Concerns repeatedly raised have been substantiated by the September 8, 2025, MassDOT document release. The records reveal undisclosed communications and conflicts of interest involving the Head of the MassDOT Selection Committee and Applegreen’s bidding team. This conduct undermines the integrity of the process and demands immediate investigation, accountability, and disqualification of Applegreen to preserve public trust. Learn more.
As Alan Leventhal, the founder of a Boston-based real estate investment firm, considers a 2026 run for governor, he apparently has a veteran political consultant by his side.
Doug Rubin, who has worked for Gov. Deval Patrick and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, is assisting Leventhal, according to a source familiar with the relationship.
Leventhal, who served as the U.S ambassador to Denmark under Joe Biden, is working with Regan Communications Group, which has taken the lead in circulating Leventhal’s name and pushing him out in public.
In the waning days of August, the Boston Herald reported that Leventhal was weighing a run, with a featured quote from the public relations firm’s founder George Regan. “He’s disappointed in the lack of leadership in the state and city,” Regan told the newspaper. “Alan loves this state and city, and is looking to help.”
Leventhal is expected to be at this weekend’s rededication of a Yarmouth bridge, honoring a fallen Marine Corps veteran, after the bridge was vandalized twice. Leventhal is donating American flags to replace the ones that were destroyed as part of the vandalism.
Regan aside, Leventhal has also turned to a top strategist in Rubin.
Rubin has typically worked for Democrats, though it’s an open question whether Leventhal would run in a primary or as an independent, according to the Herald. Leventhal’s political donations over the years have overwhelmingly gone towards top Democrats, including Marty Walsh and Michelle Wu.
Rubin’s client list has included Tom Steyer, who ran for president in 2019, and Stephen Pagliuca, the businessman and Celtics co-owner who ran the 2009 race to replace Ted Kennedy in the U.S. Senate. Ralph de la Torre, the Steward Health Care leader, also turned to Rubin last year while dealing with the collapse of his company.
Rubin said he had not been retained by anyone in the 2026 race for governor, and he declined further comment when asked about Leventhal.
Regan was also recently asked by MASSterList about Rubin’s involvement. “Doug who?” Regan said.
Anybody else expressing interest in possibly jumping into 2026? Let me know if you know: [email protected].
MASSterList Job Board |
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District Aide & Communications Assistant — NEW!, Office of Congressman Seth Moulton |
Sanctuary Director (Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary), Mass Audubon |
Communications Specialist, American Academy of Arts and Sciences |
General Counsel, Longwood Collective |
Legislative and Membership Administrator, Utility Contractors’ Association of New England |
Director of Finance, Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance |
Executive Director, Massachusetts State College Building Authority |
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HAPPENING TODAY
9:00 | The Joint Committee on Housing holds a public hearing on more than 20 bills focused on zoning and Chapter 40B. The 1969 law has helped facilitate housing production and affordable housing development particularly in communities that have not attained minimum affordable housing thresholds. | Room A-2, State House, Boston | Agenda & Livestream
10:00 | Economic Assistance Coordinating Council meets. Agenda includes proposed economic development incentive program projects, including for Hasbro, Inc. that plans to relocate its headquarters to Boston. Hasbro could receive tax credits of $20,000 per job relocated to the commonwealth; with plans to relocate 700 jobs, that could translate into $14 million. | McCormack Building, One Ashburton Place, 21st floor, EOED Conference Room A, Boston | Agenda and Livestream
12:00 | MassDOT Board meets. | 10 Park Plaza, MassDOT Board Room, Boston | More Info
12:00 | Gov. Maura Healey hosts a ceremonial signing of the Chapter 90 bill, which the governor signed on Aug. 8. The enhanced local road funding bond package combined $300 million for one year of the Chapter 90 program with an additional $885 million for a road and bridge lifecycle asset management program, culverts, small bridges and congestion hotspots. She’ll be joined by Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Mass. Municipal Association officials. | Polish American Club, 171 Kendall Pond Road W., Gardner
PRELIM ROUND-UP
Two-term incumbent Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, a two-term incumbent who had the endorsement of Gov. Maura Healey, lost the preliminary to Willie Burnley Jr. and Jake Wilson, two councilors, according to the Cambridge Day.
Another incumbent mayor, Gloucester’s Greg Verga, came in second to former City Council President Paul Lundberg, and now both are advancing to the November election, per the Gloucester Times.
Two Brockton city councilors at-large, Moises Rodrigues and Jean Bradley Derenoncourt, made it through the mayoral prelim, in that order, and face off on Nov. 4, according to the Enterprise.
Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra outdistanced her competitors in Tuesday’s preliminary and is the “heavy favorite” heading into November, MassLive reported.
Boston is at an economic crossroads. The vitality of its downtown business district, drained by the COVID-19 epidemic, continues to slowly rebound but has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. Commercial property values have declined, creating the potential for major budget challenges for the most property-tax dependent big city in America. With Boston’s financial underpinnings at risk, what is the strategy and vision for Boston’s future, particularly for its major business districts? Join business and community leaders to explore challenges and opportunities ahead. Register here!
D.C. DOWNLOAD
AUCHINCLOSS OUT:Three-term Congressman Jake Auchincloss said he won’t run against Sen. Ed Markey in a 2026 Democratic primary. The decision comes after Markey has moved aggressively to lock down endorsements from a wide array of elected officials across Massachusetts, and particularly in Auchincloss’s district. – Boston Globe
PRICE-GOUGING BILL: Sen. Elizabeth Warren has signed on to a bipartisan bill to cut back on military contractors price-gouging on basic materials, like soap dispensers, and spare parts. – MassLive
FROM BEACON HILL
NEW ECON DEV CHIEF: In an interview with the Boston Business Journal, Gov. Healey’s new economic development chief, Eric Paley, talks about what he learned when interning in Congress and why AI is like a “pretty good intern.” – Boston Business Journal
LOBBYING LIST: Health care interests remain the driving forces behind Beacon Hill lobbying. Big spenders this year include the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association and the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans. – CommonWealth Beacon
FLAGGING STATE LAW: Attorney General Andrea Campbell said Gov. Maura Healey was following state statute when she lowered flags after the death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. But Campbell added that there should have been an explanation of needing to lower flags when the federal government lowers flags. – GBH News
EV GOALS: Massachusetts was behind electric vehicles goals, and has fallen even more behind since President Trump retook the White House. – StreetsBlogMass
NEWS NEXT DOOR
ICE FACILITY: The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Burlington has detained hundreds of people over multiple days despite the agency acknowledging it wasn’t set up to do so. – WBUR
COLLEGE CUT: A year into free community college, need-based stipends for some students are getting reduced. The stipends cover books and supplies, among other items. – MassLive
WHITE STADIUM DEAL: The pro women’s soccer team planning to use Franklin Park’s White Stadium says it has secured the needed $100 million in financing from Bank of America to complete work on the facility. – Dorchester Reporter
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JOB BOARD
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Collaborative Consultant, Providers’ Council
Assistant Director of Human Resources, City of Chelsea
Retirement/Benefits Specialist, Hampden County Sheriff’s Office
Strategic Researcher, Boston Teachers Union
Director of Partnerships and Engagement, Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice
Manager of Government Affairs, Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Special Education Schools
Chief Executive Officer, Boston Public Market Association
Deputy Director of Planning, Preservation, and Zoning, City of Somerville
General Counsel, Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General
Grant Writer, City of Somerville
