Tim McLaughlin

BOSTON, (Reuters) – Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, a well-respected Republican leader and stronghold for Democrats, announced Wednesday that he would not run again in 2022.

Baker is a former executive in healthcare who was known for his ability to manage budgets. He also clashed occasionally with President Donald Trump. Baker has enjoyed high approval ratings during a time of high vaccine rates and a growing Massachusetts economy.

In a Wednesday statement, he listed criminal justice reforms and law enforcement reforms as well as lowering the state income tax rate to 5%. He also highlighted the importance of the state’s reserve funds and the increase in state reserves.

Baker, now 65 years old, was elected governor. He narrowly defeated Martha Coakley (Democratic nominee), by less than two percentage points. In 2018, he easily defeated Jay Gonzalez, his Democratic opponent by a narrow margin of 2-to-1.

Baker, a Harvard graduate was able to fit in the mold of former Republican governors in Massachusetts. He is fiscally conservative and has a social agenda which aligns with the state’s liberal base.

Baker kept his distance from Trump’s policies. Trump is a Republican friend who Baker did not vote for in two election. Baker stated that he did not vote for Trump in 2016, 2020, and that he left his ballot empty.

Baker didn’t support Trump’s assertion that he lost his White House seat to Democrat Joe Biden due to rigged election results.

YouGov found that 52% of people favored Baker’s performance in March. This was based on a poll about the anniversary of the pandemic. Although this was a decrease of 78% from a few months ago, Baker was still considered the favourite for the next gubernatorial elections.

Baker is out, so the race to become governor will be open. The early leaders are Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polio (a Republican) and the State Attorney General Maura Shealey (a Democrat).