“Geoff Diehl, on the other hand, is a true patriot, a believer in low energy costs and our independent energy policy,” Trump said.
So, much of the intrigue Tuesday will come from a pair of primaries that might not have been close — or even contested, in one case — had Baker sought a third term.
On the Republican side, Diehl is stuck in an increasingly contentious contest with Doughty, who has argued that he represents the GOP’s best chance to defeat Healey in November. (Diehl has the state party’s endorsement, but Doughty secured enough delegates at its May convention to make the ballot.)
Meanwhile, Diehl and Leah Allen, his allied candidate for lieutenant governor, held a tele-rally with Trump on Monday evening.
“That process will take years, but voters can jump-start it by choosing Doughty, a calm voice for a more pragmatic conservatism, over Diehl, a dedicated acolyte of former President Donald Trump,” the board wrote.
“He’s too extreme for our state, he pursues conspiracy theories, he has beliefs that are just not consistent with the state of Massachusetts,” Doughty said of Diehl. “It makes him not electable.”
Diehl sidestepped the assertion when asked about it, focusing on the primary and the spring GOP convention.
“So far he’s got an 0-and-1 record,” Diehl said. “At the convention, I think I beat him 71%-29%. So that claim, of course, is going to come from any challenger.”
Healey, who has endorsed Campbell, stumped for her in the run-up to primary day. US Rep. Ayanna Pressley is also backing Campbell and made her case at a rally with signs for all three women behind them.
“We need a bold, fierce, visionary, inclusive leader like Andrea Campbell,” Pressley said. “The people deserve that. The moment demands that. And that is what the job requires.”
Voters were thrown a late curveball when a third candidate, attorney Quentin Palfrey, dropped out last week and endorsed Campbell, joining Healey, Pressley and US Sen. Ed Markey in a race that has divided leading state progressives. (Palfrey was an active candidate when early voting began, and his name remains on the ballot.)
“Shannon Liss-Riordan is the progressive champion Massachusetts needs as our next attorney general,” Warren said in announcing her endorsement late last month. “I know, firsthand, how Shannon fights back and wins against the corporations and special interests that take advantage of working families.”
The winner will face Republican attorney James McMahon, the losing 2018 nominee to Healey who is running unopposed Tuesday.
