Worcester Man Files To Run For Massachusetts Governor

WORCESTER, MA — The big story of the 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial contest this week was the entry of Attorney General Maura Healey into the race.

A Worcester resident also filed to run this week, setting up the potential for a local to hold the governor's seat for the first time in about 200 years.

Eden Street residents Joselito Santiago Matias filed papers this week to run for governor as a Republican. As of this week, very few from the GOP have filed to run, with only former state lawmaker Geoff Diehl and Darius Mitchel in the race so far. Gov. Charlie Baker is not running for reelection.

Apart from Healey, Boston state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz is the other major Democrat in the race so far.

Even as the state's second-largest city, there haven't been many governors from Worcester since Massachusetts became a state in 1780.

Levi Lincoln Sr. was the first, stepping up from the lieutenant governor's seat in 1808 after James Sullivan died in office. Lincoln Sr. failed to get elected to a full term in 1809. No matter — he was originally from Hingham, but did practice law and start a family in Worcester.

But his son, Levi Lincoln Jr., won the seat in 1824 and remained governor until 1834. John Davis was a Northborough native who served two different terms as governor, succeeding Lincoln. Jr from 1834 to 1835, and then from 1841 to 1843.

The Lincoln family's mark can still be found across Worcester, from Lincoln Street to the Levi Lincoln Jr. chamber at City Hall.