Updated at 2:07 p.m. Nov. 9
For the first time ever, Massachusetts voters have chosen a woman as their next governor and elected a Black woman to statewide office.
Democrat Maura Healey, the state’s current attorney general and newly minted governor-elect, will also be the first openly gay governor of Massachusetts and is the first lesbian to be elected governor in the United States (Tina Kotek, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Oregon, could be the second to break that barrier.) Healey defeated Republican Geoff Diehl, a former state representative, and Libertarian Kevin Reed.
"Tonight I want to say something to every little girl and every young LGBTQ person out there: I hope tonight shows you that you can be whatever, whoever, you want to be," Healey told the crowd at the Fairmount Copley Plaza in Boston, where the Massachusetts Democratic Party held its election-night celebration.
Andrea Campbell, who was Healey's hand-picked choice to replace her as attorney general, defeated Republican Jay McMahon by a wide margin. Campbell, who was the first Black woman to serve as president of the Boston City Council, is now the first woman of color to win a statewide contest in Massachusetts.
As Campbell addressed supporters Tuesday night, she detailed her family history, noting that father and brothers "cycled in and out of the prison system" and that her twin brother, Andre, died while being held in pre-trial detention by the state.
"For those who have felt unseen, this victory is for you," Campbell said. "For those who have felt marginalized, this victory is for you. For those who have felt left out and left behind and undervalued, this victory is for you."
In her remarks, Healey vowed to make Massachusetts more affordable for residents and businesses, and to cut taxes while also investing in education and job training. She also promised to fight climate change and protect abortion access.
"As long as I'm governor, women will always have the freedom to control their own bodies," Healey added as the crowd cheered. "Our state will provide access to safe, legal abortion. We will protect women, we will protect patients, and we will protect providers."
Healey topped a ticket that also included current Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, who will become the state’s next lieutenant governor. Their shared win seems to represent a breakthrough as well: no woman governor and lieutenant governor have previously served together on a permanent basis in any state, according to the news website The 19th.
Diehl's campaign initially claimed the Associated Press' call was premature, but by 11 p.m. Diehl acknowledged that the gap was "impossible to close."
"The people of the commonwealth have spoken," he said. "I respect their choice and I ask everyone ... to give [Healey] the same opportunity for success that I would have asked if the shoe had been on the other foot."
A Healey win in the gubernatorial race been anticipated for months, despite a long history of attorneys general trying and failing to become governor of Massachusetts. Healey's poll numbers and campaign war chest were so formidable that three other Democrats who’d launched bids all dropped out before the primary, including one who exited before Healey officially entered the race. Ahead of the general election, polls consistently showed her leading Diehl by a wide margin.
As the Democratic nominee, Healey took the unusual step of pitching herself as a kindred spirit and natural successor to outgoing Republican Gov. Charlie Baker. Baker, who served two terms, is a moderate who pointedly criticized former President Donald Trump and enjoyed the highest approval ratings of any U.S. governor for much of his time in office.
While Healey did not stress that theme in her victory speech, she alluded to it when she spoke of beginning the transition process with Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito.
"We will model the kind of leadership and colloboration and, yes, the respect we want to see elsewhere," Healey said. "Because in Massachusetts, we lift people up, we come together, and we lead. That's who we are."
Democrats Deborah Goldberg and Bill Galvin easily won their reelection bids for treasurer and secretary of state, respectively.
Several other contests were called on Wednesday morning. In the closest race for statewide office, Democrat Diana DiZoglio, currently a state senator, defeated Republican Anthony Amore by about 17 percentage points, according to unofficial results.
Massachusetts voters also weighed in on four statewide ballot questions. While those were some of the last contests to be called, the only measure not approved was Question 3, which would have affected liquor license regulations.
The proposal to regulate dental insurance passed by a wide margin. Voters more narrowly approved Question 1, which will create a new surtax on the portion of incomes over $1 million, and Question 4, which re-affirmed a new state law giving immigrants without legal status access to driver’s licenses starting in July 2023.
This story was updated to include results of other statewide races and the ballot questions.
