Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican who has regularly surveyed as the most popular governor in the nation, is dealing with declining fundraising numbers amidst increasing criticism for his handling of the coronavirus, stirring concerns about whether he’ll seek re-election next year or perhaps attempt to pass the torch early.
Why it matters: Increasingly, the country’s guvs are under growing scrutiny for their states’ infection and death rates, economic losses and vaccine strategies. Democratic guvs representing 2 of the most populous states– Gavin Newsom of California and Andrew Cuomo of New York City– are defending their political survival.
- The departure of Donald Trump as president has actually removed a foil lots of guvs used to explain problems with their state COVID relief efforts.
Details: In Massachusetts, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito has dramatically increased her fundraising while Baker’s has actually decreased. They are up for reelection in 2022.
- Project finance reports show she ended last month with $1.95 million cash on hand; he completed with $590,000 She grew her balance by almost 10%during 2020; his decreased by over 35%.
- Seniors in the state are grumbling about long lines and complicated vaccination signups.
- Lawmakers at every level are upset, too, and there are sticking around questions about why a medical mecca has had high case and death rates.
- A current Boston Globe headline questioned the vaunted management skills of Baker, a previous healthcare executive and state budget chief.
- A Boston Herald columnist recently raised the specter of Baker taking a golden parachute by heading 2 freshly merged healthcare business– Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, where Baker previously worked as CEO.
- Project representative Jim Conroy said: “Guv Baker’s top concern and focus remains managing the Commonwealth through the pandemic, rather than electoral politics.”
The intrigue: While Massachusetts is an extremely blue state, it has a history of choosing Republican guvs. 2 current ones– Expense Weld and Paul Cellucci– presaged Baker and Polito by running in tandem with their lieutenant guvs before passing off the corner workplace.
- Weld left Cellucci as guv in 1997 during a stopped working mission to end up being U.S. ambassador to Mexico. Cellucci left Jane Swift as guv in 2001 after winning verification as ambassador to Canada.
- Baker served both Weld and Cellucci as secretary of Administration and Financing. Polito has actually been a loyal Baker ally, and Massachusetts has a reasonably thin Republican bench.
But, however, but: Local politicos have actually noted that Baker spent much of the previous year dealing with COVID-19, striking his political activity and making fundraising appear unseemly.
- He also raised money throughout his first 2 projects in big chunks through a political action committee that could accept contributions going beyond the $1,000 limitation on private contributions.
- One Baker advisor told Axios that once Baker leaves workplace– probably not before any term ends– the governor is unlikely to assume a CEO function.
Baker’s problems might be worse— simply take a look at some of his equivalents. In California, Newsom faces a threatened recall effort. In New York, Cuomo faces the rage of state lawmakers– and prospective legal jeopardy.
- Cuomo won rave evaluations and an Emmy and composed a book after his televised omnipresence while the coronavirus wrecked New york city last spring. Now he faces federal investigations into his handling of assisted living home deaths and accusations of browbeating his medical advisors
- Newsom was criticized for his state’s COVID revival, rigid lockdowns and his personal behavior, consisting of consuming at a Michelin-starred restaurant Napa Valley without apparent social distancing
What we’re seeing: Massachusetts Attorney General Of The United States Maura Healey, a Democrat, has actually been weighing a bid for guv, and a Democratic former state senator has actually already declared his candidacy.
- Another prominent Democrat, previous Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III, lost a primary campaign to unseat Democratic Sen. Edward J. Markey last fall. He has said he has no instant strategies to run for any other optional workplace, however recently introduced a grassroots organizing effort
Editor’s note: Updates with comment from Baker representative, and adjusts speculation about possible next tasks.
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