THE MASS BRIEF

Monday, July 13, 2026

The Lead

A judge just scrambled the Republican ballot for statewide office — and it says a lot about how messy this year's GOP primaries are.

Essex Superior Court Associate Justice Jeffrey Karp handed down dueling rulings Friday that will shape September's Republican primary. Michael Walsh, the GOP's attorney general hopeful, gets to stay on the ballot despite what Karp himself called "substantial evidence in the record of voter fraud" tied to his nomination signatures. The catch: the State Ballot Law Commission, which had voted to boot Walsh, simply didn't have the legal authority to hear the complaint in the first place because of a technical defect in how it was filed. Meanwhile, in a separate case, Karp ruled the opposite way for Anne Manning Martin, the Republican running for lieutenant governor also accused of submitting fraudulent signatures — she's off the ballot.

Here's why this matters beyond the legal weeds: Massachusetts Republicans are heading into a competitive statewide cycle with real energy behind challenging Attorney General Andrea Campbell, and now their own candidate for that seat is on the ballot only because of a procedural technicality — not because a judge found the fraud allegations baseless. That's not exactly the clean start the MassGOP wanted heading into primary season, and Democratic Party Executive Director Adam Roof, who brought the original complaint, isn't going to let it go quietly. Expect this to become a talking point all summer, and don't be surprised if there's an appeal.

The bigger picture: Massachusetts' ballot-access rules are getting stress-tested in a way they haven't in years, right as national politics gets weirder by the day (more on Washington below). Watch for whether the Ballot Law Commission tries to fix its jurisdictional problem before more of these cases pile up.

Full story at WBUR →

What Else You Should Know

Merrimack Valley buses are rolling again. After a 10-day strike, MeVa drivers and mechanics reached a one-year deal that includes a $4-an-hour raise and preserves Saturday overtime protections — though Teamsters Local 170's Jim Marks said members accepted less than they felt they'd earned just to get riders in Amesbury, Haverhill, Lawrence, and other Merrimack Valley communities back on the road. Fare-free service has also resumed. Boston.com →

A massive fire displaced 51 people in Lawrence. Three buildings on Haverhill and Margin streets — home to apartments as well as a corner store, barber shop, salon, and tax office — went up in flames Sunday afternoon in what the Globe describes as a working-class immigrant neighborhood. One man was rescued from a third-floor window; no deaths were reported, but dozens of families lost everything, including pets. The cause is under investigation by state and local fire officials. Boston Globe →

Fall River marks one year since the Gabriel House fire tonight. Ten residents died and more than 30 people were injured — including six firefighters — in the deadliest Massachusetts fire in over 40 years. Mayor Paul Coogan will lead a 6:30 p.m. remembrance ceremony outside the building, with survivors and first responders expected to speak. The fire, ruled accidental, sparked a statewide reckoning over staffing at assisted living facilities that's still playing out. WBUR →

Governor Healey is sending $300,000 to North Shore shellfish harvesters. The relief covers clammers and oystermen sidelined by a 12-day shellfish bed closure after last month's sewage overflow into the Merrimack River. Water quality has since improved enough that officials say harvesters should be back to work this week — the money helps offset lost income during the closure. WBUR →

Attorney General Andrea Campbell is suing the federal Department of Education. The lawsuit challenges the termination of grants funding a congressionally approved school-based mental health program — money Massachusetts schools have relied on to expand counseling and support services. It's the latest front in the state's ongoing legal pushback against federal funding cuts. WWLP →

Duxbury's water supply has a PFAS problem hiding in plain sight. New modeling shows the town's Lakeshore Well pumps water exceeding federal "forever chemical" limits during peak summer irrigation season, when demand forces the town to rely on the contaminated source to keep water pressure up. Roughly 200 households may be affected, and Selectboard members are reportedly frustrated that residents haven't been told. South Shore News →

Worth Your Attention

Tonight, 6:30 p.m., Fall River: The one-year Gabriel House fire remembrance ceremony takes place outside the building, with survivors and first responders speaking. WBUR →

Tuesday–Wednesday, statewide heat emergency: Temperatures could hit 99°F. Cambridge libraries and cooling centers are open extended hours if you need somewhere air-conditioned to ride it out. Cambridge Day →

Monday, East Boston District Court: Leonard Bacon, the Uber driver accused of stabbing a passenger near Logan Airport, is scheduled to be arraigned. Boston Globe →