The determination of state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz to drop out of the race for governor is a vital present to Maura Healey.
Not solely will Healey, the two-term lawyer common, now run unopposed for the Democratic nomination, however she will probably be free from assaults coming from a progressive opponent who’s to the left of her.
Ending her candidacy was a bitter tablet for Chang-Diaz, the veteran state senator from Jamaica Plain, to swallow.
Unlike Healey, Chang-Diaz was keen to tackle Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and introduced her candidacy properly earlier than Baker mentioned he wouldn’t search re-election.
Healey had no plans to run in opposition to Baker, however solely received within the race after Baker introduced that he wouldn’t search a 3rd time period.
So, Chang-Diaz’s onerous emotions at being elbowed apart are comprehensible, regardless that the writing was on the wall. Healey, with two statewide campaigns beneath her belt, was higher identified, had a greater group and will increase extra marketing campaign cash.
In addition, Healey constructed a nationwide popularity by attacking Donald Trump when he was president, submitting go well with in opposition to the previous president over 50 instances, which endeared her to many Democrats and progressives.
How onerous did Chang-Diaz take it? Hard sufficient in that she didn’t endorse Healey and won’t marketing campaign for her. She mentioned she would use her power to marketing campaign for fellow progressives operating for lesser places of work
She won’t even vote for Healey, however will vote for herself since her title will nonetheless be on the Democrat major poll.
She mentioned, “I am keeping my name on the ballot because I think the voters deserve to have options when deciding who to vote for and because it’s a historic step forward to have gotten the first woman of color on the ballot for governor of Massachusetts.”
Chang-Diaz is the primary Latina elected to the state Senate. Her father was the primary Hispanic-American astronaut.
Healey is the primary brazenly homosexual girl operating for governor in Massachusetts and, if elected, can be the state’s first lesbian chief government.
When it comes right down to it, although, the progressives who supported Chang-Diaz will find yourself voting for Healey.
Not solely will Healey attain out to them, they haven’t any different gubernatorial candidate to vote for, except they’re whacked sufficient to vote Republican.
In an insipid assertion, Healey praised Chang-Diaz for her “inspired leadership” and the inspiration she offered to “the young girls who finally saw themselves represented in a candidate for the highest office in the state.”
That apart, whereas Chang-Diaz didn’t come out in help of Healey, her quitting the race however contributed to Healey’s marketing campaign in a significant manner.
With no major opponent, Healey’s document as lawyer common won’t come up as a problem within the major because it naturally would have, given an opponent.
But it’s a monetary windfall as properly. Healey, who has raised over $5 million in marketing campaign funds to date, would have been pressured to spend wherever from $1 million to $1.5 million in a major marketing campaign to defeat Chang-Diaz.
The cash Healey is saving is in essence an unrecorded marketing campaign contribution. It is cash Healey can save for the overall election in November
Healey’s $5 million shouldn’t be solely extra money than Chang-Diaz may increase, it’s much more cash than the 2 Republican candidates operating for governor mixed have raised.
They are Trump-endorsed Geoff Diehl, who received the nod for candidate on the Republican conference, and Wrentham businessman Chris Doughty.
So, whereas Healey will get a move, Diehl and Doughty will probably be going after one another within the GOP major.
Whoever staggers out of that struggle a winner will then face a well-financed, well-rested, well-organized Maura Healey in an overwhelmingly progressive and Democrat state. Good luck with that, boys.
Peter Lucas is a veteran Massachusetts political reporter and columnist.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”