Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican who has routinely polled as the most popular governor in the country, is facing decreasing fundraising numbers amid increasing criticism for his handling of the coronavirus, stirring concerns about whether he’ll seek re-election next year or perhaps try to pass the torch early.
Why it matters: Increasingly, the nation’s guvs are under growing examination for their states’ infection and death rates, financial losses and vaccine strategies. Democratic governors representing 2 of the most populated states– Gavin Newsom of California and Andrew Cuomo of New York City– are fighting for their political survival.
- The departure of Donald Trump as president has gotten rid of a foil numerous governors used to describe issues with their state COVID relief efforts.
Information: In Massachusetts, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito has sharply increased her fundraising while Baker’s has decreased. They are up for reelection in 2022.
- Campaign finance reports reveal she ended last month with $1.95 million cash on hand; he ended up with $590,000 She grew her balance by almost 10%throughout 2020; his declined by over 35%.
- Senior citizens in the state are complaining about long lines and complicated vaccination signups.
- Lawmakers at every level are angry, too, and there are sticking around concerns about why a medical capital has had high case and death rates.
- A recent Boston World headline questioned the vaunted management skills of Baker, a previous health care executive and state budget chief.
- A Boston Herald writer just recently raised the specter of Baker taking a golden parachute by heading two newly merged health care companies– Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, where Baker formerly served as CEO.
- Project spokesman Jim Conroy said: “Guv Baker’s leading priority and focus remains managing the Commonwealth through the pandemic, instead of electoral politics.”
The intrigue: While Massachusetts is an extremely blue state, it has a history of choosing Republican guvs. 2 recent ones– Costs Weld and Paul Cellucci– presaged Baker and Polito by running in tandem with their lieutenant guvs prior to passing off the corner office.
- Weld left Cellucci as guv in 1997 throughout a stopped working mission to become U.S. ambassador to Mexico. Cellucci left Jane Swift as governor in 2001 after winning confirmation as ambassador to Canada.
- Baker served both Weld and Cellucci as secretary of Administration and Financing. Polito has been a loyal Baker ally, and Massachusetts has a reasonably thin Republican bench.
However, however, but: Local politicos have actually kept in mind that Baker spent much of the past year dealing with COVID-19, striking his political activity and making fundraising appear unseemly.
- He likewise raised money during his very first 2 projects in big pieces through a political action committee that might accept donations exceeding the $1,000 limitation on private contributions.
- One Baker adviser told Axios that when Baker leaves office– almost certainly not before any term ends– the governor is unlikely to presume a CEO role.
Baker’s problems could be worse— just look at a few of his equivalents. In California, Newsom faces a threatened recall effort. In New York City, Cuomo deals with the rage of state legislators– and prospective legal jeopardy.
- Cuomo won rave evaluations and an Emmy and wrote a book after his televised omnipresence while the coronavirus wrecked New York last spring. Now he deals with federal investigations into his handling of nursing home deaths and allegations of browbeating his medical consultants
- Newsom was criticized for his state’s COVID revival, rigid lockdowns and his individual behavior, including consuming at a Michelin-starred dining establishment Napa Valley without obvious social distancing
What we’re viewing: Massachusetts Chief Law Officer Maura Healey, a Democrat, has actually been weighing a quote for governor, and a Democratic former state senator has already stated his candidateship.
- Another prominent Democrat, former Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III, lost a primary project to unseat Democratic Sen. Edward J. Markey last fall. He has actually stated he has no instant plans to run for any other elective office, but just recently introduced a grassroots organizing effort
Editor’s note: Updates with remark from Baker representative, and changes speculation about prospective next tasks.
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