Jim O'Sullivan, State House News Service, February 5, 2010

This week in state government and public affairs: a hotel full of Democrats – a non-union hotel full of Democrats – who had busted their humps to elect a Democratic governor three years ago decided Wednesday, February 3, to picket said governor the next afternoon, politically wounding him and, in all likelihood, their own most fervently held causes (sic).

Jim O’Sullivan, State House News Service, February 5, 2010

Boston - Governor Deval Patrick has picked up another challenge from his left flank, this time in the Democratic primary, from Grace Ross. Following Green-Rainbow candidate Jill Stein into the still-burgeoning gubernatorial campaign field, leftist activist Grace Ross told labor unions Thursday she would test Patrick in the Democratic primary. “I wasn’t planning to run again, but things got worse," Ross said. “Things got worse for regular people.”

Alexander Burns, Politico, February 5, 2010 Massachusetts activist Grace Ross, who ran against Gov. Deval Patrick as a third-party candidate in 2006, announced this week that she will challenge the governor again in this year's Democratic primary. Ross, who drew just under 2 percent of the vote in her bid on the Green-Rainbow Party ticket four years ago, informed the Democratic State Committee on Thursday that she was declaring a campaign for statewide office, the Boston Globe reported. ... Ross

Associated Press, February 5, 2010 Boston - Republican Christy Mihos insists he’s still in the Massachusetts gubernatorial race. In an e-mail to supporters Friday, the convenience store magnate said reports of his political death are greatly exaggerated. Mihos’ campaign has been plagued with staff upheavals. And last week a Superior Court judge slapped liens on three businesses he owns after a gasoline supplier claimed he was owed more than $600,000. The Cape Cod resident has also faced skepticism within the GOP after running for governor in 2006 as an independent. Mihos faces Charles Baker in the Republican primary. ... Christy

Activist is sixth seeking the post. Michael Levenson, Boston Globe, February 5, 2010 Grace Ross, a liberal activist who ran as the Green-Rainbow Party’s nominee for governor in 2006, is planning to challenge Governor Deval Patrick for the Democratic Party’s gubernatorial nomination this year. Ross delivered a letter to the Democratic State Committee just before yesterday’s 5 PM deadline to declare her candidacy and qualify for delegates this month. She will need 15 percent of the delegates at the party’s convention in June to qualify for the primary ballot. ... Ross

Associated Press, February 5, 2010 Boston - Two more candidates have jumped into the race for Massachusetts governor, including a Democratic challenger to Governor Deval Patrick. Human service activist Grace Ross, who ran against Patrick as a Green-Rainbow candidate in 2006 and garnered less than 2 percent of the vote, said she plans to challenge Patrick as a Democrat. Ross’ announcement Thursday came just hours after Jill Stein said she also plans to run for governor as a candidate for the Green-Rainbow Party. The two join an already crowded field that includes Patrick, Republicans Charles Baker and Christy Mihos, and independent state Treasurer Tim Cahill. ... 2

Police pickets spur a late withdrawal. Jim O’Sullivan, State House News Service, February 5, 2010 Plymouth - Governor Deval Patrick pulled out of the state AFL-CIO’s annual conference at the last minute yesterday, citing police unions picketing him in protest of what they said were Patrick’s violations of collective bargaining agreements. In a letter to AFL-CIO president Robert Haynes, Patrick said he had been looking forward to attending. Several sources said the umbrella labor group’s executive committee voted to stand with the police officers when Patrick arrived. ... Patrick

She'll Run Against Deval. David Whelan, Blue Mass Group, February 4, 2010 This day keeps on getting better! ... Grace

Patrick foe raises $2.3m in months. Frank Phillips, Boston Globe, January 6, 2010 In one of the most aggressive political fund-raising pushes in recent memory, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Charles D. Baker has amassed a $1.85 million war chest over roughly five months of campaigning, tapping into a broad range of supporters and establishing himself as a major threat to Governor Deval Patrick’s reelection bid. Baker doubled, in less than half the time, what Patrick raised for the entirety of 2009, despite a fund-raising visit by President Obama this past fall for the Democratic governor. Baker’s coffers currently hold almost three times the amount ... Baker