Election 2018: MA Gov. Baker Wins Second Term

BOSTON, MA -- Massachusetts voters overwhelming elected Gov. Charlie Baker to a second term in office over Democratic nominee Jay Gonzalez Tuesday night. In a midterm election where GOP conservatives nationwide were facing a referendum on their policies, Baker, a moderate Republican who has distanced himself from President Donald Trump, easily defeated an opponent who struggled to gather statewide name recognition.

"They want us back to work in the morning and, you know what, we're going to be there first thing working for the people of the Commonwealth," Baker said in his victory speech.

Multiple media outlets, including CNN and WCVB, called the race for Baker just after polls closed at 8 pm Tuesday. With 53% of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press, Baker had 67.4of the vote to Gonzalez's 32.8%

While Massachusetts has a well-deserved reputation as a blue state, it also has a long track record of electing moderate Republicans like Baker to the governor’s office. Of Baker’s five predecessors, just one -- Deval Patrick -- was a Democrat. Polls conducted last week showed as many as 48% of registered Democrats saying they planned to vote for Baker.

Baker’s lieutenant governor, Kathryn Polito, was also re-elected. In Massachusetts, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run on separate tickets.

Gonzalez had run a campaign that argued the state was falling short of its potential. He vowed to pump more money into education and public transit. Baker pointed to the state’s booming economy and his work to fight the opioid epidemic, all of which was accomplished without major tax increases.

Gonzalez told supporters he did not "have a single regret" in his concession speech.

"In a time of divisiveness and incivility in our national politics, Governor Baker also deserves credit and our thanks for the civil, respectful, and collaborative approach he has taken to governing," he said.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).