BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey sailed to victory in the Democratic primary for governor, advancing to November’s general election where she will be the heavy favorite to replace outgoing Gov. Charlie Baker.
Healey was the only remaining Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Tuesday’s primary after state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz stopped campaigning in June — but Chang-Diaz’s name was still on the ballot. The Associated Press called the race for the two-term attorney general just after 8:35 p.m. Eastern time, when Healey had more than 80% of the vote.
Healey will be going up against the Republican nominee in November. That will be either former state Rep. Geoff Diehl of Whitman, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, or Wrentham businessman Chris Doughty. The GOP primary had not been called as of 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Whether Healey faces Diehl or Doughty, the attorney general will be the prohibitive favorite in the general election.
Baker late last year announced that he would not run for a third term as governor. The last time a Democrat worked out of the State House’s Corner Office was in 2014, when former Gov. Deval Patrick’s two terms wrapped up.
Healey has been the Bay State’s AG for eight years. She ran as a first-time candidate in 2014, and was elected the first openly gay attorney general in the country. The U.S. has never elected an out lesbian governor.
As AG, she has led lawsuits against Purdue Pharma, the Sackler family and other opioid companies, securing hundreds of millions of dollars for treatment and recovery.
“In 2014, I asked for your trust, and was honored when you elected me to take on powerful interests and stand up for Massachusetts as The People’s Lawyer,” Healey tweeted during the day on Tuesday. “Today I’m running to be your Governor, and I’m asking for your trust again. Are you with me?”
“As your Attorney General, we stood up to powerful interests — and won,” she also tweeted. “I’m running to be the Democratic nominee for Governor. Together, let’s build a Massachusetts where everyone can thrive.”
Healey’s campaign Tuesday night was hosting its primary night celebration at IBEW Local 103 in Dorchester.
Before becoming attorney general, Healey was a civil rights attorney in the AG’s office, where she challenged the Defense of Marriage Act and big banks.
Other Democratic primaries on Tuesday’s ballot included the race for lieutenant governor. Three candidates — Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, Acton state Rep. Tami Gouveia and Longmeadow state Sen. Eric Lesser — were vying to be the party’s lieutenant governor nominee.
The primary to replace Healey as AG was between former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell and Brookline labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan. Healey has been campaigning with Campbell. Former Assistant Attorney General Quentin Palfrey recently dropped out of the race.
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