Gonzalez edges out Massie in Democratic primary for governor

Sept. 05--BOSTON -- Jay Gonzalez's quest to become governor of Massachusetts took a big step Tuesday when he edged out Democratic primary challenger Bob Massie.

The former budget chief for Gov. Deval Patrick built a solid lead in early returns over Massie, a Somerville environmental activist who ran as a government outsider. Gonzalez led Massie by 66 percent to 34 percent, with 67 percent of precincts reporting as of 11 p.m.

Gonzalez, 47, of Needham, faces Gov. Charlie Baker in the 10-week dash to the Nov. 6 election. Baker crushed a conservative primary opponent, Scott Lively, in Tuesday's GOP primary.

"We won because we believed in our cause, we worked hard and we supported each other," Gonzalez told several dozen supporters at the Boston Teachers Union Hall in Dorchester Tuesday night, where they gathered to watch the results. "Now we're going all the way to the governor's office."

Meanwhile, Quentin Palfrey, 44, a former Obama administration adviser, defeated 63-year-old veteran comic Jimmy Tingle in the party's primary for lieutenant governor.

Palfrey will face incumbent Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, a Shrewsbury Republican, who didn't have a primary challenge, in November.

Turnout in Tuesday's primary was moderate, with state election officials estimating only about 15 percent of the state's 4.5 million registered voters would cast ballots before 8 p.m, when polls closed.

Massie, 62, was a Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 1994 and worked on Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign.

Gonzalez, however, touted his experience working for Patrick during the campaign and described his agenda as "ambitious and aspirational."

Gonzalez says Baker is vulnerable to a challenge and that his administration has failed to make progress in many areas, particularly with the problem-plagued MBTA.

He has pledged to "fire" Keolis Commuter Services, the private company that operates the MBTA's commuter rail system, if elected.

Like Massie, he supports government-run, single-payer health care but has said his experience as a private health insurance executive gives his plan more credibility.

Though unemployment is at record lows and the state's economy is doing well, Gonzalez has argued that "many people are still struggling."

Gonzalez had maintained a slight lead over Massie in polls ahead of the primary, after receiving 70 percent of the votes from delegates to the state Democratic convention in June.

Both men have struggled to raise money and name recognition ahead of the primary, while Baker has done little if any campaigning.

Baker, a moderate Republican who supports abortion rights and gay marriage, also heads into the general election campaign with a sizable cash advantage.

He had more than $6.5 million in his campaign account to Gonzalez's $367,000 as of Aug. 18, according to the latest filings with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

That doesn't include money in a joint fundraising account between the state GOP and Republican National Committee that allows Baker to bypass the state's campaign fundraising contribution limits.

The state's Democratic Party issued a statement late Tuesday congratulating Gonzalez and Palfrey and calling for unity ahead of the general election.

Party chairman Gus Bickford criticized Baker for ineffective leadership and vowed that Democrats would take back the governor's office.

"Residents across the Commonwealth are fed up with the status quo from Governor Baker and we are fired up and unified behind this strong Democratic ticket," he said. "Jay and Quentin are true leaders who will bring about the change we need to move Massachusetts forward and ensure a better future for all, not the few."

Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group's newspapers and websites. Email him at [email protected].

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