In just two months, voters in Massachusetts will head to the polls once again and decide who will sit in the corner office at the State House on Beacon Hill.
After Tuesday's primaries, Democrat Maura Healey and Republican Geoff Diehl are beginning their general election campaigns, both vying to be the Bay State's next governor. Taking questions from reporters on Wednesday, they had a chance to outline their platforms.
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Healey said the campaign she'll run with lieutenant governor nominee Kim Driscoll, the mayor of Salem, is aimed at making the commonwealth more affordable and standing up for its values, including reproductive health care.
"It's about making Massachusetts the greatest place to live, to raise a family, to set up a business," she said at a market in Worcester.
She made a point to say she was hoping to earn votes from her party, as well as unenrolled voters and Republicans.
Speaking shortly after the victory of his running mate, Leah Allen, was confirmed, Diehl said he plans to focus his campaign on freedom, including the freedom not to get COVID vaccines.
His Day 1 priority, he told reporters Wednesday, would be "to return every state worker back to their job that lost their job because of the vaccine mandate. Day 2? Anybody in the administration that thought that was good policy, we're going to replace those folks."
Current Gov. Charlie Baker, a centrist Republican who isn't running for reelection, required workers in the state's Executive Branch to be vaccinated against COVID-19 — considered by the vast majority of health experts to be safe and among the best ways to prevent serious infections.
Healey, who ran unopposed in her primary on Tuesday, would be the first openly gay person and first woman elected governor in Massachusetts, though she noted Wednesday that the race "is about the resumé."
She would also be going against trend — five of the last six governors in the state have been Republican. Despite that, Healey is still considered to be the favorite to win in November.
"I have the experience and I have the results and as your next governor, I promise you I will lead with my head and with my heart," Healey said following Tuesday's primaries. "I will work hard for all of you."
Diehl defeated his challenger Chris Doughty, who had been considered the more moderate of the two. Diehl, who is backed by former President Donald Trump, says Massachusetts is facing a lot of challenges.
Diehl unsuccessfully ran for senate against Elizabeth Warren in 2018, but says this time will be different.
"I believe it's the best vision to make our state a better place to live and work," Diehl said Tuesday. "We are now in the race to win it, and with your help, I know we will."
