BOSTON — Attorney General Maura Healey easily secured her party’s endorsement for governor at Saturday’s Democratic Convention in Worcester, but her opponent, state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, was able to garner enough support to force a primary.
Healey received 2,858 delegate votes, or 71.2% to Chang-Diaz’s 1,155 votes, or 28.8%. The two-term AG said she was “humbled” to receive her party’s endorsement and pledged to be a governor who is “as tough as this state deserves.”
“I’ve said from the beginning that this is a campaign about meeting people where they are. Right now, a lot of people in our state are hurting,” said Healey, who later added “I’m in this to help people. That’s what the people of Massachusetts deserve.”
Either woman would make history as the first female governor of Massachusetts. Healey would also be the first openly gay governor and first openly lesbian chief executive of a state, while Chang-Diaz would the first Latina and Asian-American to hold the corner office.
The winner of September’s primary would face the winner of the Republican primary — Trump-backed former state Rep. Geoff Diehl, who secured his party’s endorsement two weeks ago, or Wrentham businessman Chris Doughty. Gov. Charlie Baker is not running for reelection.
“There are some who say that Republicans in this race are different here in Massachusetts,” said Healey. “Give me a break. Look at that convention two weeks ago — so much hatred and vitriol.
“They’re going to take us backwards on racial justice, immigration, gun violence, reproductive rights and climate change and more,” she added. “The choice in this election could not be more clear: This is going to be a choice between progress or partisanship.”
Chang-Diaz used her remarks to paint herself as a courageous leader with a track record of fighting against the “status quo” in politics.
“Read any newspapers and you’ll see the political insiders say I’m not favored to win this primary,” said Chang-Diaz. “I don’t have the most money in this race and I am not the preferred candidate of the Beacon Hill establishment.
“There’s a reason for that. When you spend your career pushing for change, it can make those in power uncomfortable.”
According to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, Healey is far ahead in fundraising, with $2.35 million in donations to Chang-Diaz’s $467,927.
Delegates also endorsed Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll for lieutenant governor, with 41.4% of the vote. Also making the primary ballot were state Rep. Tami Gouveia and state Sen. Eric Lesser.
Delegates opted not to endorse longtime Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, instead giving the nod to his opponent, attorney Tanisha Sullivan.
Galvin said he was optimistic about the primary, saying that he has not been the party endorsee on three separate occasions, and went on to win the race by an increasingly larger margin each time.
Also endorsed on Saturday were Quentin Palfrey for attorney general, Chris Dempsey for auditor, and Deborah Goldberg for state treasurer.
