Gonzalez slams Baker for supporting GOP ticket

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said on Friday that he is supporting the entire GOP statewide slate, include US Senate nominee Geoff Diehl, a supporter of President Trump.

“I’ve endorsed the ticket, which I said I was going to do months ago, yeah,” Baker told reporters.

His opponent for governor, Democrat Jay Gonzalez, issued a statement condemning Baker’s endorsement of Diehl, saying “he wants to send Trump another guaranteed vote to support his hateful policies.  By supporting Geoff Diehl, Charlie Baker is asking us to choose someone to represent us who will do everything he can to further an anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ rights, and the NRA’s anti-gun control agenda. If Charlie Baker had his way, Massachusetts would have a senator who would support the appointment of Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.  I’m supporting Senator Elizabeth Warren for re-election to the US Senate because I know she represents my values.”

Baker defeated conservative Springfield pastor Scott Lively in Tuesday’s primary, in which Diehl and attorney general hopeful Jay McMahon also beat their opponents. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, treasurer candidate Rep. Keiko Orrall, secretary of state candidate Anthony Amore, and auditor candidate Helen Brady each ran unopposed.

While Baker has touted his bipartisan credentials, including endorsements by Democratic lawmakers and mayors, and did not vote in the 2016 presidential election, McMahon and Diehl have more closely tied themselves to President Donald Trump.

Diehl helped lead Trump’s state campaign operation and told reporters a year and a half ago that he would “absolutely” ask the preisdent to stump for him against US Sen. Elizabeth Warren. McMahon, in a WATD radio debate last month, said he thought his support for Trump would help him with voters.

Baker said he and Polito also “typically support a lot of” the Republican lawmakers seeking re-election. On Friday night, he will be a guest at an event for Rep. Donald Wong at the Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus.

“I think in some respects those are people we know, those are people we’ve worked with, and those are folks who can help us pursue our agenda up here on Beacon Hill,” Baker said.

Democrats hold a supermajority in both the House and Senate. With 200 legislative seats on the ballot Nov. 6, 37 GOP lawmakers are seeking reelection, while another 13 are running for open seats and 23 are challenging incumbent Democrats.

Baker said whether he gets involved in any races where Republicans are looking to unseat Beacon Hill Democrats “depends to some extent on time.”

“We have a race, and we plan to spend most of the next 58 days focused on ours,” he said.

The general election is Nov. 6 and will pit Baker and Polito against the Democratic ticket of Jay Gonzalez and Quentin Palfrey.