Trickle-down overreaction
State candidates feel national blowback
Down-ballot Republican candidates — already facing an uphill election battle in the deep blue Bay State — say they’ve been bombarded by taunts, slammed doors and ill will on the campaign trail as left-leaning fury at President Trump has inundated local politics.
“I had someone in Melrose slam the door on me and tell me that because I’m a Republican I’m in bed with the devil,” said Erin Calvo-Bacci, a Reading Republican who is challenging state Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester).
Calvo-Bacci said her parents got a tongue-lashing while handing out campaign literature at a fair in Melrose, and a heckler recently shouted, “We don’t need another Republican.”
“I am meeting with people who don’t want to hear who I am or hear about me. Right away the first question is, ‘What are you running as?’” said Calvo-Bacci.
Left-wing activists have increasingly harassed national Republicans at restaurants and at other nonpolitical events, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) encouraged supporters earlier this year to publicly confront and harass Republicans and members of Trump’s administration.
But unlike U.S. senators and representatives, legislators on Beacon Hill probably won’t have contact with Trump or much of a chance to influence his policies. Many Massachusetts Republicans, including Gov. Charlie Baker, reject Trump’s controversial views.
“People need to take it down a notch,” said Longmeadow Republican Allison Werder.
Voter reactions have ranged from baffled to downright disturbed, such as a woman who confronted Werder earlier this month during a campaign stand-out with her children.
“She came right over to me and said ‘You’re an idiot. You’re an idiot for running as a Republican.’ I was taken aback. My kids were right there,” said Werder. “That’s just wrong.”
The political polarization ratcheted up further last week, as Democrats blamed Trump’s rhetoric and insults for the spate of explosive devices sent to Rep. Waters, former President Barak Obama, left-leaning activist George Soros and other Democrats.
Political candidates should be prepared for occasional heckling on the campaign trail, said Acton Republican Margaret Busse, but voters are more polarized than she’s ever seen.
“We’re in a very divisive time right now, and that was my main motivation for stepping up to run,” said Busse, who is running against state Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton). Others are chalking up the public taunts as further campaign experience.
“It’s hard because you feel guilty, even though you’re not guilty of anything, just because someone is screaming at you and bringing all this attention” said Calvo-Bacci. “You really have to have thick skin.”