Republican Duo Hopes To Stamp 'Ticket' To State's Corner Offices

BOSTON — A Wrentham businessman man and former state representative from Spencer are teaming up in an effort to recreate the single-ticket success of Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito in the last two statewide elections.

Gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty said on Tuesday that he is running with new lieutenant governor entry Kate Campanale as a tandem choice for the Republican nomination.

"I am proud to announce that (Campanale) is running for lieutenant governor as my running mate," Doughty said on Tuesday. "Kate brings her experience, energy and legendary work ethic to our ticket."

A Leicester native, Campanale was elected to the State House of Representatives in 2014 at 28 years old and served two terms representing Worcester's 17th district (Leicester, Worcester). She then ran unsuccessfully for Worcester County Register of Deeds and has recently taught in Spencer Public Schools.

The Doughty/Campanale tandem will be looking to tap into the fiscally conservative, but otherwise centrist and pragmatic, voter coalition from both parties that Baker and Polito cultivated over the past eight years. Former State Rep. Geoff Diehl, who represented the 7th Plymouth District, appears to have gained a primary foothold in the farther right segment of the party as he boasts of his endorsement from former President Donald Trump and a campaign staff that includes former Trump top adviser Corey Lewandowski.

The candidate frenzy that many expected following Baker's announcement in December that he and Polito would not seek a third term has not materialized.

The Democratic field has thinned since Attorney General Maura Healey launched her campaign with State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz as her only current opposition for the nomination. Harvard professor Danielle Allen dropped out of the race last month, citing the state's restrictive ballot-access system.

There has been no indication any of the Democratic candidates are eyeing the ticket route with a crowded field for that lieutenant governor nomination including Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, State Rep. Tami Gouveia, State Sen. Adam Hinds and State Sen. Eric Lesser.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)