MassGOP gets donor list back
The Massachusetts Republican Party has regained access to its online donor list, MassGOP Chairman Jim Lyons confirmed to the Herald Thursday, less than a week after a rift between Lyons and Gov. Charlie Baker’s political team became public.
The donor list with more than 14,000 individuals and businesses is “very important” to MassGOP, Lyons said.
“Every donor in the last 10 years is on that database,” Lyons said. “It’s very significant to us, and is one of the key things to help us raise money.”
MassGOP had been shut out of its donor list since July 15, threatening the party’s fundraising opportunities. The party as a result sent a demand letter to the cloudbased software company Salesforce to restore access.
That letter also pointed to issues with several people affiliated with “The Baker Committee” — raising questions of who controlled the donor list. The demand letter written by attorney David Carr highlighted correspondence from individuals who have ties to Baker’s political campaign arm, regarding a check written by “The Baker Committee” to Salesforce.
In the “Salesforce, Inc. Resolution” letter sent Wednesday, Carr wrote to Lyons: “I further understand access is limited to MassGOP at this time.”
“Gov. Baker and I have always maintained and continue to maintain a very good relationship, and I’m sure moving forward we will also,” Lyons said Thursday. “The folks that orchestrated this (from the Baker political team) simply aren’t talking about the same unity I’ve been talking about since Jan. 17,”
Lyons was elected the state Republican Party chairman on Jan. 17.
Before his tenure, MassGOP spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on meals, parking and Uber rides, records show.
Fifteen former Republican candidates on Wednesday wrote a letter to Lyons — saying they stand behind him and encourage him to “uncover the truth” about spending before he took over.
These candidates said they’re upset about the the lack of funding and help from MassGOP.
Moving forward, the party will spend money on electing Republican candidates, “not on fancy restaurants, parking and airlines,” the chairman added.