Gov. Maura Healey is one fortunate politician.
She is working for re-election and, regardless of a spotty report, has no severe opponent, Democrat or Republican.
Healey made her announcement throughout a softball interview on pleasant GBH radio final week.
“I plan to run for reelection,” Healey, 54, stated.
No main Democrat would dare take her on in a major, and hardly anybody has even heard of the a number of no-name Republicans who’re speaking about taking the plunge.
They’re state Sen. Peter Durant of Spencer, who has fought for immigration reform; Mike Kennealy, a former cupboard member within the Gov. Charlie Baker administration, Brian Shortsleeve, a former MBTA official, and Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis. None have made an official announcement.
It isn’t recognized if any of them would search assist from Donald Trump.
And whereas Healey is working once more, she was not requested if she would serve a full four-year time period if reelected, or resign midterm for one more job and switch the workplace over to fellow progressive Democrat Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll.
As a substitute, she continued to rail in opposition to Trump and Elon Musk for reducing waste, fraud and abuse in federal spending, like within the $40 billion in USAID price range.
Massachusetts has precedent for governors quitting. In 1997 Republican Gov. Invoice Weld resigned to pursue the ambassadorship to Mexico.
Fellow Republican Paul Cellucci, then lieutenant governor, turned performing governor. After Cellucci was elected to a full four-year time period, he resigned in 2001 to develop into ambassador to Canada.
He was succeeded as performing governor by Lt. Gov. Jane Swift who was later pushed apart by Mitt Romney earlier than she might run for governor.
This isn’t to say that Healey is on the lookout for a job, though she was reported to be into account to go the U.S. Justice Division if Kamala Harris turned president.
Healey on the time shot down these stories.
“I like my job,” she stated.
Which can be true, however it is going to be fascinating to see how a lot she loves the job when Trump and his sidekick Musk, already reducing federal funds to Massachusetts, proceed to take action.
“We’re not going to have the ability to choose up the tab,” Healey stated in her interview, which might imply elevating taxes to make up the distinction.
That is very true in the case of schooling funding. constructing two new Cape Cod bridges and housing and feeding unlawful immigrants and others who’ve made their strategy to Massachusetts searching for handouts.
Healey stated that except Trump is stopped, she sees extra cuts in federal cash coming. However she has no strategy to cease them apart from to induce voters to name their members of Congress and “converse up.”
Nevertheless, the issue for Healey and her anti-Trump workers is that each one 9 Massachusetts members of the U. S, Home and its two senators, all Democrats, are additionally extreme Trump critics.
Not solely do they not have any relationship with Trump to speak to him about cuts in federal help, neither does Healey nor anyone in her administration.
In different phrases, not one of the political leaders in Massachusetts have any significant entry to Trump.
To make issues worse for the Healey administration and Massachusetts, Legal professional Basic Andrea Campbell, who succeeded Healey as lawyer basic is, with Healey’s blessing, suing Trump the way in which Healey used to do.
Healey sued Trump throughout his first administration coming and going some 100 instances.
Campbell filed swimsuit in opposition to Trump on the primary day he took workplace over ending birthright citizenship. She has filed a number of extra.
As well as, Campbell stated she would search extra funds from the Legislature to additional “Trump proof” the state by hiring extra legal professionals and submitting extra lawsuits.
Will Healey associate with anti-Trump authorized motion and continued criticism whereas anticipating the person to bathe the state with federal funds?
I might guess not. Which implies that except Healey works out an lodging with Trump, the state is in for a tough journey.
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas will be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com
