Both Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) and his general election challenger Jay Gonzalez (D) may be legally members of different political parties, but they are essentially two peas in the same pod when it comes to 90% of their policy positions: trashing Trump, supporting abortion on demand, LGBTQXYZ, men in the ladies room, abolishing ICE, gun confiscation, no curbing EBT abuse, etc., etc., etc.
With all the scandals in the Baker Administration, Speedy Gonzalez will in all likelihood be receiving the Butler Bible, the Oak Gavel, the Pewter Key to the State House, and a copy of the M.G.L. on January 3, 2019, unless he says something stupid. He will institute single-payer healthcare if House Speaker Bob DeLeo wants it, which will mean you'll be paying more taxes and won't have much say in your plan of care. Politicians, not doctors and nurses, will determine if you get treatment or not.
The fact that Dr. Scott Lively got about 87,000 votes in the Sept. 4th GOP primary (36%) shows that Baker is in trouble, despite being an Evangelical pastor who basically ran the campaign with chump change from his living room. Even if he did pull-off the greatest upset, he would've virtually had no chance against Gonzalez or tree hugger Bob Massie.
Yes, 55% of Massachusetts voters are "unenrolled" (independent), 33% Democrat and 10% Republican, but even within the corrupt MassGOP and the few remaining old-timer moderate Democrats still alive, they would not vote for a Bible-thumper.
Since Massachusetts is all about identity politics (both within and outside the government), the only type of social conservative Bay State voters would consider is a Catholic. There are no more old-school conservative Democrats left except for Ray Flynn and a few other old-timers, so that party is no longer an option if you believe in decency.
The only person who would've defeated Baker last Tuesday and would've had the best slam dunk in November is State Representative Jim Lyons (R-Andover).
Lyons is the most conservative lawmaker on Beacon Hill, and despite having serious disagreements with many of his State House colleagues, he reportedly does get along with them. He and his wife Bernadette are actively involved in the Pro-Life Movement; she is a sidewalk counselor. They are practicing Catholics, and many of the old-timer Catholic Democrats who're still alive (or anyone who doesn't want men in the ladies room) would've crossed over to vote for Jim Lyons for Governor, easily.
Risking his state rep. seat turning blue in the bluest of blue states would've been a huge loss in the Legislature, but having a true conservative who's always lived in Mass. and knows the state and system better in the Corner Office than somebody who's globetrotted most of his life. Dr. Lively is very articulate and had to do things the hard way after being raised by a deadbeat dad, but since he hasn't lived in Mass. most of his adult life, which is a big deal when you run for office in a particular place.
Another chief reason why Lively lost is because he said in his literature he supported President Trump, although he's to right of him. Jim Lyons is a never-Trumper, from the right, which would fit-in here in Massachusetts, where you're persona non grata if you are a hand-over-heart American, never mind supporting the President partially. (Gov. Baker thinks it's okay to put your hand on your crotch during the National Anthem.)
On the other hand, Geoff Diehl, who supports the Trump Wall, is a heavy underdog trying to unseat Senator Elizabeth Warren. With Shiva Ayyadurai (another Trumper) running as an independent, he could split the vote with Diehl.
