Despite the political attacks warning she’s going to “MASS up New Hampshire,” Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joyce Craig is headed back to the Bay State Monday for another gathering of progressive politicians — including her close political ally, Gov. Maura Healey.
According to the invitation, tickets for the event in deep blue Northampton, Mass. will cost up to $5,000. It’s hosted by Healey and other Democratic activists, including local state Sen. Jo Comerford. The Northampton Democrat is known for, among other things, sponsoring “sanctuary” legislation that “limits local and state police collaboration with federal immigration agents [and] bars law enforcement and court personnel from inquiring about immigration status.”
Comerford also backed progressive legislation to replace police with social workers on some 911 calls, “shift the role of law enforcement away from surveillance and punishment,” and dismantle what she says is “systemic racism” among police officers.
Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle is also an advocate of changing the role of the police. She signed the “Pledge to Reimagine Policing,” which includes proposals to “reform use of force policies, redefine public safety, and combat systemic racism within law enforcement.”
Healey is also an unapologetic progressive who backed driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, sanctuary policies, and spending more than $1 billion on housing illegal immigrants. And at a time Craig is under fire over wanting to bring back an income tax on interest and dividends, Healey has been pushing a thus-far unsuccessful attempt to put a tax hike on home sales.
“In the home stretch of this campaign, Joyce Craig would rather collect checks from Massachusetts liberals than face questions from voters about her failed record in Manchester or her $160 million tax hike,” Ayotte said when asked about the latest Craig fundraising trip.
“The case against Joyce is clear — she would take us down the Massachusetts path of higher taxes, more crime, and less freedom. While Joyce campaigns out-of-state once again with Maura Healey, I’m out every day meeting voters across our state and sharing my positive vision to keep New Hampshire on the Sununu path.”
Craig did not respond to a request for comment.
Craig and Healey made headlines earlier this month with a fundraising trip to Berkeley, Calif., a trip her opponent, Republican Kelly Ayotte, keyed on as more evidence Craig is closer to Massachusetts on the ideological spectrum than New Hampshire. It’s a claim Craig angrily denied during last week’s debate hosted by the Mt. Washington Valley Economic Council.
“I am running for governor of New Hampshire to lift up families in our state and to save them money. I am not looking to Massachusetts or any other state,” Craig said in response to Ayotte’s attacks. “Kelly is saying things to get elected, but she is completely lying again.”
Ayotte didn’t back down.
“You know, she says, ‘Why do [I say] we look to Massachusetts?’ Because she spends so much of her time campaigning with the governor of Massachusetts. So that’s obviously the model that she believes is correct for New Hampshire.”
The attacks may be taking their toll.
This weekend, U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) published an op-ed headlined, “Joyce Craig leads the New Hampshire way.”
“Joyce knows that the issues facing our state aren’t easy, but she also knows that the best way to overcome them is by working together. That’s always been the New Hampshire way,” Hassan wrote.
Polls show a tight race between Ayotte and Craig, though with a slight advantage for the Republican. One area of concern for Granite State GOP campaign professionals is Ayotte’s ability to get Republicans unified behind her. In particular, there are concerns that hard-core MAGA Republicans aren’t enthusiastic about Ayotte’s candidacy.
In the latest UMass Lowell poll, the “MASS up New Hampshire” issue motivated Republicans more than other voters. While 55 percent of Republicans say New Hampshire is “at great risk” of becoming too much like Massachusetts in the next 10 years. Meanwhile, 47 percent of Democrats say it’s not at risk at all.
Granite State Democrats tell NHJournal on background that, whether campaigning with Healey helps or hurts, the Democrat may not have much choice. She needs the money. Ayotte has outraised her $17.5 million to $5.8 million as of Oct. 16. While the Democratic Governors Association is pouring money in, thus far Ayotte and the GOP have the edge.
“Nobody is going to see Joyce in Massachusetts asking for money, but they are going to see the ads [she buys] on TV,” one Democratic activist said.
