2018 Massachusetts gubernatorial election explained

See also: 2018 United States gubernatorial elections.

Election Name:2018 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
Country:Massachusetts
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2014 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2014
Next Election:2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
Next Year:2022
Turnout:60.17% 9.33%[1]
Image1:File:Charlie Baker official photo (3x4a).jpg
Nominee1:Charlie Baker
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Running Mate1:Karyn Polito
Popular Vote1:1,781,341
Percentage1:66.60%
Nominee2:Jay Gonzalez
Running Mate2:Quentin Palfrey
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:885,770
Percentage2:33.12%
Governor
Before Election:Charlie Baker
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Charlie Baker
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 2018 Massachusetts gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Republican Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito sought reelection to a second term in office, facing Democratic challengers Jay Gonzalez and Quentin Palfrey, respectively. Candidates were selected in the primary election held on September 4, 2018.

This was one of eight Republican-held governorships up for election in a state that Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Despite Massachusetts's Democratic lean at the presidential level, Charlie Baker retained high approval ratings and was expected to safely win re-election. Shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. local time, the Associated Press declared the race in favor of incumbents Baker and Polito.[2] Shortly after 9 p.m. location time, Gonzalez conceded the election.[3]

Baker was re-elected with the highest vote total in the history of Massachusetts gubernatorial elections and by the widest margin since Bill Weld was re-elected governor in 1994. He won many of the Commonwealth's most populated cities, including Worcester, New Bedford, and Springfield.[4] Baker almost won Boston, losing it by only around 3,000 votes, an extraordinary showing for a statewide Republican candidate in a major city. Baker also carried every county in the state.[5]

As of, this is the last time Republicans won a statewide election in Massachusetts.

Background

Charlie Baker was elected in 2014 by a slim margin over then-Attorney General Martha Coakley; however, he was consistently rated as one of the most popular governors in the country.[6] Some Democrats, including Congressman Mike Capuano and Speaker of the House Bob DeLeo publicly speculated they may vote for Baker over the eventual Democratic nominee.[7] Speculated candidates such as Attorney General Maura Healey, Congressman Joe Kennedy, former State Senator Dan Wolf, and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh all declined to be candidates, leaving no prominent Democrats to challenge Baker, which was seen as a necessary prerequisite to mount a formidable challenge to him.

Because Evan Falchuk received more than 3% of the vote in the 2014 gubernatorial election, the United Independent Party gained official status.[8] Falchuck had stated that he would "certainly" run for office in 2018.[9] In 2016 however, the UIP lost its official party status after it failed to register 1% of Massachusetts voters as members.[10] Falchuk later left the UIP and registered as a Democrat in early 2017.[11] [12]

Republican primary

There was some concern amongst the Republican Party that Baker was too moderate, and there were talks of challenging him with a more conservative opponent in the primaries. GOP state committeeman Robert Cappucci told the Boston Herald that if Baker "shuns conservatives [...] there will be 100 percent an effort to try to find a conservative, viable candidate to challenge him in 2018 for governor". David Kopacz, the president of the Massachusetts Republican Assembly, also stated that Baker might face a conservative challenger in 2018.[13]

Following his 2016 election, Barnstable County Commissioner Ron Beaty, who once was tried and convicted for threatening the life of President George H. W. Bush,[14] had been making local and state headlines. He proposed a "shark mitigation strategy" to combat the growing presence of sharks near Cape Cod beaches by baiting and shooting them, which was rejected for consideration by the commission chairman. He also mulled a primary run against his state representative, Randy Hunt, after Hunt parked in his Barnstable County Courthouse parking spot. In September 2017 he announced he was in the process of changing the purpose of his campaign committee from a county to a statewide office. He cited the Governor's criticisms of President Donald Trump and his willingness to work with Democrats as his inspiration to run. On December 8, 2017, Scott Lively announced his campaign.[15]

