Massachusetts elects United States' first overtly lesbian governor | World News

Democratic Legal professional Basic Maura Healey has been elected governor of Massachusetts, making historical past because the state’s first girl and first overtly homosexual candidate elected to the workplace.

Healey defeated Republican Geoff Diehl, a former state consultant who had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Her election returns the governor’s workplace to Democrats after eight years of Republican management underneath the favored Gov. Charlie Baker, who opted to not search reelection.

Healey and her operating mate, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, had been amongst three all-female governor/lieutenant governor tickets within the US that started Election Day with an opportunity to turn into the primary such pairing elected to guide a state.

Arkansas Republicans nominated Sarah Huckabee Sanders for governor and Leslie Rutledge for lieutenant governor. And in Ohio, Democrat Nan Whaley is operating for governor with Cheryl Stephens as her operating mate.

Healey was additionally considered one of two overtly lesbian candidates who ran to be a governor within the nation. Healey and Democrat Tina Kotek, a candidate for governor in Oregon, every started the day with an opportunity to turn into the primary overtly lesbian particular person elected governor of a state.

Healey — elected eight years in the past because the nation’s first overtly homosexual lawyer common — snapped what’s turn into recognized in Massachusetts because the “curse of the lawyer common.” Since 1958, six former Massachusetts attorneys common have sought the governor’s workplace. All failed.

Throughout the marketing campaign, Healey pledged to increase job coaching packages, make little one care extra inexpensive and modernize faculties. Healey has additionally stated she would shield “entry to secure and authorized abortion in Massachusetts” within the wake of the Supreme Court docket’s resolution overturning Roe v. Wade.

The 51-year-old has additionally checked off what she considers a collection of accomplishments throughout her time because the state’s high regulation enforcement officer, together with defending college students and owners from predatory lenders and suing Exxon Mobil over whether or not the oil large misled traders and the general public about its data of local weather change.

Healey additionally focused OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler household over allegations they deceived sufferers and docs concerning the dangers of opioids.

Throughout the marketing campaign, the Democrat warned Diehl would “deliver Trumpism to Massachusetts.” Diehl served as co-chair for former President Donald Trump’s first presidential marketing campaign in Massachusetts and received his endorsement for governor in a state that roundly rejected Trump in 2016 and 2020.

Though Healey is the primary girl in Massachusetts elected governor, she’s not the primary to serve within the workplace. Republican Jane Swift, then lieutenant governor, turned appearing governor in 2001 when Gov. Paul Cellucci resigned to turn into ambassador to Canada. Swift was by no means elected governor.

Since 1991, Republicans had held the nook workplace on the Statehouse for all however eight years when Democrat Deval Patrick was governor.