Mass. GOP seeks leader
Chair departs amid Republican turmoil
Mass GOP Chairwoman Kirsten Hughes has decided not to seek a fourth term, and internal politics could determine her successor now that Gov. Charlie Baker, with a lack of ardor for certain Republicans on the campaign trail, has ruffled feathers.
“There is a lot of resentment that’s festering under the surface about the governor’s conduct in the last election cycle,” political consultant Chip Jones said.
Jones noted that while Baker won about 67 percent of the vote, the party experienced a setback in losing three legislative seats, and pointed to his reluctance to voice his support for state Rep. Geoff Diehl in the U.S. Senate race as a breach in party loyalty.
“Politics makes strange bedfellows. That’s a cliche because it’s true,” Jones said.
“When you win by that majority and yet you have negative coattails, that’s going to be a hard thing to swallow … There’s going to be a blame game that goes on in people’s minds and people’s voting decisions on who the next chair is.”
Diehl has already expressed interest in the position as chairman, but hasn’t given a definitive answer.
“I just want to make sure if I do decide to do this that I’ve got the support of everybody, including my family. That’s always important to me,” Diehl told the Herald. “I don’t have a timeline yet but I certainly will be making the decision soon.”
Mass. GOP Treasurer Brent Andersen gave a resounding, “Yes, I am running.”
A party insider said Rep. Peter Durant of Spencer is also running, according to State House News, but the lawmaker didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Jim Conroy, Baker’s political adviser, said, “The governor endorsed Geoff on countless events, for legislative candidates and for the state party itself. He’s happy to be able to have given that support.”
In an email to the Massachusetts Republican State Committee, Hughes wrote, “At six years, my tenure in Massachusetts makes me one of the longest-serving state GOP chairs in the nation … While it has been my honor and privilege to serve our party, I have decided the time is right for me to pass the torch to a new leader.”