Where does the 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial race stand after Governor Baker’s announcement that he will not seek re-election? So far, Democrats Danielle Allen, Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz and former Pittsfield Sen. Ben Downing are officially running, while speculation around when Attorney General Maura Healey will announce continues.
Lisa Kashinksy, author of the Politico Massachusetts Playbook and Shannon Jenkins, associate dean of the college of arts and sciences at UMass Dartmouth, joined Adam Reilly on Greater Boston discuss.
Baker had indicated in his press release that he wanted to focus on the pandemic and economic recovery without it being politicized, but distanced his decision from the Trump influence on the Republican party. From the personal to the political, Kashinsky said many factors played a role in his decision. Her reporting shows that Baker went back and forth right up until the Thanksgiving holiday.
Jenkins said she was more surprised by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito’s decision not to run than Baker’s. “He could have won… I think this was an intensely personal decision for him," she said. "We’re at a time where lots of people are quitting their jobs. And so it’s not surprising to me that the person who probably has the most stressful job in the state, multiplied by the pandemic, is choosing to step back."
WATCH: Gov. Baker is out for 2022. What does it mean for Massachusetts?
