Even the Progressives in Mass Note It

For John, BLUF:  Sadly, the Mass GOP is not contesting eveery race in this year's election, and even the Progressive Act on Mass has noted it, indirectly.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Massachusetts Has the Leasst Competitive Overall Legislative Contest

Here is the sub-headline:

Fourth Time in a Row

From Saturday Scoop, by Ms Erin Leahy, Executive Director, Act on Mass, 29 Octoober 2022.

Here is the lede plus two:

While we have the chance here in Massachusetts to make some incredible changes — we could have the first Democratic governor in 8 years, we have the chance to pass the Fair Share Amendment and dedicate billions of dollars to improving our public transportation and education, and a new group of pro-transparency State Reps could be elected for the next session — it turns out we actually have the least competitive legislative races of any state this year, according to new analysis from Ballotpedia.  This means, more than any other state, our elected officials are uncontested in their bids for election.

Despite legislative competitiveness steadily growing over the past several years, Massachusetts has ranked dead last for the last four cycles.  Not only do we have the least competitive legislative races of any state, but the next closest states in New England ranked nearly double what MA scored on the competitiveness index.  When voters only have one choice of who to vote for, as so many do here in Massachusetts, our democracy suffers.

But that’s a problem for after the election.

Why after the elecction?  Because it is too late to fix the problem now.

While there may be a role for Third Parties in this problem, the big role goes to the Massachusetts GOP.  And the MassGOP is split, between a Downtown Boston Moderate (Rockefeller) Wing and the Hinterland Republicans, who tend to be and vote more as Conservatives.  Even the Mass GOP State Committee shows signs of this riff.

My experience in the Lowell Republican City Committee, and as Chairman for a couple of years, is that the "Establishment" Wing of the Party, from Governor Baker on down, tends to avoid us outside the more moderate inner circle.  Many trips to Lowell by the Governor and Lieutenant Goveernor, to meet with Democrats, never included an invite for cooffee at The Owl Diner, for me or for my successor as Chairman.  Representative David Nangle, yes, Chairman Cliff Krieger, no.

If the Republican Party is to revive it needs to be a little more united.  On the other hand, maybe the Downtown Boston Republicans are happy holding "The Corner Office".  I hope it is still working in January of 2023.

Regards  —  Cliff