Chris Oates

docs.google.commapoli bluesky electeds

18 Nov 2024

The starter packs are great, but I'm trying to combine a list of all #mapoli electeds on Bluesky and was hoping a good old fashioned crowdsourced Google sheet might be easier since so many are joining. Please add anyone who the voters put into office here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

bloomberg.comUK Politicians Are Testing Their Messages on AI-Generated VotersUK politicians looking to gauge how British voters will react to their policies have a new cohort on which to test their ideas: AI-generated focus groups.

This sounds like the start of a Thick of It episode. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

I know it’s not the main controversy of the Sydney Sweeney ad, but I’m struck that there’s a site called Novig that claims it’s a financial exchange and not a betting site. How the CFTC approved that is the real scandal.

#mapoli Bluesky roundup.

Top non-federal post of the week and best performing with an E2F ratio of 0.039 bsky.app/profile/ajca...

Andrea Joy Campbell@ajcampbellma.bsky.social

An incredible story out of my office I have to share - We stepped in and secured thousands of dollars in withheld wages for the family of an immigrant worker who was detained by ICE. Now that money will go directly to supporting his family. These are the stories that make me proud to be your AG.

Now with trending words of the week. Biggest overperforming this week from the last three months was healthcare

#mapoli Bluesky roundup.

Top post of the week bsky.app/profile/warr...

Elizabeth Warren@warren.senate.gov

In a classified briefing, a DoD official revealed to Senators how much Iranian attacks on U.S. bases have cost us. Now, I'm calling for the DoD to make that number public. Americans deserve to know how much of their money is being burned on Trump's war with Iran.

One thing I don’t understand. Why are candidates running unopposed this year in #mapoli holding fundraisers for themselves when every Democratic dollar in this state should right now be going to Congressional swing seats?

I mean, I know why (they want to raise funds for 2028). But I would expect some pushback from those around them that it’s not what the Democratic Party needs right now.

nysfocus.comHas Anyone Told the Brooklyn Democratic Party There’s an Election…Downstate turnout could decide the governor’s race. The Brooklyn Democratic Party is mounting almost no campaign effort.

It reminds me of this story of the Brooklyn Dems holding a fundraiser a week before the 2022 elections that was purely for internal operations. nysfocus.com/2022/11/02/b...

The Elon Musk-Starshield story feels like it’ll be a huge story in 2027. It has all the elements. High profile actor. Immediately understandable. Reporters can ask who knew what when. Like Iran-Contra done by Bill Gates.

Predicted it (to be fair, it wasn’t that difficult once the Speaker criticised it)

Chris Oates@chrisoates.bsky.social

Will the gas tax be suspended? I doubt it. What I’m looking for is whether the coverage focuses on the proposals from the gubernatorial candidates or the legislature - which is the branch of government that actually controls the budget. #mapoli

chrisoates.substack.comIs exploiting political science to win an election unethical?Or is it smart?

The anti-Andrea James mailers: unethical or smart? #mapoli chrisoates.substack.com/p/is-exploit...

Massachusetts First, a pro-Mike Minogue Super PAC, is spending a quarter as much attacking Andrea James as Maura Healey. That feels unethical, but it also is probably one of his best options at this point, given how far back he is.

The pro-Minogue Massachusetts First PAC had dropped $207k on “oppo” against Andrea James, a very transparent ploy to split the Democratic vote. www.ocpf.us/reports/disp...

universalhub.comRepublican PAC seems to think you're a moronAs voting season begins in Massachusetts, voters are getting flooded with postcards from a PAC supporting the Republican candidate for governor that warn them not to vote for "super liberal" Andrea Ja...

@universalhub.com is the first outlet to have reported on the anti-James mailers (that are clearly supposed to make her look appealing to left wing voters). Now we know how much was spent on them. www.universalhub.com/2026/republi...

chrisoates.substack.comWhat if a Lt Governor refuses to resign?And should we be electing them separately?

The Shawn Oliver story raises questions about what was the "agreement" he made with Mike Minogue. The Governor cannot fire the Lt Governor. The job pays $216k per year, has prestige, and is what Oliver has been working towards for a year. chrisoates.substack.com/p/what-if-a-...

But Minogue says there's been an agreement struck. Does that include private guarantees of employment or favors if Oliver resigns immediately? Would that constitute inducing a government employee to perform a public act? #mapoli

This is all hypothetical, since Maura Healey will win re-election comfortably. But it does raise questions about why we elect the Lt Governor separately in the primaries and then don't give the Gov a way to fire them.

With Musk sabotaging Ukrainian Starlink, should blue states look for alternatives in their own emergency communications suppliers? Do we really think that he wouldn't cut off access if he felt like it if an AG went after him? Something that #mapoli should be thinking about.

I don't remember any other Administration referring to a Cabinet Secretary as [President's] Secretary in official press releases. Can anyone in political comms recall something similar?

This week in #mapoli Bluesky. Word cloud:

Top non-federal post: bsky.app/profile/mass...

