Baker and Polito Opt Against Runs for Governor in 2022

By Jackson Chadwick | Photo by Chadwick

About the author: Jackson Chadwick is a senior (Class of 2022) Political Science major and Environmental Studies minor. He is from Camden, Maine, and enjoys covering politics at the local, state and federal level, shooting photos, and spends much of his free time writing and discovering new music. He has been the Editor-in-Chief since the start of the 2020-2021 school year and was previously the News & Features editor.

News broke mid-morning on Wednesday that Governor Charlie Baker decided against seeking a third term in office. As reported by Lisa Kashinsky of Politico, Baker had mulled over the decision for months before ultimately deciding against a run around the Thanksgiving holiday.

In a joint statement with Gov. Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito also affirmed her decision against running for governor. Polito was expected to announce a run for governor by many, as she had amassed impressive fundraising numbers this year. 

In their statement, Baker and Polito write: 

“But today is about the future. This next year needs to be about recovery, not about politics. We are grateful for the chance we have been given to serve the people of this great state and will give it our all between now and the end of 2022.

The governor’s race is now wide open, but Democrats speculate that Massachusetts will be their easiest gubernatorial pickup of 2022, along with Maryland, where popular Republican Gov. Larry Hogan is term-limited. 

A handful of politicos have already announced their candidacies. Among them is former State Rep. and 2018 senatorial candidate Geoff Diehl, a Republican. Diehl received the “complete and total endorsement” from former President Trump in October. 

Other Republicans have pondered runs for governor, including Mike Kennealy, the Housing and Economic Development Secretary. 

On the Democratic side, State Senator Sonia-Chang-Diaz announced her run for governor in June. Former State Senator Benjamin Downing also announced his bid earlier this year. Other names that have been floated include former Rep. Joe Kennedy III and former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, who’s currently the U.S. Secretary of Labor.

But much speculation surrounds Democrat Maura Healey, the current state Attorney General. Healey gave her thanks to Gov. Baker for helping govern Massachusetts during the pandemic and remarked that she’ll announce her intentions “soon.”

Though Democrats have a shot at winning back the governorship in Massachusetts, they’re playing defense across much else of the country. Tight governor’s races are expected in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Maine, and elsewhere. There could be some close races for Republican incumbents too, including in Georgia, where Democrat Stacey Abrams is seeking a rematch against Republican incumbent Brian Kemp.