Massachusetts Republicans are heading to Worcester this Saturday for their big nominating convention. And this time it's all about state business, not. Donald Trump. Four years back, Trump insiders like Tom Hohmann and Corey Lewandowski stole the show.
But now with the former president unpopular here, the parties. Dialing a back. The spotlight's on picking a gubernatorial nominee from three strong contenders. Bio-tech exec Michael Minogue, ex-MBTA boss Brian Shortsleeve, and former housing secretary Mike Anilie.
Each knee at least 15% of delicate votes to hit the September primary ballot. Shifting gears from past Trump vibes, this event signals a return to the centrist style that worked under ex-governor Charlie Baker. State GOP chair Amy Carnivall says it'll look different, zeroing in on Governor Moore Healey's record and the affordability crunch hitting folks hard. Candidates are pitching fixes like cutting taxes on tips and overtime, controlling utility bills and running state government like a tight business.
Democrats are pushing back hard, with their chair Steve Kerrigan claiming all three GOP hopefuls are really serving Trump, not base staters. But party insiders like strategist Wendy Wakeman and RNC member Janif Ogredee, Steve Disancham and with Healey as a real opening. Republicans are united on beating her, even suggesting delegates rally behind the convention's top pick to avoid primary fights. The parties in better shape too, digging out of $600,000 in old debt to end March with over $400,000 in the bank.
They've doubled speaking fees to $50,000 for Gov candidates and scored big donations like nearly $350,000 from. Senate hopeful John Deaton. Speakers lean local now, think Taunte and Mayor Shauna O'Connell, Plymouth D.A., Tim Cruz and Howie Carr, except for Florida satirist Seth Dillon as keynote. As delegates vote and speeches drop, expect Massachusetts issues to dominate, setting up a real challenge to Healey come fall.
This could mark a fresh chapter for the state GOP. Local news powered by AI. This is Boston News Today, I'm Corey with a story.