Chris Van Buskirk

Mike Kennealy plans to continue ignoring Mass. loan limit law, lawyer tells regulators Republican gubernatorial hopeful Mike Kennealy plans to continue ignoring a state law that limits the amount of cash a candidate for governor can loan themselves each election, even after regulator…

LOAN LIMIT: GOP gov hopeful Mike Kennealy plans to continue ignoring a state law that limits the amount of cash a candidate for governor can loan themselves each election, even after regulators started to scrutinize the money, his lawyer said. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/10/07/m...

I’m very grateful for the time I’ve spent at The Boston Herald. I’ve learned so much under the editors and reporters here. For now, I have a few days left at the Herald, so stay tuned, and feel free to reach out! #mapoli

📻📻 I’m very excited to say that in a few weeks I’ll be starting at @wbur.org as their state politics reporter. I’m looking forward to continuing to cover power and policy on Beacon Hill and the 2026 elections. I’m also excited to work with a very talented group of editors and reporters. #mapoli

Applegreen spent tens of thousands on lobbyists amid controversial travel plaza deal Applegreen, an Irish company at the center of a now-defunct deal to redevelop travel plazas along state highways, shelled out tens of thousands of dollars between 2024 and 2025 to a powerful Beacon…

LOBBY $$: Applegreen, an Irish company at the center of a now-defunct deal to redevelop travel plazas along state highways, shelled out tens of thousands of dollars between 2024 and 2025 to a powerful Beacon Hill lobbying shop, state records show. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/09/28/a...

Senate President Karen Spilka says Massachusetts needs a ‘more inclusive flag’ Senate President Karen Spilka said she believes Massachusetts needs a “more inclusive” flag, throwing her support behind an effort to replace the version that features a colonist’s arm holding a sw…

STATE FLAG: Senate President Karen Spilka said she believes Massachusetts needs a “more inclusive” flag, throwing her support behind an effort to replace the version that features a colonist’s arm holding a sword over a Native American. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/09/25/s...

Pols & Politics: Kennealy advisor lashes out at Healey approval numbers A poll testing Gov. Maura Healey’s approval ratings drew a testy response from one of her Republican opponents, Mike Kennealy.

POLL WARS: A top advisor to Republican candidate for governor Mike Kennealy lashed out at a poll conducted by MassINC that found favorable approval numbers for Gov. Maura Healey. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/09/14/p...

Thousands spent for Massachusetts politicians to travel this summer, records show Elected officials across Massachusetts state government were treated to thousands of dollars’ worth of trips this summer on other organizations’ dimes, including an excursion to St. Thomas in…

TRAVEL TIME: Elected officials across Massachusetts government were treated to thousands of dollars’ worth of trips this summer on other organizations’ dimes, including an excursion to St. Thomas, according to ethics records released to the Herald. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/09/14/t...

Healey’s tech secretary used taxpayer-funded credit cards to hire high-end chauffeurs Gov. Maura Healey’s technology services and security secretary spent thousands on taxpayer-funded credit cards last fiscal year to stay at a four-star hotel in Barcelona and hire on-demand chauffeu…

The spending by the technology secretariat was in addition to tens of thousands of dollars that Healey’s office charged to publicly funded credit cards to pay for multiple four-star accommodations in D.C., and an island resort in Newport. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/08/24/h...

Healey’s tech secretary used taxpayer-funded credit cards to hire high-end chauffeurs Gov. Maura Healey’s technology services and security secretary spent thousands on taxpayer-funded credit cards last fiscal year to stay at a four-star hotel in Barcelona and hire on-demand chauffeu…

Gov. Maura Healey’s technology secretary spent thousands on taxpayer-funded credit cards last fiscal year to stay at a four-star hotel in Barcelona and hire on-demand chauffeur services that promised to “upgrade your travels.” #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/08/24/h...

Public agencies in Mass. spent thousands at casinos using taxpayer-funded credit cards Massachusetts law enforcement agencies and state offices used taxpayer-funded credit cards to collectively spend tens of thousands of dollars last fiscal year at casinos across the country, accordi…

CASINO CASH: Massachusetts law enforcement agencies and state offices used taxpayer-funded credit cards to collectively spend tens of thousands of dollars last fiscal year at casinos across the country, according to public data. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/08/25/p...