On December 13, 2017, Beaty stated he was no longer considering a run against Baker.[16] Scott Lively, an evangelical pastor, challenged Baker and received more than the 15% of delegate votes necessary at the state convention to qualify for ballot access. Baker won the endorsement of the party by an overwhelming margin.[17]

Baker ultimately won the nomination, but not without Lively securing 36 percent of the primary vote, leading to speculation that Baker's more moderate disposition and opposition to President Trump might have damaged his general election chances with Republican base voters.[18]

Governor

Candidates

Declared
Declined

Results

Primary

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Declared

Results

Democratic primary

In November 2014, after interviewing over a dozen Democratic operatives, strategists, and activists, Joshua Miller of The Boston Globe wrote that the party would be looking for a young, fresh candidate who could appeal to the party's progressive base. He identified Attorney General Maura Healey as being "the first name on many Democratic lists".[22] Samantha Lachman of The Huffington Post also identified Healey as a potential candidate for governor in 2018 or in a future United States Senate race.[23]

As of July 2017, the declared candidates were relatively unknown to the state's voters.[24] Their identification by Democratic voters was bolstered by addressing the 2017 state Democratic Convention, which saw its largest attendance in years, of around 3,000 delegates.[25]

On April 26, 2018, Setti Warren announced via Facebook that he was withdrawing from the race due to financial concerns. He stated he would not endorse either of his former opponents until the nomination was won.[26]

At the Massachusetts Democratic Convention in June, party delegates endorsed Gonzalez and Palfrey, but Bob Massie and Jimmy Tingle also surpassed the 15% threshold for ballot access by comfortable margins.[27] A poll from late June conducted by WBUR and MassInc. indicated that the contest for the Democratic nomination in the gubernatorial race was a toss-up, with Massie and Gonzalez being separated by a percentage smaller than the margin of error.

Gonzalez and Palfrey went on to win their respective nominations generously (winning almost every municipality in the state) and headed into the general election to face their Republican counterparts.

Governor

Candidates

Declared
Withdrew
Declined

Results

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Declared
Declined

Results

General election

Debates

2018 Massachusetts gubernatorial election debates
DateHostModeratorLinkRepublicanDemocratic
Key:
Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn
Charlie BakerJay Gonzalez
1October 9, 2018WSBK-TVJon KellerC-SPAN
2October 17, 2018WGBH-TVJim Braude
Margery Eagan
C-SPAN
3November 1, 2018WCVB-TVWCVB-TV

Endorsements

All individuals belong to the nominee's party unless otherwise specified.

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report[49] October 26, 2018
The Washington Post[50] November 5, 2018
FiveThirtyEight[51] November 5, 2018
Rothenberg Political Report[52] November 1, 2018
Sabato's Crystal Ball[53] November 5, 2018
RealClearPolitics[54] November 4, 2018
Daily Kos[55] November 5, 2018
Fox News[56] November 5, 2018
Politico[57] November 5, 2018
Governing[58] November 5, 2018

