By STEVE LeBLANC
BOSTON (AP) — Geoff Diehl, a former state consultant endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has gained the Republican nomination for Massachusetts governor over businessman Chris Doughty, who was thought of the extra average candidate within the race.
The victory for Diehl units up a common election contest in opposition to Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey, who can be the primary overtly homosexual particular person and the primary lady elected governor of Massachusetts if she wins in November. The state’s present governor, Republican Charlie Baker, determined in opposition to in search of a 3rd time period.
Republican voters made Massachusetts the most recent blue state this midterm season to appoint a Trump loyalist in a high-profile race, doubtlessly dooming the get together’s possibilities of profitable in November. Voters in Connecticut and Maryland, liberal states the place centrist Republicans have discovered some success in earlier elections, additionally chosen far-right candidates to go up in opposition to a Democrat within the common election.
“We’re going to run a campaign that is focused specifically on ‘We the people’ — our freedoms, our rights and our prosperity,” Diehl instructed supporters Tuesday night. “Massachusetts is no longer the place where people flock to in order for the protection of their freedoms and to build a better life for the families. Now it’s a place people are leaving.”
Healey, whose solely rival for the nomination dropped out of the race however remained on the poll, would be the heavy favourite in November in opposition to Diehl in some of the liberal states within the nation.
At her victory get together Tuesday night time earlier than the GOP race was referred to as for Diehl, Healey instructed cheering supporters that no matter which candidate emerged as her opponent, “We know he’ll be out of touch with the values we stand for.” Speaking of each candidates, she added, “They’ll bring Trumpism to Massachusetts.”
Diehl, the favourite amongst state Republican Party delegates, has ties to Trump stretching to 2016, when he served as co-chair for Trump’s presidential marketing campaign in Massachusetts. Diehl has additionally opposed COVID-19 protocols and hailed the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
Doughty mentioned he supported a few of Trump’s initiatives however wished to concentrate on challenges going through Massachusetts, which he mentioned is more and more unaffordable.
During a telerally Monday night time, Trump mentioned Diehl would “rule your state with an iron fist.”
Diehl has come to embrace Trump’s false claims that he gained the 2020 election. Diehl mentioned final yr that he didn’t assume it was a “stolen election” however later mentioned the election was rigged, regardless of dozens of courts, native officers and Trump’s personal legal professional common saying the vote was respectable. Doughty, in the meantime, has mentioned he believes President Joe Biden was legitimately elected.
The problem for Diehl within the common election is that help of Trump could play properly among the many get together’s conservative wing however might be a political albatross in a state the place registered Republicans make up lower than 10% of the voters in comparison with about 31% for Democrats and about 57% for independents.
Diehl confronted the same wrestle when he challenged Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren in 2018. He gained a three-way Republican major solely to seize simply over a 3rd of the vote within the common election.
Massachusetts has a historical past of electing fiscally conservative, socially average Republican governors — together with former Govs. William Weld and Mitt Romney — to offer a test on overwhelming Democratic legislative majorities. Baker, one other Republican in that mildew, has remained widespread within the state.
Healey has mentioned she would work to broaden job coaching applications, make youngster care extra inexpensive and modernize colleges. Healey has additionally mentioned she would defend “access to safe and legal abortion in Massachusetts” within the wake of the Supreme Court’s choice overturning Roe v. Wade.
But Healey does face an oddball hurdle in Massachusetts — the so-called curse of the legal professional common. Since 1958, six former Massachusetts attorneys common have sought the governor’s workplace. All failed.
The state has beforehand had a feminine governor, although she was appointed to the place. Republican Jane Swift served as appearing governor after Gov. Paul Cellucci stepped down in 2001 to turn into U.S. ambassador to Canada.
Tuesday’s election additionally featured a number of statewide contested Democratic primaries, together with for legal professional common and secretary of the commonwealth.
Former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell defeated employees’ rights legal professional Shannon Liss-Riordan within the Democratic major for legal professional common. Every week earlier than the election, a 3rd candidate, former assistant legal professional common Quentin Palfrey, introduced he was suspending his marketing campaign and endorsed Campbell; he remained on the poll.
Campbell can be the primary Black lady to carry the workplace in Massachusetts if elected in November. She will face Republican Jay McMahon, a trial legal professional who beforehand ran in opposition to Healey and misplaced.
Liss-Riordan pumped tens of millions of her personal cash into her marketing campaign — together with $6.3 million in August alone. Healey earned an annual wage of greater than $185,000 as legal professional common.
Incumbent Democratic Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, who’s vying for an eighth time period in workplace, defeated fellow Democrat Tanisha Sullivan, president of the Boston department of the NAACP.
Galvin will face Republican Rayla Campbell in November. Campbell can be the primary Black particular person to serve within the submit if elected.
In the Democratic three-way race for lieutenant governor, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll defeated state Rep. Tami Gouveia of Acton and state Sen. Eric Lesser of Longmeadow.
In the Democratic major for state auditor, state Sen. Diana DiZoglio defeated transportation advocate Chris Dempsey for the possibility to succeed Suzanne Bump, a Democrat who opted to not search reelection. DiZoglio will face Republican Anthony Amore in November.
There are additionally contested races within the Democratic major for auditor and within the Republican races for lieutenant governor.
None of the state’s 9 incumbent Democratic U.S. House members is going through major challengers. There had been two contested Republican primaries within the eighth and ninth congressional districts.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com”