BoxDems Meeting Thursday, Voting, Delectable Drinks with Dems, Another Ballot Double Hitter, Editorial: Murraytown
Quick overview
Drinks with Dems
Bigger, more boisterous turnout
Ah, we met in Topsfield with a slight drizzle falling on our much-beleaguered Democratic heads. And, yet again, a great turnout, this one even bigger than last time.
It’s such a great occasion to meet under very relaxed circumstances. No agenda, no speeches. Just friends hanging out under the proverbial banner in the big proverbial Democratic tent drinking phenomenal beer.
First airing of badges
As is evident from the collage above, we also managed to pin our new BoxfordDems badges to anything that moved, including the bartender and both congressional candidates.
Tram Nguyen and Bethany Andres-Beck, both candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, were kind enough to stop by to mingle and were having an obviously good and easy time. They’re both on the very last week and we wish them both the very best of luck. What a marathon! And we saw Marsha Finkelstein and Ken Thomson, both of the Mass. State Committee and long-time Democratic stalwarts.
Next Drinks for Dems on Sept. 17
The next Drinks with Dems will take place September 17 at 4:30 p.m.
Check out our Calendar page in the very unlikely case of last-minute updates. (Where is Alfalfa Farm Cellars? Directions.)
Early primary voting started Saturday
Thank your election worker
Last week we stopped by the Town Hall to watch our hardworking town election workers/volunteers test the voting equipment for the elections this week. When you stop by to vote, don’t forget to thank all these volunteers and our town clerk for doing such a fantastic job.
Vote to give our candidates the best send-off
The primary election is what we’ve been waiting for. Unless you’ve already mailed in your ballot, we Democrats have a chance to give our candidates the very best start with big turnouts in contested general election races (Healey/Driscoll, the six U.S. House of Representatives (MA-06), and our very own first-time candidate Connor Murray for the State House (18th Essex). Click here to see the Democratic ballot for Precinct 1.
Third in line
At 9 a.m. (sharp), I was the third voter in line at Boxford Town Hall, only because Carole and Steve David managed to squeeze in ahead of me. I was briefly considering wrestling them to the ground for first-voter bragging rights, but Carole had biked to the polls and is probably in better shape than me.
EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING
Monday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Aug. 24)
Tuesday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Aug. 25)
Wednesday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Aug. 26)
Thursday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Aug. 27)
PRIMARY ELECTION DAY
Tuesday, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Sept. 1)
BLUE RIDES TO THE POLLS
It’s not too late to book a ride with the BoxfordDems Blue Rides. We will happily take you to the polls if, for any reason, you’re prevented from driving yourself.
For more details and to book, read this article or go to our website. We’ve extended that offer also to our Middleton friends—we had a surplus of drivers (thanks to everyone who volunteered!!)
BoxfordDems Ballot Measure Series
THIS WEEK: UNIONS AND CANNABIS
Get your union cards stamped, buds trimmed, joints rolled, and bongs cleaned out for the next two questions.
Christina Eckert is writing on Question 2: Collective Bargaining for CPCS Employees and Adam Steiner is training the spotlight on Question 8: Sale of Adult Recreational Use Marijuana.
As usual, click the voting buttons in the respective articles to weigh in with comments and your own recommendation.
As we publish each article, we provide a BoxfordDems-subscriber consensus recommendation, which might come in handy going to the ballot box.
BoxfordDems Ballot Measure Series
LAST WEEK’S BALLOT-MEASURE ARTICLES
We’re about half-way through our ballot series: Our subscribers were irrepressible and voted eagerly in the BoxfordDems surveys on these two quesions and left a number of comments.
For Question 3, on the Top-Two State Primary Election ballot initiative by Terri Teleen, readers agreed with the author in firmly rejecting the measure.
On Question 4, Election-Day Registration by Eleanor Grigg Schoenberg, like the author, our subscribers indicated that they would support the measure.
Thank you to all our subscribers and especially to Terri and Eleanor!
We’re providing some of the comments we received in our Comments section).
As usual, click the voting buttons in the respective articles to weigh in with comments and your own recommendation.
As we publish each article, we provide a BoxfordDems-subscriber consensus recommendation, which might come in handy going to the ballot box.
Next committee meeting on Thursday
On Thursday August 27, the BoxfordDems are meeting for our next committee meeting. We’re meeting in our usual place at 10 Elm Street, starting at 7 p.m.
Our agenda will include preparation for Primary Day; our Blue Rides (driving voters to the polls), activities up to the General Election; a visit by Connor Murray, who will update us on his campaign’s progress and bring lawn signs for attendees, and a couple of household items.
We also plan to hold a vote to endorse Connor formally as a committee, even as most of us have done so in our individual capacities.
As usual, the meeting will also serve as an opportunity to drop off items for our Diaper Drive.
A new feature, as you’ll see, is the option to let us know what you like, don’t like, provide feedback, or just comment on issues.
Have a great week!
Christian Schoenberg, Chair
Boxford Democratic Town Committee
chair@boxforddems.org
P.S.: As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at christian@boxforddems.org or Terri at terri@boxforddems.org.