AG Andrea Joy Campbell@massago.bsky.social

NEW: Trump wants to gut funding and eliminate non-English support for Head Start, an early childhood education program designed to break cycles of poverty. I grew up poor. I know what a lifeline programs like Head Start are. That's why I'm joining a coalition of AGs to oppose these cruel changes.

gofundme.comDonate to Help Somerville's Nonato family after devastating fire, organized by Chadi SalamounSome people in your life are always there for you. They show u… Chadi Salamoun needs your support for Help Somerville's Nonato family after devastating fire

Top engagement-to-follower ratio at 0.04: bsky.app/profile/jonl...

jonlink@jonlink.bsky.social

There was a large fire in East Somerville. The fire destroyed Rei Da Pichanha, which has done so much to help the community. They could use the community’s help now.

This week in #mapoli Bluesky. Word cloud:

Top post: bsky.app/profile/warr...

Elizabeth Warren@warren.senate.gov

It’s time to hold the bankers who financed Jeffrey Epstein accountable.

chrisoates.substack.comWhy does the State Senate have a Substack?And why is it taking positions on things?

Why does the State Senate have its own social media where it's promoting policies that have not yet passed the State Senate? It's not the biggest problem in #mapoli, but it is weird for the institution to be the byline. chrisoates.substack.com/p/why-does-t...

Great newsletter coming up tomorrow. One of the least important problems facing Massachusetts. Of all the issues voters care about, this isn’t one of them. But it is a window into one of the biggest.

I'm seeing arguments against Question 3 that basically amount to uncompetitive general elections are a good thing. The idea that it's bad for working class candidates because they'd have to campaign for more. Or that primaries create a pipeline for progressive groups.

Reasonable people can agree to disagree on specific solutions. But I would hope that most of us could agree that Massachusetts having the least competitive legislature in the country, or that so many people go to the polls with the decision already being made in a low turnout primary is a problem.

I just ran and it is indeed a big personal sacrifice. But elections do not exist to be convenient for candidates. They are to allow voters to choose their representatives. If you're not willing to knock on doors through November, you shouldn't be running.

From @kellygarrity.bsky.social today: "Wu is pitching the state’s current partisan primary system as one that “plays a central role in educating voters"" Having just run in a primary, I can guarantee that there is very little educating happening in a primary contested on Sept 1

There's a lot to do to get money out of our democracy and to encourage better information ecosystems. But we're currently last place in legislative competitiveness in the entire country. Many people don't have any choices on their ballot. It's clearly not working.

chrisoates.orgPeople Decide — Chris Oates for State Rep

I tried to run on this for the State House, but in our current partisan primary system, where I needed to knock on doors during July and August and the only public debates happened after mail-in ballots were already delivered, I just couldn't get through. www.chrisoates.org/people-decide

And I think the broader point is what elections are for. Do they exist to deliver your preferred outcome, and they should be engineered to help your faction win? Or do they exist to let the people choose their own representatives, and should be designed to maximize competition and turnout?

My preference, at least at the state level, is to have multi-party proportional representation, to ensure that every voter has the chance to influence the balance of power in the legislature every two years. The point of democracy is that people choose their elected officials. That's the foundation

Having worked on the Ranked Choice Voting campaign, when I heard there was another electoral reform effort, I figured it would have a tough time. Reforms always are and there's no perfect electoral system. But I never expected to see people saying that low-turnout primaries are good, actually.

massachusettsdigest.substack.comGovernor’s race, deepfakes, and we’re shifting email addressesMassachusetts roundup of the week

Gubernatorial candidate both support the audit, deepfakes growing elsewhere, and this week in #mapoli Bluesky massachusettsdigest.substack.com/p/governors-...

ms.nowTrump is suddenly urging Republicans to ‘vote by mail’President Donald Trump has called mail-in voting "corrupt" and a "disaster." Now he says: “Vote early. Vote by mail.”

Top non-federal post bsky.app/profile/mass...

AG Andrea Joy Campbell@massago.bsky.social

Let's be clear: If not for state AGs, your access to mail-in voting would've been at risk in this upcoming election. While Donald Trump spreads chaos and confusion to suppress YOUR voice, you can count on my office to ensure that your vote is safe and secure. https://bit.ly/4hR3f9X

Top performing post: Engagement-to-follower ratio of 0.058 bsky.app/profile/mass...

Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll@massltgovernor.bsky.social

Today, we remember those murdered in Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel—and the survivors and families who carry that loss every day. Remembering also means refusing to be silent in the face of antisemitism. We must continue to speak out, stand together, and reject hate.

massachusettsdigest.substack.comGovernor’s race, deepfakes, and we’re shifting email addressesMassachusetts roundup of the week

Gubernatorial candidate both support the audit, deepfakes growing elsewhere, and this week in #mapoli Bluesky massachusettsdigest.substack.com/p/governors-...

#mapoli bluesky wordcloud