IT’S THE NEWS all of the Massachusetts political world has waited for, and now that it’s here, it will set off a flurry of activity on the state’s political landscape.
Gov. Charlie Baker got the ball rolling himself on Monday, when he said in a radio interview that he was “pretty close” to announcing a decision about whether he’ll seek a third term next year. On Tuesday evening, former Boston Globe reporter Frank Phillips, who seems to pop out of his retirement leisure every six months or so to tweet a big scoop, said the announcement would come today – and added, “Rumors swirl he won’t go for a third term.”
Today they are more than rumors, as Baker is calling “allies” this morning to let them know of his pending announcement that he won’t run for reelection next year. Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito wrote in a joint letter to supporters that with the state focused on COVID recovery, “If we were to run, it would be a distraction that would potentially get in the way of many of the things we should be working on for everyone in Massachusetts.” They said they also wanted to spend more time with their families.
Speculation has been building for months over whether Baker would run again. No Massachusetts governor has ever served three straight four-year terms — Michael Dukakis served three terms, but not consecutively.
The moderate Republican has been a dominant force in state politics, defying the state’s strong blue streak to remain one of the most popular governors in the country throughout the seven years in office that he’s served so far. His record of accomplishments – and shortcomings – will get plenty of attention now that he seems prepared to call a wrap to his political career. But the decision means the focus will now quickly turn to other political players and what the announcement means for them.
While many had assumed that a Baker exit would mean his loyal lieutenant governor would look to carry the torch of more moderate Republicanism against Trump-backed former state representative Geoff Diehl, who is already seeking the GOP nomination, that is not to be. The joint statement from Baker and Polito said she also will not be running for office next year.
Polito’s decision will only intensify questions about the future of the Massachusetts Republican Party, which has seen its already thin ranks in the Legislature shrink even more under the leadership of controversial party chairman Jim Lyons, a hard-right Trump acolyte.
On the Democratic side, the huge question now will be whether Attorney General Maura Healey enters the race for governor. She has held off on any announcement so far. The conventional thinking was that Healey was waiting to hear what Baker would do, and that she would probably not run against him but very likely would jump in if he were not running. Even if that is the exact behind-the-scenes calculus and she’s been patiently waiting for word from Baker, Healey may hold off making an announcement right away to avoid the perception that she was, well, patiently waiting for word from Baker.
Three Democrats are already in the gubernatorial race – state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, former state senator Ben Downing, and Harvard professor Danielle Allen – though none have the statewide recognition and campaign war chest of Healey.
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Executive Editor, CommonWealth
About Michael Jonas
Michael Jonas has worked in journalism in Massachusetts since the early 1980s. Before joining the CommonWealth staff in early 2001, he was a contributing writer for the magazine for two years. His cover story in CommonWealth's Fall 1999 issue on Boston youth outreach workers was selected for a PASS (Prevention for a Safer Society) Award from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency.
Michael got his start in journalism at the Dorchester Community News, a community newspaper serving Boston's largest neighborhood, where he covered a range of urban issues. Since the late 1980s, he has been a regular contributor to the Boston Globe. For 15 years he wrote a weekly column on local politics for the Boston Sunday Globe's City Weekly section.
Michael has also worked in broadcast journalism. In 1989, he was a co-producer for "The AIDS Quarterly," a national PBS series produced by WGBH-TV in Boston, and in the early 1990s, he worked as a producer for "Our Times," a weekly magazine program on WHDH-TV (Ch. 7) in Boston.
Michael lives in Dorchester with his wife and their two daughters.
About Michael Jonas
Michael Jonas has worked in journalism in Massachusetts since the early 1980s. Before joining the CommonWealth staff in early 2001, he was a contributing writer for the magazine for two years. His cover story in CommonWealth's Fall 1999 issue on Boston youth outreach workers was selected for a PASS (Prevention for a Safer Society) Award from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency.
Michael got his start in journalism at the Dorchester Community News, a community newspaper serving Boston's largest neighborhood, where he covered a range of urban issues. Since the late 1980s, he has been a regular contributor to the Boston Globe. For 15 years he wrote a weekly column on local politics for the Boston Sunday Globe's City Weekly section.
Michael has also worked in broadcast journalism. In 1989, he was a co-producer for "The AIDS Quarterly," a national PBS series produced by WGBH-TV in Boston, and in the early 1990s, he worked as a producer for "Our Times," a weekly magazine program on WHDH-TV (Ch. 7) in Boston.
Michael lives in Dorchester with his wife and their two daughters.
Meanwhile, if Healey does take the plunge, it will open up the race for attorney general. Already eyeing a Democratic primary run for AG are Quentin Palfrey, who was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2018, and prominent labor lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan, who entered the Democratic primary against US Sen. Ed Markey last year, but then withdrew after then-Rep. Joe Kennedy also entered the race.
Let the domino falling begin.
