Western Mass Politics & Insight

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Western Mass Politics & Insight

News and Commentary on Springfield and the world... Watch for These Series:
Take My Council, Please: Springfield City Council Coverage.

Boston Beat: The Occasional Story About/On Boston

Our 100th: The US Senate Election News & Commentary

Longmeadow Daze: An Occasional Series on politics and government.

09/04/2026

Incumbents won across the board in Western Mass's Democratic primary, as did Senator Ed Markey who had faced a primary challenged, too. Congressman Richard Neal's Greater Springfield firewall (with backup from the Berkshires) also held up against a stiff challenge from Jeromie Whalen.

SPRINGFIELD—The Democratic primary in Massachusetts left the federal delegation’s deans in place. Incumbents also prevailed elsewhere.

09/03/2026

LISTEN: Our editor-in-chief joins WAMC Northeast Public Radio to discuss Tuesday's results up and down the ballot in Western Massachusetts, including the congressional and state legislative races.

Amid statewide contests, like Sen. Ed Markey besting Congressman Seth Moulton in the Democratic Senate primary, western Mass. was home to a number of primaries over seats on Beacon Hill.WAMC kept track of those races Tuesday night, as did Western Mass Politics and Insight Editor-in-Chief Matt Szafra...

08/31/2026

Despite a huge cash advantage heading into the primary, one of State Rep Bud Williams's primary challengers, Johnnie McKnight and his allies, have largely matched the incumbent in overall spending. Meanwhile, debate within one of the district's core constituencies is spilling out into public view, which may not auger well for Williams.

Records show Mass Teachers have dropped at least $30K on one candidate in the 11th Hampden primary. They are among many players in the race.

08/28/2026

There will be only one debate the First Congressional District's Democratic primary--and it already happened. US Rep Richard Neal and his challenger, Jeromie Whalen, traded blows on a range of issues. However, the dominant theme was how one framed the other.

CHICOPEE—The first and only face-to-face debate in the 1st District’s Democratic primary saw some heat and a bevy of accusations.

08/25/2026

A Superior Court judge refused to halt the negotiations for a lease between the Commonwealth and Liberty Junction, the chosen developer for the new courthouse in Springfield. However, his ruling left space for the case to continue and the plaintiffs say they will appeal.

DCAMM and Liberty Junction, the developer selected to build the new courthouse in Springfield, can keep talking—and negotiating.

08/17/2026

Since May, there has been a lot of data coming out in the Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional primary from finances to advertising. We dig into the filings.

Second campaign quarter reports became available on July 15. Candidates for the Dem nomination in the 1st district have hit the airwaves

08/11/2026

The two unsuccessful bidders to build the new courthouse in Springfield sued the state and now their case has its first test before a judge. Yet, their battle may have grown beyond the courtroom.

Since selecting the site for the new Springfield Regional Justice Center, the Commonwealth has had a fight over the courthouse on two fronts.

08/10/2026

A panel of judges in DC that heard arguments in March about the Trump administration's cancellation of a climate grant program have made a ruling. They effectively revived the suit Springfield and other municipalities filed to restore the program. Relief is not imminent, but there once against hope the $20 million grant the administration swiped from the city.

A panel of judges have effectively revived a suit that seeks to restore the climate program under which the EPA gave Springfield $20 million.

08/06/2026

The July 27 City Council meeting showed off gaps between City Hall and one part the community and a gap forming within the Council and possibly city politics.

The Springfield City Council's July 27 meeting looked back at food trucks and a new ethical dilemma one member claims exists.

08/05/2026

LISTEN: WMP&I's editor-in-chief spoke with WAMC Northeast Public Radio's James Paleologopoulos about the current battle over the contract to build 's new courthouse.

A week from now, a Massachusetts judge will hear a challenge from two developers who wanted to build a new Springfield courthouse. The project attracted multiple bids last year – all to replace the home of Hampden County Superior Court and other facilities downtown.

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