Tran’s GOP win douses Democrats’ firepower

The recent election of Republican Dean Tran of Fitchburg to the Massachusetts state Senate was an embarrassing rebuke to the state's top Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Despite their opposition, Tran defeated Democrat Susan Chalifoux Zephir, a Leominster city councilor who had the support of the state's Democrat Party hierarchy, as well as Charlene DiCalogero of Berlin an unenrolled candidate Claire Freda.

Dems urge Baker to withdraw support for Fitchburg Senate candidate

Gov. Charlie Baker has tried, often against the odds, to grow the Republican Party since his 2014 election, but often times that means siding with candidates that don't perfectly align with his brand of moderate, socially liberal Republicanism. That conflict is rearing its head again two weeks before a special Senate election in north central Massachusetts as the Massachusetts Democratic Party is calling on the governor to withdraw his support for Fitchburg City Councilor Dean Tran over comments the candidate made during a debate this past weekend.

Drones are here: Regulators trying to keep up with commercial, recreational users

It sounds like a scene from "The Jetsons" with people zipping around from place to place in aerocars that also deliver packages and pizza. However, the future of driverless taxis and delivery drones flying through the skies is closer than many people may think.  The first Chinese-made ferry for individual passengers is scheduled to fly this month in Dubai.

Peter Lucas: Gonzalez plans an all-out Trump attack in governor’s race

Gov. Charlie Baker will be lucky if he draws Democrat Jay Gonzalez, a Deval Patrick acolyte, as his opponent for re-election. Gonzalez, 46, of Needham, served as Patrick's secretary of administration from 2009 to 2013, which, outside of governor, is the top job in state government.

Tsongas, Wofford debate Oct. 17

U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, D-Lowell, and her Republican challenger, Ann Wofford, will square off in a debate at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 17, at the Devens Common Center. The event is co-sponsored by The Sun and its sister newspapers the Sentinel & Enterprise of Fitchburg and the Nashoba Valley Voice, as well as the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce and Devens Common Center.

Women, these jobs waiting for you

In a year with the first female presidential nominee by a major political party, and with 27 female Olympic gold medalists outnumbering their male counterparts, American women have a lot to celebrate in their movement for equality. But they also still face many challenges, and on Women's Equality Day, U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas set up a roundtable discussion to talk about these challenges and their possible solutions.