http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachus...es_than_in_2004
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GOP fielding fewer legislative candidates than in 2004
By Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press Writer | May 31, 2006
BOSTON --Republicans are fielding far fewer candidates for the Massachusetts House and Senate than two years ago, and are challenging none of the incumbent Democratic district attorneys.
About 81 Republicans are running for seats in the Legislature, 61 in the House and 20 in the Senate, according to information provided by the state secretary's office. That's less than half of the total number of seats in the Legislature. There are a total of 160 seats in the House and 40 in the Senate.
Two years ago, Gov. Mitt Romney unveiled a team of 128 Republican legislative candidates at a pomp-laden party event at Boston Park Plaza complete with confetti cannons, strobe lights and blaring music. He vowed to chip away at the Democratic Party's overwhelming majorities in both legislative chambers.
Romney's efforts fell flat. Instead of gaining seats, the Republicans found themselves with three fewer seats after the votes were tallied.
This year, the GOP's top priority is holding onto the governor's office. Romney has announced he won't seek re-election, and Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey is running unopposed for the Republican nomination for the state's highest political office.
Mark Rowe, acting executive director of the state Republican Party, said the party is focusing more on the quality of their legislative candidates than their quantity. He also acknowledged that retaining the governor's office is the party's top job.
"We certainly feel very good about our prospects for November," he said.
"What's going to help us is having Kerry Healey and Reed Hillman at the top of the ticket," Rowe said, referring to the former state representative from Sturbridge who is Healey's running mate and the GOP's lone candidate for lieutenant governor.
Rowe said the 2004 elections were dominated by the presidential election which included hometown U.S. Sen. John Kerry, a Democrat, running for president. That made it especially tough going for Republican legislative candidates, he said.
Cyndi Roy, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Democratic Party, said Republicans seem to be expending nearly all their energy on the governor's race this time around.
"I would imagine that the GOP is still licking their wounds after an unsuccessful battle for the Legislature in 2004," she said. "They are focused on the governor's office."
In the Senate, all five incumbent Republicans are running unopposed. There are 14 contested races in the Senate, 12 of which include Republican candidates.
In the House, 16 Republican incumbents are facing no challenge from Democrats or other Republicans. Of the 57 contested races in the House, 38 include Republicans.
The paucity of Republican candidates virtually guarantees Healey, like most of her GOP predecessors, would be denied the ability to readily sustain vetoes if elected.
The last Republican to enjoy GOP veto power on Beacon Hill was Gov. William Weld during the first two years of his first term, 1990-1992.
In 2004, Romney made a very public pitch for adding more Republicans to the Legislature, at one point touring the state in support of GOP candidates.
This time around, he has been virtually absent, spending increasing stretches of time out of step as he weighs his presidential chances.
There are three Republican district attorneys running unopposed and five Democratic incumbents without challengers. Three Democratic incumbent district attorneys are facing primary challenges.
By Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press Writer | May 31, 2006
BOSTON --Republicans are fielding far fewer candidates for the Massachusetts House and Senate than two years ago, and are challenging none of the incumbent Democratic district attorneys.
About 81 Republicans are running for seats in the Legislature, 61 in the House and 20 in the Senate, according to information provided by the state secretary's office. That's less than half of the total number of seats in the Legislature. There are a total of 160 seats in the House and 40 in the Senate.
Two years ago, Gov. Mitt Romney unveiled a team of 128 Republican legislative candidates at a pomp-laden party event at Boston Park Plaza complete with confetti cannons, strobe lights and blaring music. He vowed to chip away at the Democratic Party's overwhelming majorities in both legislative chambers.
Romney's efforts fell flat. Instead of gaining seats, the Republicans found themselves with three fewer seats after the votes were tallied.
This year, the GOP's top priority is holding onto the governor's office. Romney has announced he won't seek re-election, and Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey is running unopposed for the Republican nomination for the state's highest political office.
Mark Rowe, acting executive director of the state Republican Party, said the party is focusing more on the quality of their legislative candidates than their quantity. He also acknowledged that retaining the governor's office is the party's top job.
"We certainly feel very good about our prospects for November," he said.
"What's going to help us is having Kerry Healey and Reed Hillman at the top of the ticket," Rowe said, referring to the former state representative from Sturbridge who is Healey's running mate and the GOP's lone candidate for lieutenant governor.
Rowe said the 2004 elections were dominated by the presidential election which included hometown U.S. Sen. John Kerry, a Democrat, running for president. That made it especially tough going for Republican legislative candidates, he said.
Cyndi Roy, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Democratic Party, said Republicans seem to be expending nearly all their energy on the governor's race this time around.
"I would imagine that the GOP is still licking their wounds after an unsuccessful battle for the Legislature in 2004," she said. "They are focused on the governor's office."
In the Senate, all five incumbent Republicans are running unopposed. There are 14 contested races in the Senate, 12 of which include Republican candidates.
In the House, 16 Republican incumbents are facing no challenge from Democrats or other Republicans. Of the 57 contested races in the House, 38 include Republicans.
The paucity of Republican candidates virtually guarantees Healey, like most of her GOP predecessors, would be denied the ability to readily sustain vetoes if elected.
The last Republican to enjoy GOP veto power on Beacon Hill was Gov. William Weld during the first two years of his first term, 1990-1992.
In 2004, Romney made a very public pitch for adding more Republicans to the Legislature, at one point touring the state in support of GOP candidates.
This time around, he has been virtually absent, spending increasing stretches of time out of step as he weighs his presidential chances.
There are three Republican district attorneys running unopposed and five Democratic incumbents without challengers. Three Democratic incumbent district attorneys are facing primary challenges.