Needham Resident Jay Gonzalez Announces Bid for Democratic Nod for Governor

NEEDHAM, MA — Needham resident Jay Gonzalez will launch a campaign Monday for the Democratic nomination for governor, the former secretary of administration and finance announced Sunday night.

With the announcement, Gonzalez becomes the first Democrat to formally declare their intent to challenge Governor Charlie Baker for the state's highest office. Newton Mayor Setti Warren is exploring a possible run.

Baker, a Republican, is expected to run for a second term.

“President Trump threatens our values and threatens to take us backward. Now more than ever, we need a governor who is going to stand up and fight for our values and fight to move us forward. I’ll be that governor. I’ll work with a sense of urgency to make sure that every working family has a fair shot for a better future,” Gonzalez said in a press release.

Gonzalez served as the state's secretary of administration and finances from October 2009 to January 2013. He first joined former Governor Deval Patrick's administration in 2007 as an assistant secretary for capital finance and intergovernmental affairs.

After leaving the administration, he joined Massachusetts-based health plan CeltiCare and became their chief executive a year later.

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