Supporters of Majority Leader Ron Mariano believe the Quincy Democrat has enough votes among Massachusetts House Democrats to succeed Speaker Robert DeLeo if the longtime speaker steps down in the coming weeks, sources told the News Service Thursday.
The snowstorm that pounded most of Massachusetts overnight Wednesday gave DeLeo a bit of breathing room after a chaotic day at the Statehouse Wednesday, where reports about the speaker's impending departure swirled.
The speaker's office said nothing publicly Thursday after denying that he had a deal to join Northeastern University, and many lawmakers called and contacted by the News Service either did not respond or declined to comment as they tried to learn themselves what was going to happen.
DeLeo said in October 2019 that he intended to seek reelection and reelection as speaker in 2021, but has declined to reaffirm that this week.
One informed State House official said that if DeLeo does resign, as expected, in the coming days or weeks that Mariano has the votes to become the next speaker, which he has been quietly amassing for months in case the opportunity should arise.
Mariano, 74, entered the House the same year as DeLeo in 1991 after winning a special election, and he has been the speaker's right hand for much of the 12 years DeLeo has been in power. He has a long history working on health care and insurance policy matters, and is currently working to negotiate a health care bill with the Senate focused on telehealth and surprise billing.
A transition to Mariano would likely mean some stability in the ranks of leadership given the role the leader has played to put people in the positions they now hold. House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz, for instance, is expected to stay where he is, leading the budget writing committee, according to sources, while Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Claire Cronin could be in line for a promotion.
Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick Haddad, of Somerset, was seen as the most likely competitor to Mariano if DeLeo stepped aside. Haddad could not be reached for comment on Thursday, and the Boston Globe —citing a "person close to Mariano" — reported that Haddad was telling her backers to side with Mariano.
Leaders of the Progressive Caucus were also unavailable to comment Thursday on the potential upheaval in House leadership, and whether they would seek to run a candidate for speaker if DeLeo steps aside.