P.P.S.: The BoxfordDems do not endorse primary candidates if multiple candidates are running, but we’re more than happy to publish event details from candidates! Please reach out to us at chair@boxforddems.org with text and artwork.
Editorial: Murraytown
Vote Connor and Ramos!
By Christian Schoenberg, August 24, 2026.
Ideation factory
The creative department—or ideation factory, to use that nauseating contemporary term—is humming along over here at the Boxford Blue Fortress. We’ve not yet decided how to describe ourselves: Are we Con-heads, Connifers, or living in Murraytown?
No matter—we implore you, if you live in Precinct 1, vote Connor Murray, that herder of wolves, lover of dogs, our progressive candidate for 18th Essex. (Of course, if you live in Precincts 2 or 3, please show your support for Adrianne Pusateri Ramos for Essex 14th.)
With respect to the congressional race,, it’s been a great primary. Our Sixth District candidates — we now know them all by their first names Bethany, John, Jamie, Dan, Mariah, and Tram — have done a fantastic job, knocking on thousands of doors, introducing themselves to constituents and been very kind and generous to our many town and city committees with their time. The decision is now yours.
We can’t wait to go out in full force to help elect the winner of our primary!
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR CPCS EMPLOYEES
By Christina Eckert. Published July 24, 2026.
Public defenders do not have a union. Passing this ballot measure would change the Commonwealth’s collective-bargaining laws to formally define CPCS as a public employer, which would grant workers the same organizing rights as other state employees.
Go to article to comment and vote in our survey.
SALE OF ADULT RECREATIONAL USE MARIJUANA
By Adam Steiner. Published Aug. 24, 2026.
Massachusetts made history in 2016 as an early adopter of recreational cannabis. Now, a decade later, voters face a high-stakes decision that could make history again—for the exact opposite reason.
Go to article to comment and vote in our survey.
Past Weeks’ Ballot Measure Instalments
John Beccia on his 39 Towns in 39 Days Tour
Can I ask John Beccia a question? “You Beccia!!” The candidate for the MA-06 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is on a 39-in-39 Tour.
Democrats and democracy-leaning organizations sharing regional calendar
We’ve invited all the various Essex County Democratic city and town committees, local Democratic campaign teams, as well as local organizers (such as the Indivisible groups) to post events directly to our calendar. Learn how to use and embed our North Shore Calendar on your site…
Hitch a ride to the polls with the BoxfordDems’ Blue Rides
The BoxfordDems are offering rides to the polls to registered Democrats in Boxford. If you’re somehow prevented from getting to the polls at Boxford Town Hall, we’ll be happy to give you a ride. Let us know!
Join us for “Drinks with Dems” at Alfalfa Farm Cellars on Sept. 17
Every third week of each month we meet with area Democrats at Alfalfa Farm Cellars for beers at 4:30-6:00pm. No speakers. No agenda. Just having fun!
Volunteer with Tram’s Campaign
Join Tram’s grassroots movement of neighbors and friends to knock doors, make calls, and get the word out that Tram is the people's candidate. We publish her campaign’s schedule weekly.
Join Team Koh to get the word out about Dan!
We're knocking doors, making calls, and talking with our friends all across the district. You can see all of our upcoming opportunities here.
Our Doorhanger Initiative is still going strong - distribute 47 doorhangers to your neighbors and get a BoxfordDems swag bag!
We’re always looking for neighbors willing to distribute door hangers in Boxford! We have no public sidewalks; residents don’t expect canvassers; Boxford has 2-acre zoning; houses can be hard to find—in other words, Boxford is notoriously difficult to canvass.
Other great opportunities to get involved - nationwide
Zoe Finch Totten and others have provided us with some useful links to some organizers whom you should consider joining. Click the images to go their websites and check them out!
This week’s issue
GENERAL
BoxDems Meeting Thursday, Voting, Delectable Drinks with Dems, Another Ballot Double Hitter, Editorial: Murraytown (link)
Past week’s comments (link)
BOXFORDDEMS BALLOT-MEASURE SERIES
This week’s ballot measures
Q2: Collective Bargaining for CPCS Employees (Christina Eckert) (link)
Q8: Sale of Adult Recreational Use Marijuana (Adam Steiner) (link)
Last weeks’ ballot measures
Overview of ballot-initiative process (Christina Eckert) (link)
Q1: Public Records Requirements (Ellen Mandel) (link)
Q3: State Primary Elections (Terri Teleen) (link)
Q4: Same-Day Voter Registration (Eleanor Grigg Schoenberg) (link)
Q6: Establish Nature-for-All Fund (Jessica Grigg) (link)
GET INVOLVED INITIATIVES
Drinks with Dems: Meet fellow Tri-Town Dems at Alfalfa Farm Cellars (link)
Distribute 47 doorhangers and get a BoxfordDems swag bag (link)
We’re getting out the Boxford vote with Blue Rides (link)
Democrats and democracy-leaning organizations sharing regional calendar (link)
Other great opportunities to get involved - nationwide (link)
CAMPAIGNS
Comment on this week’s newsletter or submit feedback here!
If we publish your submission, we reserve the right to edit for length and ease of reading.
