Major Mass. Dems Back Newton Mayor in Anticipated Gubernatorial Run

NEWTON, MA – Newton Mayor Setti Warren has yet to announce a run against Gov. Charlie Baker in 2018, but he already has some prominent Massachusetts Democrats on his side.

In a letter Friday, former chairs of the Massachusetts Democratic Party Steve Grossman, Phil Johnston and John Walsh threw their support behind Warren as a challenger to Baker.

"As former chairs of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, we have decided to support Newton Mayor Setti Warren as he looks at challenging Charlie Baker," Grossman, Johnston and Walsh wrote. "Setti has the passion, commitment to progressive values, and track record of leadership that we need more than ever."

Warren announced last year he would not run for re-election for mayor of Newton and has since been looking at a possible gubernatorial run.

Yesterday, he called on Baker to veto a proposed $18 million pay package for legislators, staffers and members of the state judiciary approved by the Senate, saying the vote was one that "cannot be a rushed discussion behind closed doors" and that he was "strongly opposed to the way this unfolded."

>>>Photo: Setti Warren (Flickr: desk) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons