In a decisive and historic victory on Tuesday night, Maura Healey became the state’s first elected female governor, the country’s first openly homosexual governor, and the first openly lesbian governor.
After Republican Governor Charlie Baker decided against seeking a third term, the Massachusetts attorney general easily defeated her Republican opponent, former state representative Geoff Diehl, and handed the Democratic Party control of the governorship back to them.
Healey will be joined on Beacon Hill by Kim Driscoll, the mayor of Salem. They make up the first all-female governor and lieutenant governor team in the country.
Former President Trump and many other Republicans supported Diehl, but he found it difficult to win over moderate and conservative Democrats, whose votes are essential for Republicans to win in a state as blue as Massachusetts.
Healey had a significant advantage in fundraising and name recognition, and she maintained significant leads in the polls throughout the campaign. Healey had previously won statewide office twice.
In her remarks to supporters just before 10 o’clock on Tuesday, Healey emphasized the historic nature of her election to the position.
“Tonight, I want to address every young female and LGBTQ person in the world. Tonight should demonstrate to you that you can be anybody or whatever you choose to be “At the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, Healey said to a round of cheers.
Healey also mentioned several of the other Democratic issues she campaigned on, such as increasing access to affordable housing, encouraging the creation of green jobs, and enhancing transportation throughout the Commonwealth.
When Healey accepted the party’s nomination at the Massachusetts Democratic convention in Worcester last June, she urged lowering housing, energy, and healthcare expenses to put money back in people’s pockets. Let’s build additional homes so that those who visit and reside here may afford to do so.
Healey vowed to establish a cabinet-level position to manage housing and hasten the approval and building of new homes across the state. Her ideas include opening up public land for development and providing financial aid to elderly people, people with modest incomes, and first-time homebuyers.
Healey promised to make Massachusetts “a destination for renewable energy innovation” while working toward net-zero emissions by 2030 in response to the climate issue. Additionally, she pledged to repair deteriorating roads, bridges, and tunnels while utilizing an increase in federal funding to upgrade public transit, including the state’s subway, trains, ferries, and buses.
Healey’s triumph brings an end to a campaign that faced few major challenges. Sonia Chang-Daz, a state senator, and a number of other Democrats withdrew from the contest prior to the primary, providing her with a clear path to the Democratic nomination.
