Maybe it was the heat?

Representative Michael E. Capuano got a little testy Monday when asked about two of the biggest topics in Democratic politics this week: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s win in New York and calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

First, he batted down questions about Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old Latina activist from the Bronx, who shocked party leaders by ousting Representative Joe Crowley, a 20-year incumbent and the No. 4 Democrat in the House. The race has drawn comparisons to Capuano’s own battle against Ayanna Pressley, the first black woman elected to the Boston City Council.

“We’ve provided you guys with as much information as you need on the differences between these races,’’ Capuano told reporters after a press conference on efficiency standards for vehicles. “Every race is different. It’s kind of simple.’’

Asked what the differences are, Capuano would not say.

“Look, I’m not a pundit,’’ he said. “You guys can be the pundits. I’m putting one foot in front of the other every single day, trying to get as many votes as I can, like I’ve always done. I don’t analyze the race that way. If others want to do it, that’s their prerogative.’’

Moving on, Capuano refused to say if he agrees with Pressley’s call to abolish ICE.

“I’ve already given you positions on this, guys,’’ he said. “If you guys want to rehash the whole thing, you can go ahead and do it.’’

Pressley last week joined a small but growing chorus of Democrats, including Ocasio-Cortez, who have called to abolish ICE in response to the agency’s tough deportation tactics.

Asked what his position is, Capuano said: “I’ve already given it to you. You’ve got it. If you don’t want to read it, that’s up to you.’’

Capuano’s office later pointed to a statement he released last week saying he voted against the creation of ICE.

“However, changing who enforces bad policy now doesn’t fix that bad policy and it won’t bring families back together,’’ the statement said. “The policies being enforced are more important than the agency enforcing them. Before ICE existed there was INS, under the jurisdiction of the attorney general. No one should think for a minute that Jeff Sessions would impose different policies than Donald Trump.’’

In a statement last week, Pressley called ICE “irrevocably broken.’’

“If elected,’’ she said, “I will work with federal leaders to rehouse the non-immigration enforcement functions of ICE — including human trafficking and money laundering investigations — elsewhere in the US Department of Homeland Security, while immediately eliminating funding for enforcement and removal functions.’’

Senator Elizabeth Warren, speaking to protesters at a rally against Trump’s immigration policies in Boston on Saturday, said she supports “replacing ICE with something that reflects our morality and values.’’

Michael Levenson

Ayla Brown to sing at Lindstrom fund-raiser

Scott Brown, a former US senator from Massachusetts and current US ambassador to New Zealand, may be as far away from the GOP primary to challenge Elizabeth Warren as is physically possible.

But his daughter, Ayla Brown, 29, is singing for one of the three Republicans looking to oust Warren. The “American Idol’’ alum is scheduled to perform at a fund-raising concert in Barnstable Thursday night to benefit GOP operative Beth Lindstrom’s campaign.

When asked if Brown’s appearance was any indication of her father’s preference in the race, Lindstrom’s campaign spokesperson said in a statement that she is “simply the paid entertainment for the evening.’’

Years before Scott Brown was galavanting around Wellington, the Republican won a special election for Senate in 2010 — and served until Warren defeated him a couple years later in one of the state’s most contentious races in recent history. He later lost another US Senate race in New Hampshire before jumping early on Donald Trump’s presidential bandwagon.

Warren and Scott Brown had a notoriously nasty relationship until they buried the hatchet in 2016, and she’s since backed his candidacy to be US ambassador and (unsuccessful) efforts to be secretary of Veterans Affairs.

When contacted through spokespeople, neither Ayla nor Scott Brown responded to requests for comment. But it’s also worth noting that two of Scott Brown’s former campaign masterminds are also on team Lindstrom — Gail Gitcho and Eric Fehrnstrom.

State Representative Geoff Diehl and businessman John Kingston are also running in the GOP primary on Sept. 4.

Jamie Halper

No, you’re a firework, Chris Sununu

Do you like things that go whiz-bang and sparkle in the night?

If so, Chris Sununu, the governor of New Hampshire, has a message for you: You’re welcome!

A couple days before the July Fourth holiday, Sununu reminded firework lovers all over the Internet that the Granite State offers pyrotechnic delights minus that pesky sales levy.

“Despite being banned in other nearby states, New Hampshire offers some of the best fireworks around. From sparklers to bottle-rockets, all fireworks are SALES-TAX-FREE in New Hampshire! #603Pride #ShopNH,’’ Sununu tweeted on July 2.

Just an educated guess here, but we’re pretty sure he’s talking about Massachusetts, where it’s illegal to set off recreational fireworks without a permit. (Although that hasn’t stopped many state residents from crossing the state line this week or, well, ever to procure illicit items.)

We get it, governor.

But at the end of the day, we law-abiding Puritans will still have all our fingers.

Shira T. Center