OPINIon Battenfeld: Massachusetts Democrats and Maura Healey running against Donald Trump
WORCESTER, MA – JUNE 4-SATURDAY: Gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey addresses attendees during the state Democratic Convention, June 4, 2022, in Worcester, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)
By JOE BATTENFELD | joe.battenfeld@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald
PUBLISHED: June 4, 2022 at 7:47 p.m. | UPDATED: June 4, 2022 at 8:31 p.m.
Attorney General Maura Healey won over a crowd of liberal activists and Massachusetts Democrats made clear they intend to run against Donald Trump — even if Trump isn’t on the ballot.
“Now a Donald Trump wannabe is running for governor right here in Massachusetts,” U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren told a crowd of several thousand delegates at the Democratic state convention. “Geoff Diehl has jumped on the extremist bandwagon.”
Warren added that Diehl — who was endorsed by Republican delegates last month as the party’s gubernatorial nominee — “stands with the white supremacists and January 6 insurrectionists and anti-choice radicals who have taken over the Republican leadership even here in Massachusetts.”
Healey — who sued Trump dozens of times when the former president was in office — also referenced Republicans embracing a far right Trump agenda at their convention.
“There are some who say that Republicans in this race are different here in Massachusetts,” Healey said. “Give me a break. Look at that convention two weeks ago — so much hatred and vitriol. They’re going to take us backwards on racial justice, immigration, gun violence, reproductive rights and climate change and more.”
Diehl hasn’t won the primary yet — he faces GOP challenger Chris Doughty — but he’ll be heavily favored to win the primary.
If that’s the case, Healey — who easily defeated rival Sonia Chang-Diaz at Saturday’s convention — will be happy to reprise her role as Trump antagonist in November’s general election.
And Republicans are now poised to try and portray Healey as too far left to be in step with most moderate voters, while tying Healey to unpopular President Joe Biden.
“Maura Healey’s radical record and extreme statements while serving as Attorney General make clear that she would be the most progressive governor ever in our state’s history,” Diehl said in a statement. “Democrats have chosen to double down on a far left political agenda they know has failed under the Biden administration.”
More than 70% of Democratic delegates backed Healey over Chang-Diaz, embracing a white, openly gay law enforcement official over a far-left Latina and Asian American state senator.
In the Democratic race for Attorney General, delegates also endorsed the white candidate — Quentin Palfrey — over a Black candidate, former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell.
More than a little awkward for a party that embraces diversity.
Delegates did pick a Black candidate, Boston NAACP head Tanisha Sullivan, over the incumbent, William Galvin, in the race for Secretary of State. But that has more to do with Galvin’s broad unpopularity with the liberal wing of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. Galvin lost the convention endorsement four years ago yet easily won the primary.
But he’ll face a much tougher battle against Sullivan in September. It will be the Democratic race to watch.
The odds are now heavily against Chang-Diaz, a staunch progressive who was hoping to win over more votes against the more moderate Healey. She will face extreme shortages of money and support.
Tags: 2022 governor race Elizabeth Warren Geoff Diehl Joe Battenfeld Maura Healey Opinion Sonia Chang-Diaz
Joe Battenfeld | Columnist
Joe Battenfeld is a veteran Herald political columnist and multimedia reporter.
joe.battenfeld@bostonherald.com
Follow Joe Battenfeld @joebattenfeld |
