Erin Murphy

Allison Cartwright was a relative unknown when she announced she was running for office in February. So, too, was the office she sought — the clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County.

On August 14, seven Democratic candidates vying for three positions on the Governor’s Council, the Clerk of Court for Civil Business, and the Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court met at the Lena Park Community Center to debate the issues ahead of the primary on September 3.

This week, many Democratic voters are laser-focused on their party’s national convention in Chicago. But while the party’s nomination of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz is a foregone conclusion, local Democrats in the Boston area face competitive races in the often-overlooked state primary, which this year takes place Sept. 3.

Black voters heading to the polls later this year in Massachusetts will have the opportunity to weigh in on not only the 2024 presidential race — a rematch between incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump — but a contested race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Elizabeth Warren, at least six ballot questions, several contested legislative races and an rare race for an open court position.

Frank Baker won’t be appearing on the ballot this year. After 10 years in office, the District 3 City Councilor from eastern Dorchester is calling it quits. But you wouldn’t know it by his presence in last Sunday’s Dorchester Day Parade, where he practically jogged the three-mile route, zig-zagging from one side of the street to the other, shaking hands. Why?

On Wednesday, two City Council members introduced demands for city records in the form of two so-called 17F requests, both seemingly aimed at re-airing various grievances being aired by opponents of the map approved by a majority vote of the Council last Fall.

During an Oct. 27 City Council hearing on violence in the Boston Public Schools, Councilors Michael Flaherty, Erin Murphy and Ed Flynn questioned BPS officials on increased reports of violence in the schools.

A letter signed by four Boston City Council members calling for more police officers and “non-invasive” measures like metal detectors in Boston Public Schools is drawing criticism from advocates who are striving to reduce police and law enforcement presence in schools.

A City Council hearing on the idea of using civilian flaggers instead of police details on some construction projects got heated Monday as Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association President Larry Calderone refused to surrender the microphone after exceeding the five-minute limit for testimony, prompting councilors to walk out of the hearing, held at the Bolling Building in Roxbury.

A longstanding racial divide on the City Council has moved to center stage as the 13 members of the body debate the redrawing of the city’s nine council districts.

Boston city councilors now have three proposed maps to consider in an ongoing redistricting process set to end in early November.