Gov. Healey pitches public driving records after immigrant license law sealed access Gov. Maura Healey filed a bill Thursday that would give the public access to driving records more than two years after Beacon Hill Democrats sealed off motor vehicle histories as part of a law that…

DRIVING RECORDS: Gov. Maura Healey filed a bill Thursday that would give the public access to driving records more than two years after Beacon Hill Democrats sealed off motor vehicle histories as part of an immigrant driver's license law. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/08/14/g...

Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins resigns from college board amid extortion charges Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins resigned from the Roxbury Community College Board of Trustees, where he serves as chair, days after he was arrested in Florida on charges that he extorted a Bo…

TOMPKINS + RCC: Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins resigned from the Roxbury Community College Board of Trustees, where he serves as chair, days after he was arrested in Florida on charges that he extorted a Boston-based cannabis company. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/08/13/s...

Pols & Politics: Another potential Republican challenger to US Sen. Ed Markey emerges Nathan Bech, a former town councilor from West Springfield and candidate for Congress, is considering running against U.S. Sen. Ed Markey as a Republican in 2026.

ANOTHER MARKEY CHALLENGER? A former town councilor from West Springfield and candidate for Congress is considering running against U.S. Sen. Ed Markey as a Republican during the 2026 midterm elections. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/08/10/p...

Mike Kennealy leads July fundraising in 2026 governor’s race because of loan to campaign Republican candidate for governor Mike Kennealy, a former cabinet secretary under Gov. Charlie Baker, raised the most cash last month, but nearly all of that money came from a $200,000 loan he gave…

2026 CASH DASH: Republican candidate for governor Mike Kennealy, a former cabinet secretary under Gov. Charlie Baker, raised the most cash last month, but most of that money came from a $200K loan he gave his campaign. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/08/05/m...

Gov. Maura Healey received written warning about surge of migrants in transition document It painted a bleak picture of a struggle to build enough housing as the cost of living was putting Massachusetts at a “significant disadvantage.”

Gov. Baker’s administration warned Gov. Healey about a surge of migrants and dwindling shelter capacity in 2022, or months before she took office, according to a doc approved by Mike Kennealy when he was secretary of housing and economic development. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/08/05/g...

Election transparency group eyeing voter ID, mail-in voting ballot questions for 2026 A group focused on transparency and accountability in elections plans to pursue two ballot questions in 2026 that would require voter identification at the polls and strip away Massachusetts reside…

2026 BALLOT Q: A group focused on transparency in elections plans to pursue two ballot questions in 2026 that would require voter identification at the polls and strip away MA residents’ ability to participate in no-excuse mail-in voting. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/08/04/e...

Gov. Healey ends state of emergency used to handle surge of migrants into shelters Gov. Maura Healey said she is “formally terminating” the nearly two-year-long state of emergency she declared in August 2023 to deal with a rising influx of migrants into Massachusetts and a severe…

The end of the emergency is the latest sign that a crisis that consumed Healey’s first years in office is subsiding after billions were spent and Beacon Hill approved restrictive policies that barred people from accessing state shelters. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/08/01/g...

HEALEY ENDS STATE OF EMERGENCY: Gov. Maura Healey said she is "formally terminating" the state of emergency she declared in August 2023 as shelter caseloads rapidly increased amid an influx of migrants. Healey also said all hotel shelters have been closed. #mapoli

Mass. emergency shelter spending over $940M for FY25, latest state data shows Gov. Maura Healey’s administration spent just over $940 million on emergency family shelters and related services last fiscal year, but the final total is projected to increase by tens of millions …

SHELTER SPENDING: Gov. Healey’s administration spent just over $940M on emergency family shelters and related services last fiscal year, but the final total is projected to increase by tens of millions more as officials work to settle payments. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/07/29/m...

CHRIS FLANAGAN: A judge agreed last week to bar Rep. Chris Flanagan, a Dennis Port Democrat facing fraud charges, from gambling, incurring large credit card charges, or opening any additional lines of credit over $5K without prior approval. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/07/28/d...

