Gubernatorial Elections
This race will determine the governor of Massachusetts for the next four years. Our most recent governor, Deval Patrick, was a Democrat and will retire after serving two terms.
Charlie Baker (R)
Charlie Baker is pro-choice (supports a woman's right to abortion) and supports gay rights. He has a business background largely in the private sector and is considered strong economically. He promises to lower taxes, fulfilling his fiscally conservative agenda. Although losing in the gubernatorial race in 2010, he is running a competitive race against his well-established opponent Martha Coakley. Baker is running a campaign that attacks Coakley's tax and spend policies, expecially when it comes to the gas tax.
Martha Coakley (D)
Martha Coakley is currently the Massachusetts Attorney General and has been in that position for eight years. She recently ran for the United States Senate in 2010 against Scott Brown; she ended up losing the election by a substantial margin. Coakley is a traditional liberal (she supports gay rights, supports a woman's right to abortion, supports raising the minimum wage, supports the gas tax, etc.). Coakley attacks Baker's lack of governmental experience, but runs a relatively clean campaign.