Dorchester State Representative candidate Dan Hunt raised more lobbyist cash for his run for State Representative in one month last year than Treasurer and Gubernatorial candidate Steve Grossman raised all year. And more than the sitting Governor, Deval Patrick, raised all year, according to Boston Magazine’s David Bernstein.
And more than 151 sitting State Reps and 25 sitting state Senators. That’s right. Dan Hunt accepted more lobbyist dough in one month than 94% of incumbent Representatives took in all year.
More than all but one of the Democratic candidates for Governor. More than all but two statewide elected officials.
More than any City Council candidate, including incumbents, and more than 9 of the 12 candidates for Mayor of Boston.
If you care at all about grassroots politics and preventing special interests from having a stranglehold on our legislature, Dan Hunt is not your guy. I have my disagreements with John O’Toole, Liam Curran, and the rest of them, but they are all grassroots candidates, working for what they believe is right for the 13th Suffolk District and the state. Dan Hunt is the lobbyist candidate. If you live in Dorchester or North Quincy, vote no on lobbyist influence this Tuesday, March 4. And if you live outside the district, please consider contributing to or volunteering for one of his opponents. John O’Toole and Liam Curran are generally believed to be the strongest. O’Toole has name recognition from his previous run, and Curran has Mayor Marty Walsh’s backdoor support.
Katherine Clark and Linda Dorcena Forry as well? Both progressive elected officials who received far more lobbyist money than Dan Hunt.
running for higher office. That’s a bit different. I’m definitely uncomfortable with the amount of lobbyist money they each took in, but it’s kind of expected under those circumstances. It’s not a ton of money relative to their situations, particularly since Senators tend to raise more lobbyist money than Reps. Whereas with Hunt, a first-time State Rep candidate raising more lobbyist money than 94% of the House is abnormal.
Who raised over $100k for a competitive House special but appears nowhere on Bernstein’s list.
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