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Charlie
Baker (R)
Jay
Gonzalez (D)
OtherUndecided
MassINCOctober 25–28, 2018502± 4.4% align=center68%25%2%2%
Suffolk UniversityOctober 24–28, 2018500± 4.4% align=center65%26%8%
Western New England UniversityOctober 10–27, 2018402 LV± 5.0% align=center65%27%7%
485 RV± 4.0% align=center64%25%10%
UMass LowellOctober 1–7, 2018485 LV± 5.6% align=center66%27%5%3%
791 RV± 4.4% align=center65%26%6%2%
MassINCSeptember 17–21, 2018506± 4.4% align=center68%24%1%6%
Suffolk University September 13–17, 2018500± 4.4% align=center55%28%17%
Suffolk University June 8–12, 2018500± 4.4% align=center52%22%25%
MassINCMay 22–26, 2018501± 4.4% align=center60%20%1%19%
MassINCMarch 16–18, 2018504± 4.4% align=center60%21%2%15%
MassINCNovember 9–12, 2017503± 4.4% align=center59%19%3%18%
MassINCJune 19–22, 2017504± 4.4% align=center55%22%1%20%
with Setti Warren
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Charlie
Baker (R)
Setti
Warren (D)
OtherUndecided
MassINCMarch 16–18, 2018504± 4.4% align=center58%24%3%13%
MassINCNovember 9–12, 2017504± 4.4% align=center58%24%2%15%
MassINCJune 19–22, 2017504± 4.4% align=center53%26%1%17%
UMass AmherstSeptember 15–20, 2016400± 4.1% align=center40%17%36%
with Katherine Clark
with Maura Healey
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Charlie
Baker (R)
Maura
Healey (D)
Undecided
MassINCJune 19–22, 2017504± 4.4% align=center48%36%13%
UMass AmherstSeptember 15–20, 2016400± 4.1% align=center43%25%29%
Gravis MarketingJuly 12–13, 2016901± 3.3% align=center56%30%14%
with Joseph P. Kennedy III
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Charlie
Baker (R)
Joseph P.
Kennedy III (D)
Undecided
UMass AmherstSeptember 15–20, 2016400± 4.1%33%33%29%
Gravis MarketingJuly 12–13, 2016901± 3.3% align=center50%38%12%
with Bob Massie
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Charlie
Baker (R)
Bob
Massie (D)
OtherUndecided
Suffolk University June 8–12, 2018500± 4.4% align=center54%21%25%
MassINCMay 22–26, 2018501± 4.4% align=center60%20%1%17%
MassINCMarch 16–18, 2018504± 4.4% align=center59%22%2%16%
MassINCNovember 9–12, 2017504± 4.4% align=center60%21%2%16%
MassINCJune 19–22, 2017504± 4.4% align=center55%25%1%17%
with Seth Moulton
with Marty Walsh

Results by county

2018 United States gubernatorial election in Massachusetts (by county) [59]
CountyBaker %Baker #Gonzalez %Gonzalez #Others %Others #Total #
71.7% 85,726 25.2% 30,169 3.0% 3,599 119,494
51.6% 28,331 45.5% 25,030 2.9% 1,592 54,953
68.5% 132,371 28.1% 54,280 3.3% 6,458 193,109
54.1% 5,556 43.5% 4,470 2.5% 253 10,279
69.2% 219,522 27.4% 86,893 3.4% 10,849 317,264
54.6% 18,263 43.4% 14,507 2.0% 670 33,440
69.1% 109,952 27.5% 43,806 3.4% 5,416 159,174
52.0% 37,272 45.6% 32,667 2.5% 1,764 71,703
60.7% 411,687 36.3% 246,197 3.0% 20,294 678,178
56.8% 2,388 41.6% 1,750 1.6% 67 4,205
67.1% 209,318 29.7% 92,709 3.2% 10,125 312,152
72.4% 164,438 23.9% 54,303 3.7% 8,472 227,213
49.1% 125,247 48.0% 122,249 2.9% 7,346 254,842
73.0% 231,270 24.2% 76,740 2.7% 8,649 316,659

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Baker won 8 of 9 congressional districts, all of which elected Democrats.[60]

DistrictBakerGonzalezRepresentative
1st67.24%32.76%Richard Neal
2nd68.85%31.15%
3rd71.3%28.7%Lori Trahan
4th69.49%30.51%
5th60.39%39.61%
6th73.52%26.48%Seth Moulton
7th43.78%56.22%
8th68.43%31.53%Stephen Lynch
9th73.19%26.81%

See also

External links

Official campaign websites for gubernatorial candidates
Official campaign websites for lieutenant gubernatorial candidates

