12/16/20-- This week, we are both celebrating a new development that is the first COVID-19 vaccinations making their way to U.S. citizens, as well as passing a grim milestone that is 300,000 deaths in the U.S. due to COVID-19.

Here in Massachusetts, rates of community spread are still worryingly high, and several municipal leaders have decided to roll back reopening in their own cities further than what Gov. Charlie Baker's administration laid out. Some mayors are also calling for a relief aid package that would soften the blow of rolling back reopening on business owners and employees. Mayor Paul Brodeur of Melrose was one of several co-authors to write an op-ed in CommonWealth Magazine last week emphasizing the importance of restrictions and state and federal aid. He stopped by The Horse Race to talk through some of those points.

--

It's never too early to look ahead to 2022, and this week saw the first announcement of someone considering a run for Charlie Baker's seat. Danielle Allen, a Harvard Professor, announced she's launched an exploratory committee to run as a Democrat. Baker may even have a primary challenger if former Republican state Senator Geoff Diehl runs, which, according to Stephanie, is a possibility.