill is one of the least transparent, least effective legislatures in the country. Decisions are made behind closed doors. Power is concentrated in leadership, while bold solutions die without any accountability. And while the Legislature is protecting itself, families are left to fend for themselves.” Thank you so much to our volunteers who turned out to canvass this morning, and for those of you who couldn’t make it, I hope you’ll join me in supporting Persis’ campaign.
The other candidate I’d love to spotlight is Daniel Lander. Daniel is running for State Senate in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties, which includes Boston, Cambridge, Watertown, and Belmont. We are so proud to be one of the many outstanding organizations endorsing Lander, including the Massachusetts Working Families Party, Braintree-based Service Employees International Union chapter 888, and AFL-CIO. Labor is just one of the issues that sitting elected officials neglect to meaningfully support in their comparative legislative stupor. On his endorsement, David Holway, president of the National Association of Government Employees said, “They call us year after year for money, resources, and endorsements, but more and more our calls go unanswered in return, as our support is taken for granted.”
Earlier this month, Lander also won over three Watertown City Councilors who had previously endorsed his opponent, incumbent William Brownsberger. Councilor John Gannon said of Lander, “I’m supporting Daniel because we need leaders who will be true partners for working people and for local governments in this district.” Before announcing his candidacy, Lander was a Senior Policy Advisor to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. He is also Boston native, who is committed to addressing the housing crisis, improving our transportation system, protecting small businesses, and ensure Beacon Hill outputs effective and efficient work. You can learn more about Daniel and his commitments on his website. Keep an eye on our endorsements page, and future editions of the Scoop, for the date of Act on Mass’ Daniel Lander canvass. You can also join us in supporting his campaign here.
As always, thank you for reading!
Best,
Isabel Harper
Organizing Director
(she/her)
What else we’re reading this week
Great reporting and media from around the Bay State this week!
- Beacon Hill housing moves swish past Boston in Commonwealth Beacon
- Budget cuts threaten Mass. high schoolers’ path to college: ‘dangling on the edge of disaster’ in MassLive
- Beacon Hill’s feeling labor pains in Boston Globe
- ‘Wealth begets wealth.’ Mass. racial wealth gap persists, and homeownership is the driving force, new study finds. in Boston Globe
Take Action
Support AOM’s endorsed candidates!
Take action by signing up to knock doors, phonebook, or get a yard sign for one of our endorsed candidates this weekend!
- Michael Lachenmeyer, 12th Hampden: sign up here
- Ravi Simon, 13th Middlesex: sign up here
- Evan MacKay, 25th Middlesex, sign up here
- Alison Leary, 10th Middlesex: sign up here
- Lorena Betts, 16th Middlesex: sign up here
- Daniel Lander, Suffolk & Middlesex: sign up here
- Persis Yu, Norfolk & Suffolk: sign up here
- Mike Zullas, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Bristol: sign up here
Every District Accountable: Has your Rep signed the pledge?
We had a great launch event for our “Every District Accountable: Good Government for Mass” pledge this week! Here are some resources about it:
- Click here to see if legislative candidates in your district have signed the pledge yet
- Activist toolkit: check this document for details on the five commitments in the pledge and a script to contact your legislator about it
- Part of an org that’s interested in co-sponsoring the pledge? Sign up here!
Thanks for reading and for supporting Act on Mass! Have a great rest of your weekend.
Scotia
Scotia Hille (she/her)
Executive Director, Act on Mass