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Voter Turnout Statistics. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  2. News: Here's an updating list of the 2018 Massachusetts election winners . Christopher . Gavin . . November 6, 2018 . November 6, 2018.
  3. MattPStout . 1059993577026211840 . @jay4ma has conceded to @CharlieBakerMA . November 6, 2018 . November 6, 2018.
  4. News: Baker's big win a GOP anomaly in heavily-Democratic state . . November 7, 2018 . December 30, 2020.
  5. News: 2018 Massachusetts Election: Republican Gov. Charlie Baker almost won Democrat-dominated Boston . MassLive . November 7, 2018 . December 30, 2020.
  6. Web site: Poll: Charlie Baker Is Once Again America's Most Popular Governor. April 12, 2018 . WBZ.
  7. Web site: Mike Capuano may dodge party lines in gubernatorial vote. 23 August 2017 . Boston Herald.
  8. News: United Independent Party Gains Official Status. Emmanouilidou. Lydia. November 6, 2014. WGBH (FM). 7 November 2014.
  9. News: Morrison. Sara. The United Independent Party Is Official, and Evan Falchuk's Work Has Just Begun. Boston.com. November 5, 2014.
  10. News: United Independent Party loses state party designation. Dezenski. Lauren. October 31, 2016. Politico. 23 January 2017.
  11. Web site: Evan Falchuk, former gubernatorial candidate, switches from his independent party to Democratic - The Boston Globe. . 22 May 2018.
  12. Web site: United Independent Party loses state party designation. . October 31, 2016 . 22 May 2018.
  13. News: Stout. Matt. Cassidy. Chris. Waiting for Mr. Right: Conservative wing of GOP warns Charlie Baker. Boston Herald. November 13, 2014.
  14. News: Ronald Beaty, Jr.. Hoffenburg. Noah. Barnstable Patriot. August 29, 2014.
  15. Web site: Scott Lively, Former Independent Candidate, Is Running For The Republican Nomination . Third Party Watch . December 8, 2017.
  16. Web site: Beaty Ends Exploratory Project on Gov. Run - CapeCodToday.com. www.capecodtoday.com. 22 May 2018. 13 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171213203337/http://capecodtoday.com/article/2017/12/13/236270-Beaty-Ends-Exploratory-Project-Gov-Run. dead.
  17. Web site: Baker earns states GOP endorsement for governor; Scott Lively forces primary - Worcester Mag. Walter Jr.. Bird. 28 April 2018. 22 May 2018.
  18. Web site: The Bay State Trump bump . Commonwealth Magazine . September 5, 2018.
  19. News: Charlie Baker confirms run for 2nd term as Massachusetts governor. The Boston Globe. Salsberg. Bob. November 28, 2017. November 28, 2017.
  20. News: Anti-LGBT Springfield pastor Scott Lively to challenge Gov. Charlie Baker in GOP primary. The Springfield Republican. Young. Shannon. December 8, 2017. December 8, 2017.
  21. News: County Commissioner Ron Beaty Exploring Run for Governor. CapeCod.com. Beatty. David. September 14, 2017. September 14, 2017.
  22. News: Miller. Joshua. Mass. Democrats are on to 2018. The Boston Globe. November 13, 2014.
  23. News: Lachman. Samantha. These Democrats Could Be The Party's Ticket To A Comeback. Huffington Post. November 17, 2014.
  24. News: This Massachusetts Democrat comes closest to beating Gov. Charlie Baker in 2018, WBUR/MassINC poll says. masslive.com. 2017-07-22. en-US.
  25. News: Who can beat Gov. Charlie Baker?: Candidates make their cases at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention in Worcester. masslive.com. 2017-07-22. en-US.
  26. Web site: Phillips. Frank. Setti Warren ends campaign for governor. The Boston Globe. 26 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180426124903/http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/04/26/setti-warren-end-campaign-for-governor/vQqKoCGuCBYBuFzReqG2EO/story.html. 26 April 2018. dead.
  27. Web site: Mass. Democrats Endorse Gonzalez, Palfrey And Zakim At Convention. www.wbur.org. June 3, 2018 .
  28. News: O'Sullivan. Jim. Democrat Jay Gonzalez launches bid for governor. Boston Globe. January 30, 2016.
