East Boston delegates were among the 15 who represented the Suffolk and Middlesex Senate District.
BY CHRISTOPHER MORTON
SPECIAL TO EASTBOSTON.COM
The Massachusetts Republican Party held its nominating convention at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
About 1,200 enthusiastic Republicans met to vote for nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor and to grant the party’s convention endorsement to candidates for Secretary of the Commonwealth, Auditor, Treasurer and Attorney General.
The theme of this year’s convention is “Preserving Freedom.”
There were fifteen delegates from the First Suffolk and Middlesex Senate District which includes East Boston. Riding the train from Boston to Springfield one sees an unfamiliar rural Massachusetts west of Worcester the rest of the way to Springfield. It looked like deep in the Appalachians but we were not in even the Berkshires.
How and why does a state where so much land looks politically “red” vote so “blue?”
Speakers at the convention included Mayor Shaunna O’Connell of Taunton, U. S. Representative Byron Donalds of Florida, pro-life activist David Bereit and former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Thomas Homan. Mr. Bereit detailed the conditions at an abortion site in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mr. Homan described the reduced protection along the southern border and threats it poses to our national security.
Since both candidates received at least 15% of the vote, the names of both will appear on the Republican primary ballot in September.
In the lieutenant governor contest Leah Cole Allen, running with Geoff Diehl, drew more votes than Doughty running mate Kate Campanale. As in the governor’s race both won more than 15% so both are running in the primary election.
Candidates for the other Massachusetts constitutional offices are Rayla Campbell for Secretary of the Commonwealth, Jay McMahon for Attorney General and Anthony Amore for State Auditor.
The convention was a time for party members and activists to meet and get reacquainted. Typical topics of discussion were local affairs and politics, mutual acquaintances, what election campaigns the party faithful had worked on in the past and whom each is supporting this year.
What school or college one had attended, or sports just didn’t come up in conversation much.
There were few signs or reminders of incumbents Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. It seems neither attended the convention.
What I saw at outside the convention hall, Trump campaign aide Cory Lewandowski of New Hampshire at his hotel desk checking in; former U. S. senator Scott Brown with his band “Scott Brown and the Diplomats” performing at a Chris Doughty event the night before the convention. At the same time, the Diehl campaign hosted an event about a mile away at the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Christopher Morton is the Secretary of the East Boston Ward 1 Republican Committee
How the delegates from First Suffolk and Middlesex Voted. PDF below. (Source: Massachusetts Republican Party)