Republicans running for governor of Massachusetts tap business connections for cash The two Republicans running for governor of Massachusetts have tapped their business connections for tens of thousands of dollars over the past several months in attempts to shore up their campaign…

BIZ CASH: The two Republicans running for governor of Mass. have tapped their business connections for thousands of dollars since launching their campaigns in attempts to shore up their bank accounts ahead of the 2026 election, state data shows. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/07/13/r...

Massachusetts Democrats say attorneys need to ‘get back to work’ amid pay dispute Massachusetts Democrats say attorneys need to ‘get back to work’ amid pay dispute

Top Beacon Hill Dems focused on the judiciary accused attorneys on a more than month-long work stoppage of not talking to lawmakers about the hourly rate they’re paid to take on the criminal cases of people who are unable to afford representation. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/07/09/m...

Republicans running for Massachusetts governor attack each other over fundraising data Mike Kennealy, a Republican running for governor of Massachusetts, accused Brian Shortsleeve, another conservative gubernatorial candidate, of inflating his fundraising numbers in a pair of public …

FUNDRAISING FIGHT: Mike Kennealy, a Republican running for governor of MA, accused Brian Shortsleeve, another conservative gubernatorial candidate, of inflating his fundraising numbers in a pair of public announcements over the past two months. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/07/09/r...

Massachusetts Senate Democrats advancing ‘bell-to-bell’ cellphone ban in schools Massachusetts Senate Democrats were preparing to advance legislation Tuesday that requires all public schools to implement a “bell-to-bell” ban on student access to personal electronic devices like…

MASS. CELL PHONE BAN? Senate Democrats were preparing to advance legislation Tuesday that requires all public schools to implement a “bell-to-bell” ban on student access to personal electronic devices like cell phones during the school day. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/07/08/m...

Maura Healey ready to cut local project spending if Massachusetts hits financial downturn Gov. Maura Healey said her budget office is ready to slash millions in legislative earmarks for local projects, and will seek the extraordinary power to cut spending across all state government.

DIRE WARNING: Gov. Healey said she is ready to slash earmarks for local projects and will seek the extraordinary power to cut spending across all state gov in an effort to prep for potential federal funding cuts that could spell disaster for MA. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/07/04/m...

Maura Healey outraised Republican challengers in June, maintaining overall cash advantage Gov. Maura Healey, a first-term Democrat running for reelection, outraised her two potential Republican opponents in June.

HEALEY OUTRAISES GOP CHALLENGERS: Gov. Maura Healey, a first-term Democrat running for reelection, outraised her two potential Republican opponents in June, according to fundraising data provided by the three campaigns Wednesday. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/07/02/m...

Gov. Maura Healey commits to approving brokers’ fee reforms included in state budget Gov. Maura Healey said she plans to sign the fiscal year 2026 state budget “in the coming days,” and will leave intact a provision that requires residential brokers’ fees to be covered by the party…

BROKERS' FEES: Massachusetts will soon mandate licensed brokers or salespeople to only contract with a prospective tenant to find a rental property or a landlord to find a tenant. The fee will fall on whoever enlists the broker. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/07/02/g...

BROKER'S FEES: Gov. Maura Healey said plans to sign the FY26 state budget "in the coming days," and will leave intact a provision reforming brokers' fees. "The days of renters being forced to shell out upwards of $10,000 before they can even move into an apartment are over," she said. #mapoli

Gov. Healey estimates FY25 shelter spending will be slightly lower than initial projections Gov. Maura Healey’s administration estimates the final tally for how much the state spent on emergency shelters over the last 12 months will come in slightly less than originally anticipated, but c…

SHELTER $$: Gov. Maura Healey estimates the final tally for how much the state spent on shelters over the last year will come in less than originally anticipated, but costs for the fiscal year that ended Monday are still on track to approach $1B. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/07/02/g...

MCAS ballot question supporters pay $4K penalty to resolve late reporting accusations The group that backed a successful ballot question to end the use of the MCAS as a high school graduation requirement paid a $4,000 penalty to resolve accusations that officials did not report $2.3…

The group that backed a successful ballot q to end the use of the MCAS as a high school graduation requirement paid a $4K penalty to resolve accusations that officials did not report $2.3M in contributions in a timely manner ahead of the 2024 election. #mapoli www.bostonherald.com/2025/07/01/m...