  29. News: O'Sullivan. Jim. Robert K. Massie enters race for governor. Boston Globe. April 24, 2017.
  30. Web site: Environmentalist Robert Massie Announces Run For Governor. Jarmanning. Ally. April 24, 2017. WBUR News.
  31. News: Prim. Alexandra. Setti Warren announces bid for gov. in Mass. May 20, 2017.
  32. News: Miller. Joshua. Joe Avellone, candidate for governor in '14, open to another run. The Boston Globe. June 8, 2015.
  33. News: Massachusetts venture capitalist shuts down governor talk. Fortune. Primack. Dan. November 19, 2014. September 20, 2016.
  34. News: Katherine Clark's rise in D.C. has Democrats looking ahead. The Boston Globe. Miller. Joshua. November 9, 2015. September 20, 2016.
  35. News: Ramos. Nestor. Evan Falchuk, former independent candidate, switches to Democratic Party. 15 February 2017. The Boston Globe. 12 February 2017.
  36. News: Quinn. Garrett. As Governor Deval Patrick departs, who are the rising stars in the Massachusetts Democratic Party?. Mass Live. November 13, 2014.
  37. News: Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey rules out run for higher office. The Republican. Schoenberg. Shira. August 17, 2016. August 24, 2016.
  38. Web site: Pivoting toward 2018, Massachusetts Dems eye Charlie Baker challenge. www.boston.com.
  39. News: Kerry for governor? A Chicopee activist wants to draft him. The Boston Globe. Levenson. Michael. November 15, 2016. November 15, 2016.
  40. Web site: Who Will Run For Governor of Massachusetts in 2018?. November 16, 2016 . 22 May 2018.
  41. News: Is Paul Mark considering a run for higher office?. The Recorder. August 28, 2017. August 30, 2017.
  42. News: Meehan to close campaign fund, give $4.35m balance to foundation. The Boston Globe. Phillips. Frank. June 30, 2016. July 7, 2016.
  43. News: Seth Moulton Says He Has "No Plans" to Challenge Charlie Baker. Boston Magazine. Clauss. Kyle Scott. February 24, 2017. May 6, 2017. March 19, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170319011144/http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2017/02/24/seth-moulton-charlie-baker/. dead.
  44. News: Murphy. Matt. Cape Senator Wolf sees future service in 'different form'. The Patriot Ledger. November 9, 2015.
  45. News: Outgoing state senator ponders running against Baker. The Boston Globe. Miller. Joshua. March 14, 2016. July 7, 2016.
  46. News: Former Obama aide running for lieutenant governor. The Lowell Sun. Metzger. Andy. September 7, 2017. September 12, 2017.
  47. News: Jimmy Tingle launches bid for lieutenant governor. The Boston Globe. O'Sullivan. Jim. September 22, 2017. September 25, 2017.
  48. News: So far, only one Democrat is openly eyeing this statewide race.. The Boston Globe. O'Sullivan. Jim. August 23, 2017. August 30, 2017.
  49. Web site: 2018 Governor Race Ratings for October 26, 2018. The Cook Political Report. en. 2021-04-10.
  50. News: The Washington Post's gubernatorial race ratings. The Washington Post. October 16, 2018.
  51. Web site: 2018 Governor Forecast FiveThirtyEight. FiveThirtyEight. 17 October 2018 . en. October 17, 2018.
  52. Web site: 2018 Gubernatorial Ratings Inside Elections. insideelections.com. en. 2017-11-15.
  53. Web site: Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball » 2018 Governor. www.centerforpolitics.org. en-US. 2017-11-15.
  54. Web site: 2018 Governor Races. RealClearPolitics. October 9, 2018.
  55. Web site: 2018 Governor Race Ratings. Daily Kos. June 5, 2018.
  56. Web site: 2018 Midterm Power Ranking. Fox News. 14 October 2022 .
  57. Web site: Politico Race Ratings. Politico.
  58. Web site: 2018 Governor Elections: As November Nears, More Governors' Races Become Tossups . www.governing.com . en . 2018-07-18 . October 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181021005343/http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-governors-races-july-ratings.html . dead .
  59. Web site: PD43+ » Search Elections .
  60. Web site: Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts. Daily Kos. 11 August 2020.