MetroWest GOP Race Pits Trump Backer Vs. Baker Ally

FRAMINGHAM, MA — You might have missed it, but there was another hotly contested race on the ballot in Massachusetts on Super Tuesday: a showdown between state Republican Party leaders representing supporters of President Donald Trump and Gov. Charlie Baker.

Republican voters across the state voted for GOP committee man and woman candidates on Super Tuesday. In the Framingham area, the Second Middlesex and Norfolk District race was between Framingham Councilor Janet Leombruno — a longtime friend and ally of Baker's — and Hopkinton's Leda Arakelian, a strong Trump supporter.

(Second Middlesex and Norfolk District GOP committee man Martin Lamb ran unopposed.)

In the 2020 committee races, Baker sought to take control of the state GOP from Chair Jim Lyons, a vocal Trump supporter, according to reports. Baker allies running for committee seats have complained about dirty campaign tactics in races that have little oversight.

Trump easily won Massachusetts on Super Tuesday. His most serious challenger was former governor William Weld, who only won about 9.3 percent of the vote.

But in the Framingham area, the Baker side was ahead. Leombruno was beating Arakelian by more than 700 votes after cleaning up in Framingham.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth had not compiled the results as of Monday, but they might be posted on the elections website mid-week. Here are the results from the seven towns and cities in the Second Middlesex and Norfolk District.

Framingham
Leombruno 1,243
Arakelian 509

Ashland
Leombruno 277
Arakelian 233

Natick
Leombruno 390
Arakelian 292

Holliston
Arakelian 336
Leombruno 247

Franklin
Arakelian 263
Leombruno 240

Hopkinton
Arakelian 423
Leombruno 209

Medway
Arakelian 333
Leombruno 305