POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Primary division
View in browser BY LISA KASHINSKY STUDY IN CONTRASTS — Two contests that were supposed to be bellwethers for the direction of the state GOP produced two different results. Donald Trump-endorsed Geoff Diehl’s 11-point victory over more moderate businessman Chris Doughty in the Republican gubernatorial primary put a hard number behind the state party’s perceived right and Trumpian turns. Massachusetts GOP gubernatorial primary campaign results for 2022. | POLITICO screenshot Yet North Shore voters powered C.J. Fitzwater, a moderate Republican who supports abortion rights, to victory over Samson Racioppi, the leader of conservative activist group "Super Happy Fun America" who organized buses to Washington, D.C., ahead of Jan. 6, 2021, in a highly unusual state representative race. Fitzwater and Racioppi were running as write-in candidates for the seat vacated by GOP state Rep. Jim Kelcourse, who left the Legislature for a Par...
