Newton Mayor Forms Finance Committee for Possible Gubernatorial Run

NEWTON, MA – Newton Mayor Setti Warren is a step closer to making his gubernatorial bid official.

The Democrat has been exploring a 2018 run against Gov. Charlie Baker after announcing he would not seek re-election for mayor of Newton and on Monday released a lineup of business and political leaders who have volunteered to serve on his potential campaign's Finance Committee.

"As I've traveled around the Commonwealth having conversations with people about the challenges Massachusetts faces over the last few months, it has become clear to me that there are many people who are still hurting," Warren said in a statement. "While I have not yet made a final decision, the formation of a volunteer Finance Committee is one of the many important steps we are taking to prepare for a possible campaign."

The 40-person committee includes some Democratic heavyweights, such as former Gov. Michael Dukakis and his wife, Kitty, Thurgood Marshall, Jr. and former DNC chair Steve Grossman.

Warren will face former state budget director Jay Gonzalez, and possibly others, for the Democratic nomination if he decides to run, according to the Associated Press.

Photo: Setti Warren [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons