A gathering storm
GOP convention this weekend could devolve around dueling party factions in Springfield
The Massachusetts Republican Party convention this weekend could degenerate into a divisive spectacle, which is just fine with Gov. Charlie Baker.
Baker, who along with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito is boycotting the convention, is quietly watching from the side in hopes that Republicans don’t unite behind Donald Trump and conservative Geoff Diehl.
The last thing Baker wants is a Republican Party controlled by the right and headed for a potentially disastrous showing in the November election.
One of the main speakers at Saturday’s convention in Springfield is prominent anti-abortion advocate David Bereit, who could draw protests from abortion rights groups. Bereit’s speech is likely to be dominated by the current firestorm over the Supreme Court’s draft decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
Baker supports abortion rights and Roe v. Wade, and so do most voters in Massachusetts, but the party is headed in a completely opposite direction, which is one of the reasons Baker won’t be there.
And looming over the event is Trump, who has endorsed Diehl for governor and who enjoys strong support from conservatives in the party. So don’t expect Baker — a Trump critic — to be anywhere near the show. But there is speculation that Baker’s moderate operatives will be working within the convention to disrupt it.
“Conventions — generally speaking — are about candidates, and I think both the lieutenant governor and I felt that since we’re not running, the most important thing for the delegates to do is hear from those who are,” Baker said last month.
That’s putting it politely. Baker is openly uncomfortable with the direction of the state party but his more moderate faction has lost control. Fiery conservative Jim Lyons, an enthusiastic Trump backer, is chairman of the party and runs the convention so his marks are all over it.
One of the other speakers is former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Thomas Homan, which also could draw protests from immigrant rights activists. Honan was named acting ICE director by Trump in 2017.
The main bout at the convention is between gubernatorial hopefuls Diehl and Wrentham business owner and first-time candidate Chris Doughty, who is facing an uphill battle just to get on the ballot.
Doughty needs at least 15% of the delegate votes to avoid getting bounced from the primary, and Diehl forces are looking for a knockout victory.
The gubernatorial battle is full of juicy subplots, including personal animosity between the two rivals and a grudge from Diehl’s former political strategist, who is now working for Doughty. So it could get ugly.