Gov. Charlie Baker Remains Tight-Lipped On Reelection Plans

BOSTON — When Massachusetts voters went to the polls in 2017, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker had already said he planned to run for a second term in 2018.

But as this year's municipal elections came and went on Tuesday, Baker had yet to commit to running for a third term in 2022. Baker has been asked the "Will you or won't you?" question in almost all of his recent public appearances, and his standard response has been the same: he's working with his family to make a decision, and voters will know when he knows.

"I don’t understand why you’re in such a big hurry for me to make a decision about this," Baker said when asked by the Boston Globe earlier this week. "The people of Massachusetts have had a good chance to take a good look at both the lieutenant governor and myself over the course of the previous seven years. And if we believe we can continue to do the work to make this state better and stronger as we work our way out of this recovery in a post-COVID-19 world, I’m sure they’ll be interested in hearing what we have to say, but I don’t feel any pressure coming from them."

Last week, when asked the same question by Boston Public Radio, Baker would only say the decision is "very complicated" without elaborating.

Previously on Patch: Baker Gets High Grades For Handling Coronavirus Pandemic In Patch Survey

Baker had $667,000 in his reelection account after raising $173,300 in September — his best monthly fund-raising total in two years. But at this point in 2017, Baker had $6.5 million. By comparison, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito — seen as the favored Republican candidate if Baker does not run for a third term — had $2.3 million in her campaign war chest at the end of September.

On the other side of the aisle, several prominent Democrats are waiting for Baker's decision before they jump into the governor's race. Attorney General Maura Healey is the person most likely to enter the race —and win the Democratic nomination — if Baker does not enter the race.

But Baker remains popular in Massachusetts, having overseen the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic, the recovery from 2018's Merrimack Valley gas explosions and the snowy winter of 2015 that strained patience and the state's transportation system.

As a moderate, Baker is often called a RINO —a "Republican In Name Only" by more conservative Republican voters. Some of those hard-line Republicans have taken to holding regular protests outside Baker's Swampscott home, leading to speculation he may be tiring of public life.

On Tuesday, Commonwealth suggested the decision hinges on Baker's wife, Lauren. "When people urge Baker to run for president, he often says talk to his wife," Commonwealth editor Bruce Mohl wrote. "She took an active role in the races he won in 2014 and again in 2018, but she may be tiring of the protesters outside their house in Swampscott and think it’s time to start the next stage of their life."

Dave Copeland is Patch's regional editor for Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).