This week on The Horse Race, Rep. Ayanna Presley is officially not joining the horse race for Senate. Then, Jenn and Steve are joined by ⁠Sam Drysdale⁠, reporter with the State House News Service, to zoom in on Healey's newly announced guidelines for high school graduation - kids may face new tests, new requirements, but "lower stakes." And finally, is Massachusetts the most Christmassy state?

• Jenn's NYT Rec: Cheesy Hassle Back Potato Gratin
• Sam Drysdale, High school graduation standards evolving at local, state levels
• Preply's Christmas Spirit Index
• Trivia Q: "Why did the Massachusetts Bay Colony once ban Christmas celebrations?"
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