Massachusetts Primary
Landscape 2002

MassNews Staff
August 28, 2002

With the primary season upon us we have begun to interview conservative candidates from around the state. We have talked to voters, party insiders and conservative groups to identify the important issues and to highlight the candidates that many believe represent the next generation of conservative candidates. We will present many of these profiles and interviews in the days leading up to the primary election on September 17th.

The Massachusetts Legislature wound up their "working" sessions on July 31st and headed off to do whatever state politicians do until they come back in election mode in September. Some are attending to the informal sessions, and cleaning up the bits and pieces of legislation that haven't been jettisoned to the dust heap. Others are actively campaigning against primary opponents. Some are girding their campaigns and stockpiling ammunition for the general election. But most incumbents are enjoying the summer and will cruise into autumn salinger.in the fact that they face no opposition.

According to the primary election ballot listings obtained from the Secretary of State's office, unopposed incumbents total 172. Although the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Treasurer contests are likely to be feisty and competitive, Attorney General Tom Reilly is unopposed in the primary and general elections. Senator John Kerry, Secretary of State Bill Galvin, and State Auditor Joe Denucci have no primary opponents and no serious threats in the general election. Six of eight U.S. Congressmen, 34 of 40 state senators, and 117 of 160 state representatives are running unopposed in the primary. (In the general election on November 5th, there are 148 incumbents without opponents, including 8 U.S. Congressmen, 28 State Senators and 99 State Representatives.)

Overall, the Democrats have fielded an average of 1.5 candidates for every opening on the ballot. The Republicans .3 candidates per opening, the Libertarian party .1 and the Green Party .05 (8 candidates for 260 open slots).

The Democrat Party dominates the landscape with 15 candidates for statewide offices, 12 for the U.S. House of Representatives, 14 candidates for 8 Governor's Councilor positions, 41 candidates for the State Senate and 206 vying for seats in the General Court. The race for Governor will be the dominant race for the Democrats as they seek to reclaim the corner office for the first time in 12 years. To a lesser degree the Senate and House races will be watched if only to see how many seats the other parties can take away from the 800-pound Democrat gorilla.

The Republican Party has been able to field more and better qualified candidates (106) this time around. Mitt Romney is obviously the marquee candidate for Governor. But the Lieutenant Governor primary match-up between Kerry Healey and Jim Rappaport poses a dilemma for the Romney camp. Rappaport's support in the party's grassroots and the Romney camp's attempt to distance itself from the former Republican Party Chairman's campaign has left a large question mark on the potential impact of the Lt. Governor's race - especially if Jim Rappaport wins. Some have speculated that Mitt Romney is taking the conservative component of the Republican Party for granted. Where else can they go?

The Libertarian Party has also improved their ranks of challengers, fielding 19 candidates, 6 in races for statewide offices and 13 for State Representative. Few people believe that the Libertarians will take the corner office or make significant inroads against the incumbent base. They may even be able to lure some conservatives to their candidates with their ardent small government platform. But the big threat they pose to the status quo is the ballot question to repeal the state income tax. Led by their now perennial standard bearer, Carla Howell, and bolstered by a great PR machine, the Libertarians are poised to steal the media limelight in the general election in November with Ballot Question #1.

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