Politics

PAC with ties to Baker sees mixed results

Foray into GOP primaries nets 1 win, 1 loss

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A SUPER PAC closely aligned with Gov. Charlie Baker saw mixed results Tuesday night. A Democrat the PAC supported easily won the state rep seat from Melrose, but the PAC’s foray into two Republican primaries appeared to yield one win and one loss.

Kate Lipper-Garabedian, a Melrose city councilor, cruised to victory in the general election for the House seat vacated by Paul Brodeur, who was elected mayor of Melrose.  Lipper-Garabedian, a lifelong Democrat, declared victory not long after the polls closed.

Massachusetts Majority, the super PAC aligned with Baker, spent $4,879 on a mailing supporting Lipper-Garabedian in the primary, where she defeated two opponents. Her challenger in the final was Republican Brandon Reid, who had been a write-in candidate in the primary.

Lipper-Garabedian won the only general election to fill a vacant legislative seat on Tuesday. Primaries were held for four other vacant seats, with the finals scheduled for March 31.

The super PAC with close ties to Baker, a Republican, has a track record of backing both Republicans and Democrats, suggesting its goal is to build a moderate base of support for a governor who is not comfortable with either liberal Democrats or Donald Trump Republicans. Last fall, the PAC supported 15 mayoral and city council candidates, 11 of whom won. The PAC has raised more than $955,000 since last May and spent more than $280,000.

The decision by the PAC to back one Republican over another in primary fights was unusual. The move came as Baker also tried to regain control of the state Republican Party from pro-Trump forces in state committee races.

Massachusetts Majority spent $7,334 on mailings on behalf of Republican Catherine Clark of Lunenburg, who declared victory on Facebook, reporting that she edged fellow Republican Malena Chastain, also of Lunenburg. Clark will square off in the final against Democratic primary winner Danilla Sena of Acton, an aide to Sen. Jamie Eldridge of Acton, who defeated Dina Samfield of Shirley.

Massachusetts Majority spent $14,025 on mailings on behalf of Republican Jesse Brown of Plymouth, who was running against Jay McMahon of Bourne for the Senate seat vacated by Viriato deMacedo. McMahon declared victory at about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, saying he edged Brown by more than 1,700 votes.

In the Democratic primary for deMacedo’s old seat, unofficial results indicated Susan Moran of Falmouth edged out John Mahoney of Plymouth by less than 300 votes. Thomas Moakley of Falmouth, Becky Coletta of Pembroke, and Stephen Michael Palmer of Plymouth rounded out the field.

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Bruce Mohl

Editor, CommonWealth
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About Bruce Mohl

Bruce Mohl is the editor of CommonWealth magazine. Bruce came to CommonWealth from the Boston Globe, where he spent nearly 30 years in a wide variety of positions covering business and politics. He covered the Massachusetts State House and served as the Globe’s State House bureau chief in the late 1980s. He also reported for the Globe’s Spotlight Team, winning a Loeb award in 1992 for coverage of conflicts of interest in the state’s pension system. He served as the Globe’s political editor in 1994 and went on to cover consumer issues for the newspaper. At CommonWealth, Bruce helped launch the magazine’s website and has written about a wide range of issues with a special focus on politics, tax policy, energy, and gambling. Bruce is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He lives in Dorchester.

About Bruce Mohl

Bruce Mohl is the editor of CommonWealth magazine. Bruce came to CommonWealth from the Boston Globe, where he spent nearly 30 years in a wide variety of positions covering business and politics. He covered the Massachusetts State House and served as the Globe’s State House bureau chief in the late 1980s. He also reported for the Globe’s Spotlight Team, winning a Loeb award in 1992 for coverage of conflicts of interest in the state’s pension system. He served as the Globe’s political editor in 1994 and went on to cover consumer issues for the newspaper. At CommonWealth, Bruce helped launch the magazine’s website and has written about a wide range of issues with a special focus on politics, tax policy, energy, and gambling. Bruce is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He lives in Dorchester.

In the primary for the state rep seat vacated by Shaunna O’Connell, unofficial results indicated Democrat Carol Doherty of Taunton defeated Namir Muzammil of Easton and will face off in the final against Republican Kelly Tooner of Taunton, who had no opponent in the primary.

In the race for the Senate seat vacated by Republican Donald Humason Jr., Democrat John Velis, currently the rep from Westfield, will face off against Republican John Francis Cain of Southwick. Both ran unopposed in the primary.

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