Dan Koh, who ran with the endorsement of former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., topped a crowded field to secure the nomination in the safely Democratic Sixth Congressional District.
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Former Biden White House aides win Massachusetts primaries as Bill Simmons faces proxy betting probe
As it ran on the front
If you’re keeping score in Massachusetts, the insiders rack up the wins, and the outsiders get flagged. The former Biden White House aides win their primaries, slotting right back into the system, while Bill Simmons gets the spotlight for proxy sports betting. It’s a two-lane highway: you can run for office, or you can run bets, but only one route is open to the public.
What’s interesting is the juxtaposition — the party faithful win the nomination, and the sports commentator, who’s outside the political circuit, gets reviewed. The fold is simple: if you know the right people, the door opens; if you don’t, you get a probe. The betting scandal is the outsider’s penalty, and the primaries are the insider’s reward.…
…(cont) The receipts show the closed loop of Massachusetts politics. The voters pick from a pre-screened list, and the regulatory machine clicks on for anyone who tries to play outside the lines. The outcome is predictable, but the stakes aren’t: the game is rigged, but the house still pretends you have a choice. That’s the con, and the bill comes due when the probe lands.
“The insiders win the primaries, the sports guy gets investigated for betting. If you want in, you better know the right people, or at least how to place a bet when nobody’s looking. Massachusetts politics is a closed circuit and the receipts run through both the ballot box and the sportsbook.”
“Look, Massachusetts voters know what they want. Experienced aides winning primaries is a sign the system works — and if there’s a little confusion about sports betting, that’s just a misunderstanding. We don’t want to discourage innovation. Did I say innovation? I meant oversight. The process is robust.”
The receipts
Democrat Daniel Koh is projected to win his party's primary for the House seat left open by Rep. Seth Moulton (D), according to Decision Desk HQ. Koh was locked in a tough primary battle against progressive state Rep.
Simmons, the founder of The Ringer, said Tuesday that it was a “lesson learned” after FanDuel voided his wagers.
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.