By Mackenzie Farkus
Staff Writer
The race for the governorship of Massachusetts has officially begun, with less than 300 days to go until Massachusetts residents go to the polls on Sept. 18 for the primaries and Nov. 6 for election day.
Incumbent Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican, will be seeking re-election for the 2019-2023 term. Baker has remained popular among many Massachusetts residents, but today’s changing political landscape may impact his reelection.
Many challengers have risen up both inside and outside of Baker’s party. Former Mayor of Newton Setti Warren, activist Robert Massie, and former State Budget Chief Jay Gonzalez are running as Democrats, while Springfield Pastor Scott Lively will be running again after being defeated in the 2014 gubernatorial election as an independent candidate.
This year’s election will be of particular interest due to the divisive state of politics today. Baker has distanced himself from President Donald J. Trump, while Lively, who has been the subject of outcry from human rights groups, described Trump as a “political genius” in an interview with The Boston Globe. Warren, Gonzalez, and Massie oppose the Trump administration, each highlighting LGBTQ+ rights, climate change, and immigrant communities in their campaign issues.
“From the American Revolution to marriage equality, Massachusetts has always been at the forefront of our country’s biggest issues,” Gonzalez said in a statement to WBUR. “President Trump threatens our values and threatens to take us backward. Now more than ever, we need a Governor who is going to stand up and fight for our values and fight to move us forward. I’ll be that Governor. I’ll work with a sense of urgency to make sure that every working family has a fair shot for a better future.”
Only time will tell who will stay in the gubernatorial race as 2018 goes on. Residents of Massachusetts can find more information on where their voting precinct is here.
