Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is expected to speak live at 3 p.m. Wednesday after announcing that he will not seek a third term.
Neither Baker nor his Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, both moderates, will run for the state's top job in 2022, opening up next year's gubernatorial race for conservatives and progressives who want to see the state go in a different direction.
In a letter to supporters, Baker and Polito wrote that after several months of discussion with their families, they decided not to seek re-election in 2022 and Polito has declined to run for the top job herself.
"This was an extremely difficult decision for us," they wrote. "We love the work, and we especially respect and admire the people of this wonderful Commonwealth. Serving as Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts has been the most challenging and fulfilling jobs we’ve ever had. We will forever be grateful to the people of this state for giving us this great honor."
Baker's withdrawal comes after a poll suggested that Baker, still immensely popular with most voters, would have an uphill battle in the Republican primary against more socially conservative GOP candidate former Whitman Rep. Geoff Diehl. Another poll suggested Baker's popularity with unenrolled voters would give him a leg up over Diehl and any Democrats already in the race if he ran without the backing of the GOP.
