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THE MASS BRIEF
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
The well-connected friend who reads everything so you don’t have to.
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The Lead
The Trial That Has All of Beacon Hill Holding Its Breath
The rape trial of Alvin Campbell Jr. — older brother of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell — got underway Monday at Suffolk Superior Court, and it is exactly as difficult and consequential as you’d expect. Prosecutors say Campbell spent nearly three years posing as a rideshare driver, trolling downtown Boston bars and venues like TD Garden to target heavily intoxicated women he could assault. Nine alleged victims. Recorded evidence on his own phone. A defense arguing the encounters were consensual. The first witness took the stand Monday and became emotional describing her trip to the hospital for a rape kit — she told jurors she left a holiday party in 2019, got into what she thought was an Uber, and woke up the next morning in Rhode Island next to a man she didn’t recognize.
Attorney General Campbell is not on trial here, and she has kept her distance from the case. But there’s no pretending the situation isn’t politically and personally brutal for the state’s top law enforcement officer. The trial is expected to run several weeks, meaning this story will be a steady presence in the news cycle through much of June. Testimony continues this morning.
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What Else You Should Know
The Legislative Audit Saga, Explained
More than 500 days have passed since Massachusetts voters approved — by a 72 percent margin — giving State Auditor Diana DiZoglio the power to audit the Legislature. She still hasn’t been able to do it. A messy tangle of legal battles pitting DiZoglio against both Democratic legislative leaders and Attorney General Andrea Campbell has kept the whole thing in limbo. The Globe has a useful explainer on where things stand — worth bookmarking if you’ve lost the thread.
Boston Globe →
A Sudbury Showdown Over Schools and LGBTQ Policy
Residents of Sudbury — a wealthy MetroWest town with some of the state’s top-rated schools — are gathering Wednesday night for a Special Town Meeting to vote no-confidence in their own School Committee. The board sparked backlash over the past year through a series of moves: expanding LGBTQ+ student support, tinkering with afterschool programs, and apparently pushing out a popular superintendent who oversaw one of the strongest pandemic recoveries in the state. The vote is non-binding, so the committee doesn’t have to do anything about it — but symbolism in local politics is rarely nothing.
Boston Globe →
Your $289 Million Question
Recreational marijuana brought in nearly $300 million in state tax revenue last year — roughly the same as cigarettes, and nearly triple what alcohol generates. A November ballot question seeking to end recreational cannabis sales entirely could wipe that out, squeezing municipal budgets already strained by inflation and healthcare costs. The measure would keep medical marijuana legal and tax-free. Whether it’s a serious threat to the industry remains to be seen, but the stakes for addiction services, local aid, and small-town finances are real.
Boston Globe →
Healey’s Parole Board Pick in Trouble
Governor Maura Healey’s last four Parole Board nominees sailed through the Governor’s Council with little friction. Her latest — attorney Vincent J. DeMore III, who has a prosecutorial background — is a different story. The Council adjourned earlier this month without voting on his nomination, and at least two councilors have gone public with their opposition, arguing the seven-member board already skews too heavily toward law enforcement experience. The nomination is back on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting. Healey is holding firm.
Boston Globe →
Boston Makes Its Pitch for the 2028 DNC
Democratic National Committee officials wrapped up their Boston leg of a five-city tour Monday, treated to water taxis, Fenway Park, rooftop Italian on Newbury Street, and drinks at J.J. Foley’s — because nothing says “pick us” like a classic Boston dive bar. Governor Healey and Mayor Michelle Wu headlined a reception at the Boston Public Library. Boston last hosted the convention in 2004, when a relatively unknown Illinois state senator named Barack Obama gave the keynote. Supporters say a Boston convention could bring $400 million in economic activity to the region.
Boston Globe →
Self-Funding on Steroids
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue has now poured $13.5 million of his own money into his campaign — a Massachusetts record. That’s prompted state Sen. Rebecca Rausch (D-Needham) to file a budget amendment that would close the loophole allowing candidates to self-fund without limits, even as individuals face a $1,000-per-year cap on contributions. Minogue’s remaining primary rival, former MBTA chief Brian Shortsleeve, has contributed $400,000 of his own cash — real money, but a rounding error by comparison.
Boston.com →
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Worth Your Attention
Sudbury Special Town Meeting takes place Wednesday evening — residents will vote on the non-binding no-confidence measure against their School Committee; worth watching as a bellwether of where local culture-war politics are heading in blue-state suburbs. Boston Globe →
Governor’s Council meets Wednesday and is expected to take up the stalled confirmation vote on Parole Board nominee Vincent DeMore III — Healey can ask Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll to break a tie if it comes to that. Boston Globe →
Jackson Mann Community Meeting is set for Thursday, May 28 at 6 p.m. at the Jackson Mann Community Center in Allston-Brighton — the city will present findings from a feasibility study on whether housing can be incorporated into the center’s long-awaited reconstruction. Boston.com →
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FY2027 Budget Tracker
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Current stage: Senate floor debate
Governor's Budget (H2) — filed House Budget (H5500) | 1744 amendments filed — house_floor
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💰 Money Watch
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Yesterday's Biggest Contributions
Data from the MA Office of Campaign & Political Finance |
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This Week on Beacon Hill
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Tuesday, May 19, 1:00 PM Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies (1 bills) Topic: Economic Development-Mass Wins Act Location: A-1 , Boston
Wednesday, May 20, 1:00 PM Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight (5 bills) Topic: Matters concerning late files Location: B-1 , Boston
Thursday, May 21, 1:00 PM None Topic: A public hearing being held for the purpose of considering submitted testimony for when recommendations are to be made by the youth sports working group. No votes are being made at this hearing Location: 437 , Boston |
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New on the Ballot
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Recent filings with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance: Candidates
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One More Thing
Today’s forecast high in Boston is 94 degrees — which would break the record of 90 for this date. May 19. Ninety-four degrees. Don’t let anyone tell you Massachusetts doesn’t have seasons; we just have all of them in the same week. Keep the thunderstorms in mind for tomorrow, and enjoy the 60s that return by Thursday. WCVB →
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