REPUBLICANS ARE SO BEREFT OF QUALIFIED, COMPETENT CANDIDATES, THOSE WHO ARE RUNNING HAVE NEVER BEEN ELECTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE. THAT DEFINES THE MASS GOP. 

Brown faces Keating in congressional race this November: What to expect

Zane Razzaq 
Cape Cod Times 

Republican Jesse Brown is taking on U.S. Rep. William R. "Bill" Keating in a race on the November ballot to represent the 9th District in Congress.

As he turns an eye to the general election, Brown said "economy, economy, economy" will take center stage.

People across the U.S. are experiencing higher prices for gas, energy, food and more and it's exacerbated by "reckless spending" in Congress, said Brown, 43, of Plymouth.

"It's a simple thing: it's a free-for-all, it's an open pocketbook, and we need fiscally conservative people in Washington who will curtail that," said Brown, a Marine Corps veteran and co-founder of Heidrea Communications.

While on the campaign trail, Keating, who is hoping for a seventh term, said he will focus on the rising cost of health care, particularly prescription drugs, and the consequences the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

“I’ve always thought that the people raise the issues that are the most important … those are the things the people are concerned about,” Keating said. 

The 9th Congressional District is composed of 46 municipalities in an area that extends from Norwell to Cohasset, and includes all of Cape Cod and the islands. Under the new congressional map, the district lost Fall River to the 4th Congressional District but retained New Bedford. 

What Brown's focus will be if elected

Brown emerged from the Sept. 6 state primary as the Republican choice to represent the Cape and Islands in Congress.

Throughout his campaign, which he launched in May of 2021, Brown emphasized the economy and inflation in addition to access to medical and mental health care for veterans and alternative sources of energy such as solar, wind and nuclear, linking energy independence with national security.

He also has positioned himself as a staunch supporter for law enforcement. 

If elected, Brown wants to introduce a bill permitting emergency medical personnel to transport and treat K9 officers if they’re injured, his campaign outlined in a recent announcement. The move would bring Nero’s Law, which was signed into law in Massachusetts this past April, to the federal level.

He also previously ran for state Senate.

Keating, who has served in Congress since 2010, was unopposed in the Democratic primary. He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1977, before he began serving in the state Senate in 1985. 

He was next elected as Norfolk District Attorney in 1999 and stayed in that role until he was elected to Congress. 

Brown, a Taunton native, earned 51.4% of the Republican vote or 24,153 votes, according to Associated Press results. He narrowly edged out Dan Sullivan, a registered nurse from Manomet whose campaign website says he opposes critical race theory, communism/socialism, mandates, and liberalism among other concepts.

Sullivan, 56, followed closely behind with 22,840 votes or 48.6% of the vote.

'A real battle for soul of GOP'

It's not common to see a competitive Republican primary for a congressional seat in Massachusetts, said Erin O'Brien, an associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

One of only two contested congressional primaries in the state, the race may have reflected the tension brewing within Massachusetts party politics, she said.

"There is a real battle for the soul of the GOP in Massachusetts going on right now within the party infrastructure," O'Brien said. "You have a Trump vision and a more Baker vision of the GOP. Those two visions fundamentally dislike each other."

Brown said he often fields questions about which side of the state party he represents. Instead he calls himself a “blue-collar Republican.” 

“I’m a Republican for all: a Republican for all Republicans, a Republican for all independents, and a Republican for all Democrats,” said Brown, “and I’ll represent the working people of this district to the best of my ability.” 

The other contested congressional primary in Massachusetts was in 8th Congressional District. With 70% of the vote, Republican Robert Burke handily won, beating Hamilton Rodrigues.

That district is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch.

When Brown was officially named as the winner of his primary, he released a statement framing the race as a chance to “trade in a career politician for someone with real world experience."

"The biggest difference between myself and Bill Keating is that I’m going to be there for the people and listen to them. I have been doing that for the last 18 months campaigning right now," said Brown to the Times.

What Keating will focus on if reelected

Keating said he’s proud of the in-depth knowledge he’s accrued about the district over the years, saying he feels he’s learned residents’ needs “in a very granular and detailed way.”

He pointed to the Outer Cape as an example, saying its needs differ from the rest of the region due to access issues, resulting in the need for more healthcare centers there. 

“You can’t paint this very diverse district in one swath of paint. It’s different, it’s a mosaic,” Keating said. “The most important thing I’ve learned looking back and looking forward is the ability to know the district in such detail.” 

If he wins another term, Keating, who sits on the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Armed Services, said he hopes to focus on protecting voting rights, saying there's an "unprecedented attack on democracy" both in the country and afar.

He also pointed to the recent passage of the largest climate bill in U.S. history.

"That has an inordinate effect on Cape Cod and the Islands because of the fragile nature of our environment," Keating said.

Like all Massachusetts congressional representatives this cycle, Keating faced no Democratic challenger, sailing onto the general election.

"The power of incumbency is real," O'Brien said. "Challengers to incumbents face an uphill battle within their party."

Little name recognition and donors skittish about supporting a risky bid are among the obstacles for newcomers, she said. Incumbents also have the advantage of being in office and can make a name for themselves, consolidating support. 

"Someone like Bill Keating, who has served for a long time — he's built up a reputation," O'Brien said.

In a blue state like Massachusetts, Republicans looking to take on Democratic incumbents face an even steeper uphill battle, she said.

"The embedded assumption is he or she cannot win," O'Brien said. "You have an expectations game as well."

Brown vs. Keating: what to expect

While hitting the campaign trail this fall, Keating will likely tout his years of experience serving in Congress to voters, O'Brien said

"He’ll talk about what he's already done for the Cape," O'Brien said. "He'll talk about what he has delivered."

He may also ask voters if they “want to send more Republicans to the institution” or try to nationalize the race by invoking former President Donald Trump, O’Brien said. 

Brown said he will push for as many debates as possible and will continue to attend public meetings and events to get the word on his campaign out. 

“We’ll be engaging as many voters as we can,” Brown said.