Geoff Diehl Runs to Replace Charlie Baker as Governor of Massachusetts – NBC Boston

[ad_1]

Republican Geoff Diehl announced his campaign to replace Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker on the Fourth of July.

Diehl, a former state representative who co-led former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign in Massachusetts, announced a “‘ Freedom Festival, ’organized by the Western MA GOP Patriots,” according to a statement from his team.

Diehl criticized state and federal regulations put in place during the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on small businesses on Sunday. He also condemned Baker’s participation in the bipartisan Transportation and Climate Inquiry with other region governors.

The press release did not mention Baker’s name.

“Ensuring that Massachusetts creates the best scenario for job growth is the key to a strong recovery because keeping people in enhanced unemployment is not the answer,” Diehl said.

Earlier this year, Baker supported Trump’s impeachment for inciting the uprising after a mob of its supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in an effort to stop the transfer of power to President Joe Biden. According to the Boston Herald, Diehl said Baker should “withdraw his stance.”

Diehl previously ran for statewide office in 2018 in an effort to oust Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren. She defeated him by a margin of over 24 points.

Prior to his run in the Senate, Diehl spent seven years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Baker has not yet said if he will run for a third term. On the Democratic side, the former state Sen. Ben Downing, state Senate Sonia Chang-Diaz and Harvard University professor Danielle Allen are their campaigns.

[ad_2]