Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican Politician who has frequently polled as the most popular governor in the nation, is dealing with decreasing fundraising numbers amid increasing criticism for his handling of the coronavirus, stirring questions about whether he’ll look for re-election next year or even attempt to pass the torch early.
Why it matters: Progressively, the country’s guvs are under growing examination for their states’ infection and death rates, financial losses and vaccine strategies. Democratic guvs representing 2 of the most populated states– Gavin Newsom of California and Andrew Cuomo of New York City– are fighting for their political survival.
- The departure of Donald Trump as president has actually gotten rid of a foil lots of governors utilized to discuss problems with their state COVID relief efforts.
Information: In Massachusetts, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito has dramatically increased her fundraising while Baker’s has decreased. They are up for reelection in 2022.
- Project financing reports reveal she ended last month with $1.95 million money on hand; he completed with $590,000 She grew her balance by nearly 10%during 2020; his declined by over 35%.
- Senior citizens in the state are complaining about long lines and confusing vaccination signups.
- Lawmakers at every level are angry, too, and there are sticking around questions about why a medical capital has actually had high case and death rates.
- A current Boston World headline questioned the vaunted management abilities of Baker, a former healthcare executive and state spending plan chief.
- A Boston Herald writer recently raised the specter of Baker taking a golden parachute by heading two recently combined healthcare companies– Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, where Baker formerly acted as CEO.
- Campaign spokesperson Jim Conroy said: “Guv Baker’s top priority and focus remains handling the Commonwealth through the pandemic, rather than electoral politics.”
The intrigue: While Massachusetts is an extremely blue state, it has a history of choosing Republican guvs. Two current ones– Expense Weld and Paul Cellucci– presaged Baker and Polito by running in tandem with their lieutenant governors before passing off the corner office.
- Weld left Cellucci as guv in 1997 throughout a stopped working mission to end up being U.S. ambassador to Mexico. Cellucci left Jane Swift as governor in 2001 after winning verification as ambassador to Canada.
- Baker served both Weld and Cellucci as secretary of Administration and Financing. Polito has been a devoted Baker ally, and Massachusetts has a reasonably thin Republican bench.
However, but, however: Regional politicos have kept in mind that Baker invested much of the previous year dealing with COVID-19, impinging on his political activity and making fundraising appear unseemly.
- He also raised money throughout his very first 2 campaigns in large portions through a political action committee that might accept contributions surpassing the $1,000 limit on individual contributions.
- One Baker advisor informed Axios that when Baker leaves office– probably not before any term ends– the governor is not likely to assume a CEO function.
Baker’s issues could be even worse— simply take a look at a few of his equivalents. In California, Newsom faces a threatened recall effort. In New York City, Cuomo deals with the wrath of state legislators– and prospective legal jeopardy.
- Cuomo won rave reviews and an Emmy and composed a book after his televised omnipresence while the coronavirus ravaged New york city last spring. Now he faces federal examinations into his handling of nursing home deaths and accusations of browbeating his medical advisers
- Newsom was criticized for his state’s COVID resurgence, strict lockdowns and his personal habits, including eating at a Michelin-starred restaurant Napa Valley without obvious social distancing
What we’re enjoying: Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat, has been weighing a bid for guv, and a Democratic former state senator has currently stated his candidateship.
- Another high-profile Democrat, former Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III, lost a main campaign to unseat Democratic Sen. Edward J. Markey last fall. He has actually said he has no instant plans to run for any other elective office, but recently launched a grassroots arranging effort
Editor’s note: Updates with comment from Baker spokesman, and changes speculation about prospective next tasks.
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